In a new partnership with Vermont Public Television, JSC will be pre-airing documentaries from the series “Independent Lens” throughout the school year as part of VPT’s “Community Cinema” program.

Students and community members are welcome to attend the free screenings, which will be held on select Tuesdays at 7:00p.m. in the Stearns Cinema. Panel-led discussions among students and community members will follow each screening.

Dean of Students David Bergh arranged the partnership on JSC’s end. He said that while JSC and VPT have worked together in the past, this is the first time they have entered into a formal partnership.

“Independent Lens” is a series of independent documentaries that focus on current events and social issues. “These are things that are going to prompt discussion,” said Bergh.

The discussions taking place after each film will be lead by three panelists, individuals from JSC and the surrounding area who can volunteer.

One of the films was shown on Oct. 1, attended by about 20 people. “It looked like a good part of one class may have come from the education department because the film focused of issues pertaining to education and for teachers,” said Bergh. “So I think the bulk of the students who went last night are students who aspire to be teachers. But I think we’ll have a very different audience for each film based on the interest around each film.”

The partnership is VPT’s first Community Cinema presence in Lamoille County. According to Bergh, Community Cinema is usually featured in larger areas such as Burlington or Brattleboro, and both groups wanted to find a way to bring it to this area. In a press release provided by the college, VPT’s director of community engagement Chuck Pizer stated: “JSC is the heart of this community, and it offers both its students and the public at large high-quality intellectual and cultural opportunities.”

Bergh added that one thing that is unusual about this partnership is that it is not based on money—VPT provides the films and gets feedback about them, and JSC hosts and advertises the event while educating and entertaining the community.

“Really what they bring through this outreach programming [is] a chance for citizens of Vermont to screen and to view public television programming before it’s aired, and it’s a great way to get feedback from the public,” he said.

Bergh stated that while the current semester’s films were scheduled after all of the Creative Audience slots filled, there is a possibility that some of the films could count as them in the spring.

The next film will be shown on Dec. 3. “The State of Arizona” examines Arizona’s approach to illegal immigration and the controversy around Senate Bill 1070, which made it a misdemeanor for immigrants to not have their registration documents with them at all times. The film gathers opinions from a variety of sources, including Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Latino immigrants, activists, and politicians.

“Las Marthas” is the first film scheduled for the spring 2014 semester. Scheduled for Feb. 4,  “Las Marthas” looks at the traditional debutante ball held annually in Laredo, Texas since the end of the Spanish-American War. The film focuses on two Mexican-American girls carrying on the tradition in an era of immigration tension and economic uncertainty.

“The Trials of Muhammad Ali” is scheduled for March 18. The documentary explores Ali’s refusal to serve in the Vietnam War and his subsequent ban from boxing and five-year prison sentence, delving into the themes of race, religion, and wartime dissent.

“Medora,” the film scheduled for April 15, takes us to Medora, Indiana, a town struggling to cope with a damaged economy and a population growing ever smaller. The film compares the overall troubles of the town with the parallel trials of its struggling varsity basketball team as they work to compete.

The final film scheduled takes a look at how African American communities in Maryland experience the fight for marriage equality. “The New Black” explores how gay rights activism and homophobia cause division in the church and on the streets. The film will be shown on May 6.