A special presentation of Fairfield University's Open VISIONS Forum will feature Phil Donahue, the multiple Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist, who will premiere selected scenes from his moving documentary about an Iraq War veteran with a life-changing disability. The screening is scheduled on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m., in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. It will mark the first time parts of the documentary will be shown to the public. Mr. Donahue's accompanying talk, is entitled, "Life After the War: A True Story About an American Soldier."

Open VISIONS Forum is a program of University College at Fairfield University. Through an ongoing series of lively and informative lectures, these 'public conversations' present eminent opinion-makers, artists, authors, learned contributors to the humanities and sciences and civic and political commentators to engage the University audience and enrich the region intellectually and culturally. It exemplifies Fairfield's dynamic learning environment that offers an array of educational opportunities beyond the traditional classroom.

Mr. Donahue will discuss what compelled him to make the documentary, which explores the life of Tomas Young, a U.S. Army Specialist who became paralyzed below the chest on April 4, 2004, his fourth day in Iraq. He had been moved to sign up for the military after September 11.

The event will be a benefit for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the Memphis, Tenn.-based pediatric treatment and research facility. Mr. Donahue's wife, the actress and author Marlo Thomas, has long raised funds for the noted hospital.

Philip Eliasoph, Ph.D., the director and moderator of Open VISIONS Forum, says the evening will serve as a vehicle for both reflection and dialogue. "This is a very special event for Fairfield University," he said. "We are excited and grateful that Phil Donahue will be unveiling this most important work to our students and community. It will undoubtedly place a spotlight on the personal impact the war has had on a young man who is still just the age of our students."

Born in Cleveland, Mr. Donahue earned a B.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame. He is largely credited for creating the talk show format. "The Phil Donahue Show" delved into the important issues of its day, from politics to women's issues to civil rights. The show wasn't afraid to tackle the controversial subjects, and left an imprint on broadcast journalism. The Museum of Broadcast Communications noted that Mr. Donahue served as both a mentor and patriarch of the genre. He won a Peabody Award in 1980.

The ticketing for the event is as follows: $20 for individual tickets, and $5 for students (college and high school) with identification cards. For ticket information, call (203) 254-4010 or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396. This is not part of the series subscription.

Open VISIONS Forum continues its 10th anniversary season with a pre-election point-counterpoint between Katrina vanden Heuvel and William Kristol on Wednesday, Nov. 1.

Posted On: 09-15-2006 10:09 AM

Volume: 39 Number: 30