I’ve never really been much about advocacy. Sure I’ve donated money here and time there to a variety of causes and charities that had a message that I agreed with. But I’ve never really felt super passionate about a cause. Nothing really ever lit a fire under my butt that made me really want to get out there and spread the word on an issue.
But today as I sat on my family iPad, scrolling through Netflix titles trying to find something that really stuck with me and that I found interesting, I stumbled upon the Hunting ground.
In case you didn’t know, or haven’t heard of the ground breaking film, the documentary focuses on the recent rape epidemic and rape culture within secondary education institutions across the country. The film tells the stories of numerous rape survivors as they pursue their educations and seek justice. The documentary also provides some staggering statistics about rape culture in college campuses across the country. Along with this, the film discusses numerous different rape cover-ups and how institutions are trying to push rape cases under the rug.
I had heard of the documentary before. Previews for the film had been shown on TV and I had previously seen Lady Gaga’s powerful performance of the songs meaningful ballad “Till It Happens to You,” during the Academy Awards in February. I had meant to see the film while away at school but couldn’t really find time to do so. An hour and a half long car ride seemed like the perfect opportunity. With that, I clicked on the title and pressed play.
I’m not one to get emotional with movies, I also am not one to get completely hooked into a documentary film, but the Hunting Ground got to me. I found myself crying, completely shocked, and feeling infuriated all within 90 minutes. The Hunting Ground truly opened my eyes to the rape culture happening at universities just like mine across the country.
Although a cause had never really stuck with me before, it sure did now.
A statistic shared during the film is that 1 in 5 women are sexually assaulted while in college.
1 in 5.
That means 20% of female students will leave college having been sexually assaulted.
The movie goes on to talk about how most institution feel the need to “protect their brand,” and how the effect of sexual assault cases that may become public at school can taint a universities reputation.
For this reason, more than 90% of sexual assault victims on college campuses do not report the assault or seek help.
As I sat and listened to every victim share their stories I could vividly see myself in their shoes. I could vividly see my friends in their shoes. Every girl and guy was just like me. 18-22 years old, pursuing their undergraduate education. I could feel chills run up and down my spine as I could see and hear the pain that these horrific events had caused them.
The movie shared various statistics from some very established and renowned universities across the country, where at some universities over 100 rapes or sexual assault cases had been reported and less than 5 assailants had been expelled or suspended. In some cases of collegiate athletes, they weren’t even suspended for a single game.
College students should not feel afraid every night to go out with their friends because they feel they may be assaulted. College students should not feel like they are ashamed because of someone else’s wrong doing. College students should not feel like they can’t speak out against their attackers because they are afraid their university will harass them to not pursue charges.
The Hunting Ground opened my mind to the serious college rape epidemic we are having take place across the country right now and how we need to take a stand against attackers and administrators that try to victim blame and cover up cases. These real life stories told by victims really shed a light on the real severity to the problem. The film puts real faces and names to the serious problem taking place across our country. Change is needed and awareness of the problem is the first step to making that change.
The time to make that change is now.
If you or anyone you know is a victim of sexual assault please call the national sexual assault hotline that can connect you to local information and resources at 1-800-656-HOPE
