6.30 – 8.00pm, LTB 10
Mustard Podcast 3: The Background Readings E.P. 2014, 49 mins
We are proud to present Dr John Hayne’s documentary film that centres on the University of Essex student activists and events of May 1968.
The fall-out following the visit of government research scientist Dr Inch from Porton Down, has long been regarded as a seismic trauma in the history of the University of Essex. However, it was also a defining moment in the story of how students and staff attempted to shape the University into something that represented their values, as they protested against the founding Vice-Chancellor’s treatment of three individual demonstrators and established instead a ‘Free University’ of their own.
John Haynes’ film weaves together a series of interviews with participants in the events, archival documents from both the ‘official’ institution and the Free University, the perspectives of current students and staff, and contemporary media reports. The result is anything but a neat, coherent story about the protestors themselves, germ warfare, freedom of speech and the growing pains of a fledgling institution.
This screening will be introduced by director Dr John Haynes and will be followed by Q&A.
Admission free, all welcome.