VCU news

By Mike Porter

Virginia Commonwealth University students, faculty and staff are invited to a screening of “The Hunting Ground,” a documentary that details the prevalence of sexual assault cases on U.S. college campuses and criticizes the response of university administrators to those cases.

The film will be shown on Thursday, Oct. 1, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Harris Hall Auditorium. A resource fair to showcase available programs and assistance for sexual assault survivors will follow.

“The Hunting Ground,” released earlier this year, features personal stories of sexual assault by several college students who also argue university administrators did little or nothing to help them.

“This film is going to trigger a lot of emotions for viewers – anger, sadness, betrayal, as well as any emotions related to an individual's past experiences with sexual assault,” said Kaylin Tingle, LGBTQ violence prevention health educator at The Wellness Resource Center at VCU. “My hope is that people that may not have had direct experiences with sexual assault walk away from events like this with an increased empathy for survivors.”

My hope is that people that may not have had direct experiences with sexual assault walk away from events like this with an increased empathy for survivors.

The idea for showing the film at VCU was developed by Andrea Moreau, a graduate student in the counseling education program.

“About six months ago I heard about the documentary ‘The Hunting Ground’ being released and I thought it was something the VCU community could benefit from viewing,” Moreau said. “I felt this was a great way to get the campus actively talking about the crisis of campus sexual assault.”

The film is not without critics, who have taken “The Hunting Ground” to task for what they believe is placing advocacy over accuracy. Since its release, the film has been challenged by some over the details of some of the women’s stories, for the use of debated campus sexual assault statistics, and for failing to give accused students and universities a chance to comment until after the documentary was finished. Tingle said the film offers a valuable launching point for discussing campus sexual assault.

“By picking apart each individual story we're risking losing the forest for the trees,” Tingle said. “The stories reflect the experiences of so many more survivors than those who are featured in the film. It's important to view films like this with a critical eye, but there will always be holes in research and inconsistencies that can be picked apart. The film presents us with an opportunity to reflect on individual and institutional responses to sexual assault and, ultimately, do better.”

Moreau said she hopes the screening will help students think differently about sexual assault.

“I hope the audience will take away the importance of being part of the solution,” Moreau said. “Being part of the solution could mean small things like not using the word 'raped' to describe how taking that exam was or if a friend, student, or staff member opens up to you about a sexual assault they have experienced and your response is one of compassion and empathy, not asking them ‘Are you sure it happened?’ Intervene at a party when you see something, help someone get home, etc. All these small acts can add up to a significant shift in our college campus's culture.”

The resource fair after the film will give the audience an opportunity to learn more about support available at VCU and in Richmond.

“We have confidential resources, such as the advocates at The Well and the staff at University Counseling Services, who can talk with a student about their options and the resources available to them,” Tingle said. “I hope students are inspired to plug into organizations and movements working to end violence, because changing the culture which allows violence to occur is a community endeavor.” 

The screening of the “The Hunting Ground” is made possible by VCU’s Office of Equity and Access Services, the VCU Police Department, The Wellness Resource Center and the Student Affairs Networking Association.

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