News
The Palestine Exception
.png)
A public screening of The Palestine Exception was held in UCC on Friday 21st March. We were delighted to welcome Prof Jan Haaken, one of the film's directors, to the screening.
About the film
The Palestine Exception is a documentary film directed by Jan Haaken and Jennifer Ruth that explores the anti-war movements on US college campuses, particularly in response to Israel’s action in Gaza. Find out more about the film here.
Screening and panel discussion
Prof Ursula Kilkelly, Vice President Global Engagement opened the event, with an introduction to the documentary from Prof Jan Haaken.
The screening was followed by a panel discussion with panel members: Dr Rola Abu Zeid O’Neill, Prof Andrew Cottey, Dr Laurence Davis, Paul O’Donovan and Prof Jan Haaken. Insightful responses by the panel to this important film including what we might do in the context of the Palestine exception and the idea of the university and centrality of academic freedom, not only because academic freedom is central to the university, to fostering critical thinking and nurturing human flourishing but because academic freedom is central to democracy. The panel was chaired by Prof Maggie O’Neill.
Audience members were a mix of UCC colleagues, students and members of the public, and Cork Palestine Solidarity groups. It was a pleasure for the Co-organisers ISS21 and UCC Futures: Collective Social Futures, and the School of Sociology and Criminology to welcome everyone and talk with our audience afterwards over convivial post-event refreshments.
Thanks to the brilliant Jan Haaken for joining us on her screening tour and sharing this important film and her experience and scholarship, to Ursula Kilkelly for opening the session and sharing the great work of her office in leading the Univerity’s Palestine response in the context of the University’s global engagement plan and to our university community colleagues on the panel for sharing their important expertise and scholarship.