Students sit and watch a documentary called “The Hunting Ground” in the Hoff Theater on Wednesday, October 21, 2015.
“We can stop this” were the final words members of the University of Maryland Greek life community saw after viewing The Hunting Ground, a documentary on how universities handle sexual misconduct.
More than 150 fraternity and sorority members gathered last night in Hoff Theater to watch the film, which focuses on sexual assaults occurring across university campuses nationwide and how the schools’ administrations handle the matter.
“Sexual assault has obviously been an issue for a long time, but in recent years it’s risen to the top of the list of things everyone is concerned about,” said Noelle Roy, the Panhellenic Association vice president of social responsibility. “This screening came from our wanting to do something to bring awareness to sexual assault on our campus and in our community, because it’s such a big issue.”
PHA marketed the event exclusively toward Greek students, said Roy, a senior communication and theatre major.
“Knowing it was an issue in our community, we wanted to tailor it so it was a safe space for Greeks to come and learn about a very big issue in their community without feeling like there were external pressures,” Roy said.
PHA applied for the screening after members of the executive board watched the film and were moved by its rawness, Roy said.
“I hope everyone finds the film to be as impactful and moving and motivating as the Panhellenic Executive Board did. After watching it, we kind of just sat in silence for 10 to 15 minutes and then just spewed everything we were thinking,” Roy said. “It was so amazing that people lived this — everything that happened in the film — and that it happens behind closed doors, on campus, to people we know.”
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Junior Samantha Hamburger said this was her second time seeing the “inspirational” film, and said she hopes students leave feeling more educated about this issue.
“It’s just a topic that I’m really passionate about, and I just thought [the documentary] was extremely moving and impactful,” the psychology major said. “Education is a huge part of it and just making this a topic that everyone cares about — no matter gender, race, sexuality.”
Senior Melodi Chabuk also said she believes awareness and education is the first step in addressing this stigmatized topic.
“Awareness, first of all — it’s great that Maryland is showing this, because hopefully we’re not going to do this as a school — treating men and women who are sexually assaulted the way other schools have in the video,” the economics and government and politics major said.
This university has made an increased effort to address issues surrounding sexual misconduct.
READ MORE: Freshman orientation didn’t address UMD’s sexual misconduct policy
Catherine Carroll, the university’s first sexual misconduct and Title IX compliance director, took office in March 2014, and the University Senate approved a new sexual misconduct policy in April. The interim sexual misconduct procedures are undergoing senate review.
Junior Samantha Stull also said she hopes the university remains accommodating in the face of these occurrences.
“I understand the university wants to keep up the image that this campus is safe,” the art history and communication major said. “But being even more transparent with parents and students is better.”
Students were also given the opportunity to voice their thoughts, concerns and experiences during a Q-and-A session with representatives from Campus Advocates Respond and Educate to Stop Violence, the athletic department, the Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct, the Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Annie Clark, executive director of End Rape on Campus and a sexual assault victim featured throughout the film.
Stull said she hopes the university continues to have showings of these documentaries and made some suggestions on how the university can improve education and awareness of sexual misconduct.
READ MORE: University Police respond to report of rape, Title IX-related incident
“I think that opening up a sexual assault or domestic violence open forum to every student would be a really great way to get student inputs on how to help the university,” Stull said. “Because this is such a sensitive topic because there is so much that goes into it, I think that movies and images are the most effective and powerful way to get these messages through.”
Senior Brianna Mashel also shared some ideas on how the university can improve its attitude toward sexual misconduct.
“Awareness is the first step, and our [sorority] chapter participates in [forums], so maybe making that more of a requirement outside of Greek life,” the government and politics and history major said. The university “needs to show that it is an actual problem, and oftentimes it’s ignored.”
