Correction: “Fahrenheit 9/11” will be shown at 7 p.m., not 7:30 p.m., in the Council Fire Room.

A controversial showing of the documentary “Fahrenheit 9/11” has left many wondering why two non-partisan organizations chose to sponsor the film the night before Election Day.

“Initially, the reason for showing ‘Fahrenheit 9/11’ was a fund-raising option,” said junior John Zanetti, president of Society of Politics. “We also wanted it to be a catalyst for discussion, something to get students interested and talking about politics.”

SOPS went to the University Activities Commission about two weeks ago with the idea.

“The Society of Politics came to us (UAC Films) looking for a date to show the movie and when it was brought up at a meeting, we decided to co-sponsor it with them,” said Jim Brockpahler, communications specialist in Student Activities.

“Because (SOPS) brought the idea to UAC so late and wanted to show the film before the election, Nov. 1 was the only weekday available,” he said.

Brockpahler said that if a Republican film of the same nature were available, they would show that because the decision had nothing to do with partisan politics.

“UAC decided to co-sponsor ‘Fahrenheit 9/11’ because we show films that wouldn’t otherwise be shown around here,” Brockpahler said.

Assistant professor of political science and adviser of SOPS, Geoff Peterson said the film’s content is not what is causing the controversy.

“The film itself is not all that controversial because Republicans and Democrats wouldn’t deny that it’s a good documentary,” he said. “It’s the timing that people are upset about.”

Zanetti said that some criticism he has received has been because SOPS is a non-partisan organization, yet the documentary is very liberal.

“Some have tried to say that SOPS is blatantly partisan because of ‘Fahrenheit 9/11’ and our fair trade campaign,” Zanetti said. “People don’t understand that SOPS started fair trade coffee a year and a half ago and as far as ‘Fahrenheit 9/11,’ we tried to make it more of an open forum for discussion.”

SOPS members said that within the last week they have tried multiple times to contact the College Republicans asking about rebuttal options such as showing “Fahrenhype 9/11,” a documentary about Michael Moore and his film.

The College Republicans have not responded to the SOPS’ request for conservative views after showing “Fahrenheit 9/11,” Zanetti said, but SOPS is working to try to get a professor to speak after the showing.

Regardless of the controversy, SOPS members agree that after the election, no one will care about the film.

“Showing this will do nothing but solidify people’s already present opinions and views,” Zanetti said.