Pasadena City College has dis-invited screenwriter and gay rights activist Dustin Lance Black to speak at graduation after some controversy. Then, LAUSD suspended a science teacher due to student science fair projects dubbed ‘imitation weapons.’ Later, FilmWeek and a look at a re-opened drive-in theater in LA.
Dustin Lance Black strikes back at PCC
Dustin Lance Black is hitting back after his alma mater Pasadena City College dis-invited the screenwriter from their commencement ceremony.
Black was supposed to speak at this year’s commencement but PCC’s Board President Anthony Fellow intervened, citing intimate photos of Black and an ex-boyfriend leaked online in 2009. Fellows argued that because the college has had a few sex scandals this year, it was “the wrong time” to have Black as a commencement speaker.
Black, in a letter to the student body, says that if were he straight and the maliciously stolen and posted photos were of him with a woman, this might be a non-issue. In his letter, the Milk screenwriter says he refuses to be shamed for the photos any longer. Since the pictures were posted online, Black has sued those responsible for stealing and posting them.
What kind of message is PCC sending by dis-inviting Black? To what extent is someone responsible for intimate photos or information that appears publicly without their consent? How should the college proceed in handling this situation?
Guest:
Christine Michaels, Editor-in-Chief of PCC Courier who’s been following the story.
Popular LAUSD science teacher on being suspended due to controversial experiments
A high school science teacher at Grand Arts High School in Los Angeles was suspended from the classroom in February, after two of his science fair students turned in projects deemed dangerous by the administrators.
Greg Schiller teaches AP biology and psychology at the school--formerly known as Ramon C. Cortines School for Visual and Performing Arts. He said he’s been overseeing science fairs for 15 years—and was surprised when two projectile motion projects were flagged and confiscated before he had a chance to grade them.
One project was a marshmallow shooter—which uses air pressure to launch projectiles. The other was an AA battery-powered coil gun—which uses electromagnetism to launch small objects. Similar projects have been honored in past LA County Science Fairs and even demonstrated at the White House.
Schiller said Los Angeles Unified School District officials accused him of “supervising the building, research and development of imitation weapons.” He has been reporting to a district administrative office since March 6, as he waits for LAUSD to conclude its investigation.
Grand Arts High School officials did not respond to requests for comment on Schiller’s suspension.
LAUSD communications director Thomas Waldman issued the following statement:
"There is an ongoing investigation, therefore, we cannot comment. It is the practice of the Los Angeles Unified School District to reassign an employee to a non-classroom setting when there are allegations related to student safety. We will always err on the side of protecting students. On the other hand, the District does not reassign employees on a whim. The reassignment of employees is taken very seriously. For this reason, there is a rigorous decision making process associated with the reassignment of employees."
Schiller’s school community has rushed to his defense, staging protests outside the school and launching a Change.org petition and “Free Schiller” Facebook page.
Did Greg Schiller act irresponsibly in allowing these projects to be developed on his watch? Do these particular science projects pose serious risks to students? Is it difficult for today’s science teachers to balance scientific inquiry with safety concerns? Do you think school and District administrators went too far?
Guests:
Greg Schiller, biology and psychology teacher at Grand Arts High School, suspended in February 2014.
Ken Roy, Ph.D., Chief Safety Compliance Consultant for the National Science Teachers Association; Director of environmental health and safety for Glastonbury Public Schools in Connecticut
Filmweek: Transcendence, Heaven Is for Real, Fading Gigolo and more
Larry and KPCC film critics Tim Cogshell, Henry Sheehan and Charles Solomon review this week's releases including Transcendence, Heaven Is for Real, Fading Gigolo and more. TGI-Filmweek!
Transcendence
Heaven Is for Real
Fading Gigolo
Guests:
Tim Cogshell, film critic for KPCC and Alt Film Guide
Henry Sheehan, film critic for KPCC and CriticsAGoGo.com
Charles Solomon, animation film critic for KPCC and Indiewire’s ‘Animation Scoop’
Paramount Drive-In re-opens tonight after being closed for more than 20 years
The drive in movie theater is making a triumphant return to Los Angeles after the screens last went dark in 1991. Glenn Bianchi, the son of Joseph Bianchi who first opened the Roadium Drive-In theater in 1947, has refurbished the lot and will show the first double feature tonight.
The independent theater owner spent $1 million renovating the old drive in, which now fits 800 cars, features two 75 foot screens, digital projection with FM radio sound, several restrooms and full snack bar.
Now known as the Paramount Drive-In, it will be only the second of this type of theater in the greater LA area. Compare that to the 1950s when there were more than 4,7000 drive-in theaters nationwide.
Bianchi said he hopes that demand for affordable family entertainment will spark renewed interest in the old style of moviegoing.
Do you remember the drive-in's heyday in Los Angeles? Is it time for a revival of the drive-in theater?
Guest:
Glenn Bianchi, Owner, Paramount Drive-In Movie Theater