AROUND THE CISTERN

Filmmaker Ken Burns speaks at a podium onstage in a large theater during the premiere screening of the PBS film The American Revolution, projected on a large screen behind him. The audience fills the auditorium, and the ceiling above glows with a soft teal light resembling a night sky.

Making History

Filmmaker Ken Burns visited the College’s Sottile Theatre in May for an exclusive peek at his new PBS docuseries, The American Revolution, followed by a discussion moderated by SCETV President and CEO Adrienne Fairwell. Burns and his team spent nine years working on the film to tell the true, unvarnished version of the country’s founding, in which Charleston and South Carolina played a significant role. The 12-hour series will air over six consecutive nights in mid-November.

“I won’t work on a more important film in my professional life than this history of the American Revolution,” Burns said at a Cistern Yard press conference, adding that his mission is to create films that will be shown on public media for generations. “The only thing that will change a person’s point of view is a good story, and I have spent the last 50 years in the good story business.”

two people sitting in chairs on stage in front of audience for interview

Good Press

In late February, investigative journalist Carl Bernstein spoke to a packed house at the Sottile Theatre. Topics discussed included Watergate and the lessons it may still have, as well as democracy and the role of journalism in the United States today. “It was an invaluable opportunity to learn from one of the most influential journalists of our time,” says Aimee Arias, dean of the School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs and interim co-director of the Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program, which sponsored the talk.

Chris Fragile posing for a photo in front of a space background

Cosmic Leap

Building a planetarium is an astronomical feat. But after a two-and-a-half-year mission, the new Charleston Planetarium had its grand opening on May 3 at Citadel Mall in the West Ashley area.

Who helped the stars align? Paul Gangarosa, local entrepreneur and former adjunct faculty member in the Department of Health and Human Performance, and Chris Fragile, professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, made the perfect crew.

Fragile (in photo, left) already had experience with planetariums. When he’s not teaching college students, Fragile visits local elementary schools and puts on planetarium shows. With the Citadel Mall location, Fragile hopes to make stargazing more accessible for students and adults alike.

“It’s always amazing, the number and quality of questions that I get from people,” he says. “I think there is some demand, or some interest among people, to have a place where they can go and think about space. I hope we inspire them to at least think about astronomy, think about science.”

– Mary Carr

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