A follow-up public forum on possibly renaming the Bowling Green State University Gish Film Theater will
be held Thursday on campus.
A task force studying the issue and the Black Student Union will be holding the forum which will start at
7:30 p.m. in the Mathematical Sciences Building, room 21o.
“The purpose of this forum is to provide clarity on the process for the Gish theater,” said Kyron Smith,
president of the BSU. “There have been a lot of misconceptions for what the Black Student Union is
doing. Regardless of an individual’s position, this is an opportunity for your voice to be heard.”
Some are calling for changing the name of the theater because of Lillian Gish’s starring role in the 1915
D.W. Griffith film “Birth of a Nation” and its racist portrayal of African-Americans.
Issues with the theater name emerged after installation of the new Gish Film Theater signage in the
Bowen-Thompson Student Union during the first week of February.
College of Arts and Sciences Dean Raymond Craig said that at the time of its release, “Birth of a Nation”
led to a revitalization of the Ku Klux Klan, playing on controversial images that glorified the KKK to
increase ticket sales. Eight states refused to allow the showing of the film because there were
instances of race riots and the violence associated with it.
Ralph Wolfe, distinguished professor emeritus of English and Gish Professor of Film Studies, said that
Lillian Gish’s role as a nurse in the film was not relevant to the sections on the Ku Klux Klan.
He added that when there were public showings of the film during her lifetime, Gish would decline
invitations to attend. The Gish Film Theater has never shown the movie, Wolfe said.
The Gish Film Theater was located at Hanna Hall for 42 years and named in honor of both Lillian and her
sister Dorothy Gish, who were actresses born in Ohio. Lillian’s debut was in Risingsun.
With the changing of Hanna Hall to the new School of Business, the theater was moved to room 206 of the
Bowen-Thompson Student Union. This is a large lecture hall that has undergone renovations to change it
into a theater that can show films.
A message about the connection between Gish and the movie went out on Twitter on Feb. 10 from a Black
Student Union member. Discussions between the BGSU administration and the Black Student Union began Feb.
12.