By Michael Bernaschina, Staff Writer
The film “The Hunting Grounds” was shown in Isaac’s Auditorium in Seibert Hall on Monday, Sept. 26 as a part of Hazing Prevention Week.
“The Hunting Grounds,” written and directed by Kirby Dick and released in 2015, is a documentary about rape and sexual assault on college campuses, their institutional cover-ups, and the impact these crimes have on victims.
After the film was shown, a panel took the stage to answer questions from the audience. The panel consisted of Barbara Johnson, Title IX coordinator and director of workforce diversity and inclusion in human resources office, Cheryl Stumpf, counselor at the counseling center, Scott Kershner, the university chaplain, Coleen Zoller, head of the philosophy department and part of the women’s studies program, Rabbi Nina Mandel, adjunct professor in both Religious Studies and Diversity Studies, and a rabbi in Sunbury, and Angelo Martin, director of public safety.
“I applaud the system here for putting this together, for inviting people to talk about it, and to being open and to say that it is everybody’s responsibility,” Rabbi Mandel said.
In response to the film’s depiction of the lack of accountability, one student in attendance opened the discussion by asking what the panel would say to potential assaulters who saw that they wouldn’t face any punishment.
“I know since I’ve been here that there have been cases reported, and cases have gone through the conduct system, so students are held accountable for their actions,” Johnson said.
“One hopes that part of the moral education people are getting is there are things that are bad and wrong to do, it doesn’t matter if you get caught,” Rabbi Mandel added.
Concerns were also raised about how the university deals with victims of sexual assault, as well as an investigation if the victim wishes to pursue one.
“I think the first thing we need to always do is make sure the victim feels comfortable when they’re talking,” Martin said.
“We have to be respectful of where the survivor is in their process, because we don’t want to prematurely push them into something that they’re not ready to do,” Stumpf said.
“Oftentimes, I’m calling [Martin] and his staff and asking if the survivor can come over and ask some questions,” Stumpf added. “So I make sure that the survivor is receiving information that is going to help them to make an informed decision about pressing charges and pursuing whether they decide to press charges legally or just here on campus.”
“It’s really important if you have friends who are experiencing something that you let your friends know that they can get the support that they need,” Johnson said. “Often- times, what I’ve learned in the Title IX trainings I’ve attended, is that if students experience sexual misconduct and then get the emotional support that they need, sometimes that will turn into wanting their case to move forward.”
However, if students are unable to get the emotional sup- port they need and attempt to handle the situation by themselves or with friends who are not equipped with the professional skills necessary to deal with it, they won’t be able to go forward, Johnson added.
“What I would recommend is that we continue this conversation,” Stumpf said. “This is not a once-and-done conversation. This is not a one-time program. We need to keep this conversation going.”
Stumpf continued: “I’m in the process of developing a group in the counseling center for survivors, and I know there are survivors out there, I know there are friends of survivors out there. I would like to talk with you, I would like to talk with you.”
“I would like to have a conversation about how we can better serve our survivors on our campus,” Stumpf added. “I think we could do a better job with that too.”
