The movie centers on the racial tensions between the African-American and white students on the campus of fictitious Columbus University but also attempts to deal with other "hot" topics such as date rape, financial aid, Greek life and homosexuality. The story plays itself out through the first-year experiences of several students: a white woman who is a victim of date rape and later struggles to define both her identity and sexuality; an African-American man who is a runner on an athletic scholarship; and a midwestern man who has been abused and becomes involved with a group of skinheads who live near the campus early in the year.
Dwayne Marshall, a college junior, said, "The main thing I got from this movie is the need for communication, the need for dialogue."
The audience's reaction to the film was varied. Many of the students present felt that "Higher Learning" had a lot to say to the Emory campus. Several students spoke about their experiences dealing with racism at Emory. For example, Patrick Reels, an African-American college senior, talked about being stopped by the Emory Police Department as a freshman for no apparent reason.
However, many viewers felt that the movie's portrayal of the characters was too extreme. "There are two different feelings on the movie and they are almost split racially," Roberts pointed out. Most of the white students found it difficult to identify the "skinhead" characters with anyone they knew and thought that more examples of covert or passive racism would have hit closer to home for them.
The other complaint was that despite what its previews implied, "Higher Learning" was really about conflicts between blacks and whites. Other racial groups were mentioned, but they really played no significant part in the movie. Also, the entire sub-plot about the woman exploring her sexuality was never resolved. The general consensus was that Singleton tried to cover too many issues in one film.
April Garret, assistant director of student activities, and Angela Horrison-Collier, assistant director of residential services, organized the screening. V-103 DJ Mike Roberts moderated a discussion of the film and the issues it raised.
The event was sponsored by several departments and organizations on campus including Student Govern-ment Association, Campus Life, Residence Life and the Emory orientation leaders.
--Mike MacArthur