See Point Four Documentary - Part Two

Monday, July 9, 2012

 

OSU to feature Point Four Documentary – Part Two

Oklahoma State University Division of International Studies and Outreach will show the movie premiere of The Point Four Documentary – Part Two on Thursday, July 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the Wes Watkins Center Auditorium in Stillwater.

Other showings will take place on Friday, July 20, in the same location at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Both days the event is free and open to the public.

The Point Four Documentary – Part One is available for streaming at www.abaymovies.com.

Point Four highlights the history of Haramaya University, an agricultural technical campus in Ethiopia established in 1956 in collaboration with the United States government and with assistance from OSU.  Formerly known as Alemaya College, the institution was officially inaugurated by Emperor Haile Selassie on January 16, 1958.

“The documentary is about U.S. foreign policy that was successfully implemented in Ethiopia,” said Mel Tewahade, director of the Point Four Documentary. “The Alemaya College was established with the help of Oklahoma State University. They provided the expertise and Ethiopia provided the funds.”

The film borrows its name from President Harry Truman’s 1949 inaugural address in which he announced a technical assistance program for developing countries that later became known as “The Point Four Program.” 

David Henneberry, Associate Vice President for International Studies and Outreach, said the Point Four program resulted in America’s close partnership with Ethiopia in helping to establish some of the country’s technical higher-education institutions.

“This documentary is a great way to showcase the history and partnership between OSU and Haramaya University and how two countries came together for the common good of the people,” Henneberry said.

In 1951, representatives of the United States and the Ethiopian government signed an agreement which promised cooperation in the exchange of technical knowledge and skill necessary to contribute to the development of economic resources and productive capacities of Ethiopia. 

The two countries signed an agreement in 1952 to start building the Imperial Ethiopian College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts. It was decided that Henry Bennett, then president of OSU, head up a plan to assist Ethiopia with the creation of an agricultural college. With the support of members of the Point Four team and Haile Selassie himself, the project began in 1952.   
    

The movie features interviews with Americans who were involved with the program in Ethiopia as well as Ethiopian graduates from the school. 

For additional information about attending a showing of the movie e-mail Katie.reim@okstate.edu.