The Hunting Ground

This movie will alternatingly sadden and enrage you. As I watched the movie, I kept coming back to the opening scene, where students and their families anxiously awaited admission decisions from colleges. The perverse incentives regarding reporting and follow up for sexual assault are inextricably tied to the admissions race. Institutions fear that disclosure of what happens on college campus might dampen parents' enthusiasm in joining the insanity. Colleges may wish that everything that happens at college stays at college, but it has never been less true than today, when social media makes it likely it will be on the front page of the NYT tomorrow. The Harvard professor correctly noted that more parents would be reluctant to send their kids at all if colleges were forced to disclose openly that women had a 1 in 5 chance of being a violent crime victim. The movie underscores that rather than take the high road, too many colleges turn a blind eye and instead follow the siren call of money. According to the movie, vigilance and follow up in three areas could have a significant impact :(1) fraternities where binge drinking and sexual assualt go hand in hand(due to fraternity members' above average post graduate giving and the important role Greek houses play in housing students) (2) recidivists, as predatory actors account for a disproportionate number of assauts, seemingly without consequence (yet nevertheless the accused sue the colleges at higher rates than victims) and (3) the revenue playing fields, where athletes in the revenue sports engage in assault at greater rates than their non-athlete peers (follow the money once again--though clearly, not all athletes should be tarred with this broad brush; it seems linked more to football and basketball players than other sports, which suggests greater screening in those areas). Can't we encourage all media outlets, including U S News & Forbes, that publish college ratings to publish the list of schools under investigation for Title IX violations and a summary of the claims, with the schools' response? Let's get after the rankers to give us the info. They have done so much to contribute to this problem; if they are truly concerned that consumers have access to information, they are free to take the high road and provide it. No libel concerns--this is all in the public record. No one thinks it will happen to them, and sadly, for 1 out of 5 women, it does. Some of the stories are heartbreaking. Are you listening Notre Dame and St. Mary's? May Lizzie S. and Rachel haunt your righteous prayers forever.Next time I meet with my homeowner insurer, I plan to ask if they write policies for fraternities. If they do, I plan to look further. If fraternities couldn't get insurance, they wouldn't be serving booze. Better yet, encourage colleges not to permit serving liquor on campus, except at events for non sutdents. Employers or college placement offices should announce that they intend not to interview candidates or permit interviews of students affiliated with fraternities or other organizations implicated in Title IX violations. Colleges and universities need to be serious--if your organization tarnishes our name, you will not be using our services. Victims are now stepping forward, to hold predators to account. You need to show the courage of the kids you committed to "educate."That being said, the movie too often glosses over the the significant issue of due process to the accused. These kids are accused of crimes, and they should be afforded the protections of courts. These are legal adults. Everyone needs to face the consequences of their decisions, and schools should get out of the kangaroo court business enitrely.Call the police. This is what we hire them for. And, sadly, I say this as a woman, women need to take responsibility for their drinking. It is a fact that it puts them at risk.No one is blaming them--they are asking a question that goes to your ability to consent and the social context in which the alleged assault occurred. A victim's dress or drink doesn't absolve others of their wrongdoing, but why go there? Once an assault occurs, it is on the table, because it has to be. You are accusing someone of a heinous crime, and they are allowed to show the circumstances of the encounter. Grow up and realize there are bad guys out there. Act like an adult. I just don't remember 1 out of 5 friends being assaulted years ago, when we could legally drink at 18. Kids are arriving at college with the idea that they worked hard to get there, and they are entitled to party. Sorry, you are entitled to receive education, training and skills. We need to shut the party scene down much more convincingly. If college presidents acted in concert, together, and got after those three areas, along with drinking and the party scene, there could be some real progress.

This is an inspirational, well-documented presentation of the cover-up of cases of rape by universities across the nation from the Ivy league and large state funded public universities to remote, rural colleges. The documentary is called the Hunting Ground, because college campuses are where rapist predators thrive on abundant and unprepared prey. Starting the first couple of weeks into the first semester rapists go to work. The documentary makes an excellent case about how universities are more worried about protecting their brand name than protecting vulnerable students. The documentary also shows student survivors of rape how get some traction when seeking justice for having been victims of assault on campus. Title Nine lawsuits are the answer. They seem to be the only way to get the legal wheels spinning and to get the universities to take cases seriously. For one university the penalty for rape was to suspend the rapist "after graduation." This is one of the best documentaries concerning the perils of life on campus. Please watch this documentary!!

This was a very well done film. I wish I could say I was shocked by what it revealed, but I'm not. Universities, despite all their very eloquent protestations are not looking out for our children, and particularly not our girls. If you thought that having a female dean would mean more serious consideration of this epidemic you would be very sadly mistaken. The female deans just continued the unstated policy to do everything you can to keep the student from reporting the crime to the police or pursuing any action whatsoever all to protect the reputation of the university as a safe place to be, which it is clearly NOT. Really made me physically ill listening to them talk a good game and then just continue the same behavior where they allegiance is unambiguously on the side of the perpetrator, even when the know for a FACT that he's guilty. The saddest thing for me about this film was a scene showing a large group of fraternity brothers outside a girl's dorm screaming "no means yes!". I can't imagine how devastated I would be as a parent to see my son join the "current and future rapists club". I would consider myself a complete failure as a parent. What kind of sub-human scumbag do you have to be proud of victimizing others?? How tragic it is to see that behavior encouraged and reinforced by college administrators and other students. After watching this film I think it's clear that if you send your kids to college, especially your daughters, you do so "at your own risk".

I won't lie this film made me cry. I was recommended this film as a source for my collage essay and wow just wow. It's incredible hearing what hell these victims of rape went through. Really eye opening on just how bad this problem really is.

A must see, for any parent of high school children. I would recommend watching it with both your male and female teens and having a frank discussion about how he or she can protect him or her self from becoming a victim or perpetrating these crimes. And I'm not talking about not drinking and not going to parties because that probably won't happen. The reality is that if your children put themselves in these situations, they should have a safety net: a group of friends that watch out for each other with a designated non drinker, who makes the decision when someone needs to go home. It may not protect everyone but it's a start.The other thing that needs to be said is that if this happens to you, get help immediately and don't believe it was your fault. Call home, call a friend, but get emotional support.I watched this 3 times as a rental and then decided to buy it to lend to friends. This needs to become a very public conversation and the place to start is at home. A great companion read is John Krakauer's: Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town

Every high school senior should see this film.

This Blu Ray was advertised as Region Free; but it wouldn't play in a UK Region 2 player.Consequently, I don't know what the film is like.I returned it and got a full refund including postage.

Der Titel sagt schon alles, wäre nett gewesen, wenn die Info beim Kauf dabei stünde!! Sehr schade, da ich mich auf die DVD sehr freute.