They'll be back.
Whether graduate students came to watch the Arnold Schwarzenegger flick Predator because the Terminator is running for governor or because of the free coffee and tea, most of the students at the Graduate Student Center last night said they were glad to be there.
As part of its weekly film series, the GSC is running a three-part Schwarzenegger festival, including last night's showing of Predator.
Approximately 20 students kicked back and relaxed on comfy couches in front of the large projector screen to watch the movie.
While the GSC's Web site jokingly states that the showing of these films does not reflect the center's political views, GSC organizers said that they did choose to run a Schwarzenegger series this month because he has been in the media spotlight so frequently over the past several weeks.
Schwarzenegger is running for the position of governor of California in the recall election, which the state is holding due to the budget deficit that current Governor Gray Davis incurred.
"It's kind of a nod to his running for governor," GSC Fellow and former Daily Pennsylvanian columnist Hilal Nakiboglu said. "All of the movie programs we have here at the GSC revolve around a contemporary theme.... We try to keep current and contemporary in hopes that students will be more inclined to come."
Last Sunday's feature was Conan the Barbarian, and next Sunday's final installment of the series will showcase True Lies at 6:30 p.m.
For Design School graduate student Brian Zegeer, Schwarzenegger was definitely the perfect incentive to come watch the movie.
"I'm deciding whether, if I was a resident of California, I would vote for him," Zegeer said, with only a small snicker. "I think this movie holds the key to that choice. I think we'll get a good sense of how he acts under pressure."
Other students, though, were less interested in Schwarzenegger, the gubernatorial candidate, and more excited about Schwarzenegger, the movie star.
"I liked Schwarzenegger better when he was only an actor... but for a movie [his political career] doesn't matter," Neuroengineering research associate Maciej Lazarewicz said, adding that the atmosphere at the GSC was the real reason he came.
"I like the graduate center and it's nice to... watch a movie on the big screen and hopefully with a good sound system," Lazarewicz said. "It doesn't matter what kind of movie -- there is nice ambiance."
Some other attendees said that Schwarzenegger and his candidacy had nothing to do with their attendance at the film.
Patrick Riviere, a Wharton graduate student, said he came because he is a big fan of Predator.
Sachin Daxini, a former biotechnology graduate student, said that he had no more appealing options, so he spends a lot of time at the GSC.
"I have nothing to do," he said.
And the GSC is a perfect place for people just like Daxini.
Not only do they hold Schwarzenegger extravaganzas, but they are in the middle of a Salma Hayek series as well, in honor of Latino Heritage month.
While Schwarzenegger fans can check out their favorite Kindergarten Cop next Sunday, fans of the sexy Latina actress should check out Frida this coming Thursday at 7 p.m.
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