Hardin-Simmons holds QEP Cinema Discussion

(ABILENE, Texas)–Hardin-Simmons University recently held a Cinema Discussion Forum October 21-22 for first-year students. The students watched a film called Silence (2016), directed by Martin Scorsese, and then briefly discussed the film with professors Dr. Kelly Pigott, Dr. Bryan Yorton, and Dr. Bob Moore. As part of HSU’s Quality Enhancement Plan, the Forum was intended to give first-year students different perspectives regarding complex ideas and issues, then give them a chance to discuss them in small groups.

Silence is a film which focuses on Christianity in 17^th Century Japan. The main character, Father Rodrigues, eventually finds himself in a dilemma and must ultimately decide if he should denounce his faith to save other Japanese Christians or if he should stand up for his beliefs. Throughout the film, Rodrigues suffers through moral and physical torture as he contemplates his faith. Students in each First-Year Seminar were shown this movie as a reminder of the importance of faith, sacrifice, and martyrdom to the Christian history.

The movie poster for the film “Silence.”

Each First-Year Seminar course asked their students to watch Silence and write a response paper about their thoughts on the movie. With the ability to worship freely in any city, state, or building, it is easy for students in America to forget how fortunate they are. “I think this is very easy to forget sometimes because in America we are free to worship who we want, but that is not the case everywhere,” stated McKenna Houston, First Year Mentor. “We should take advantage of the freedom we have and proclaim Christ’s name fearlessly!”

Because of the heavy subject matter of the film, students were very appreciative of the group discussions following the movie. “I loved being able to discuss the film afterward because it allowed me to hear other takeaways and it allowed me to hear from others who thought the same things I did,” said Cierrah Fulenwider. “I think watching it in a group and then discussing it after is the best way to watch this film because of how heavy it is and I enjoyed it a lot.”

Also part of the Quality Enhancement Plan is the HSU Symposium. The symposium highlights and celebrates student research projects, significant historical events in HSU history, and guest speaker Dr. John Hill from Shaw University will close the symposium with a speech at Logsdon Chapel. The symposium will begin Nov. 14 in Moody 108 from 9:30 am-10:30 am.