The KSC Film Society canceled the showing of the film, “The Visitor,” over safety concerns and rumored student displeasure with the film.
The film was scheduled to be played October 17-20 at the Putnam Theater, coinciding with Pumpkin Fest in Keene and Family Day on campus.
“The Visitor” is an NC-17 movie that Film Society had decided upon showing over the summer, according to senior and Film Society President Mariah Rodriguez-Costa. She acknowledged some concerns regarding the poster’s content; displayed are a pair of feet with female genitalia on the soles of the feet.
“This one [The Visitor], the poster’s a little controversial, but we wanted to show it,” said Rodriguez-Costa. “We printed it out knowing we would probably get some critiques on it.”
According to Rodriguez-Costa, Film Society has no control over what posters the film distributor gives to the club for advertising. She added that one of her primary concerns about the showing was the cost of equipment and the possibility of issues.
“There’s a lot of people who are angry with us right now. God forbid they get drunk,” said Rodriguez-Costa. “We have a $90,000 projector in the booth [projection booth] right now [and] if something happens, it’s on us.”
Senior and Treasurer of Film Society Ben Martins said he noticed issues with posters being removed from the L.P. Young Student Center the week of the showing.
“I went and asked around a little bit to a couple different people,” said Martins. “They said the same thing, ‘Students kept complaining about the posters, saying the posters were not okay. They were offensive.’” Martins said the cancellation was an issue for locals as well.
“We’re open to the public and the matinee is big for elderly folks who come all the way down here,” said Martins. “They’re not on the email list or on social media or anything. So I came for the matinee and had to turn people away.”
Senior Nick Dahl, a worker at the student center help desk, said he received no complaints and was not aware of any complaints during the week of October 12-18. No other students were at the help desk to confirm any complaints.
While Film Society received no formal complaints, Martins said he spoke with students at the student center help desk over posters being removed. “I’d imagine students walked around, they saw the posters and they took them down and threw them out,” said Martins.
The Department of Campus Safety did not respond to repeated interview requests regarding potential security for the screening by print deadline.
Jessica Gagne-Cloutier, director of student involvement, did not respond to requests for comment by print deadline regarding complaints and censorship concerns.
Timothy Fitzpatrick can be contacted at
tfitzpatrick@kscequinox.com
