The Hunting Ground (Trey and Sebastian)

Sebastian Nalls & Trey Dawkins

“It is a newspaper’s duty to print the news and raise hell.”

-The Chicago Times

The press has four essential roles: holding government leaders accountable to the people, publicizing issues that need addressing, educating citizens so they can make informed decisions, and connecting people with each other in civil society.

The term “fake news” is loosely thrown around as a result of the election of President Donald Trump. It is often used to describe media outlets that don’t accurately depict the truth of a given situation, either by bias or blatant ignorance. However if something is “fake news”, is it actually news anymore? If the press is falsely educating citizens, are they fulfilling their job as the press?

CNN Films produced the well known documentary called The Hunting Ground in 2015, hoping to educate individuals on the horrors of sexual assault on college campuses. Sexual assault and harassment on college campuses is a rampant problem that is actively being covered up by Universities across the United States to protect certain individuals and their own reputation. These documentaries are the perfect tool in educating the masses of this systemic issue. After watching the film for the fourth time, I am still shaken by the statistics and the stories of individuals affected by sexual assault. Documentaries, such as The Hunting Ground, should be shown to everyone, especially those selecting colleges.

The airing of “The Hunting Ground” brings forth new questions instead of answers on the role of the press in society. Should the press tell both sides of the story or the side that agrees with the narrative of their message?

Kamilah Willingham’s story in The Hunting Ground is a warning sound to those planning to attend college. However, the article written by Emily Yoffe presents a harsh reality. The disparities of this case and the following controversies were enormous. Brandon Winston went through multiple hearings, vigorous interviews, and he missed the 2011-2012 school year. Kamilah Willingham wasn’t actually presented as a victim, but as a witness because there was no evidence that Winston had assaulted her. Winston was being charged with touching Kamilah friend when she was asleep. He was found guilty of one of the lesser chargers as the jury said they [Kamilah friend and Winston] were both drunk and had both mutually kissed each other.

Winston’s life is now ruined. He most likely will not hold a job with his law degree as this is a stain on his record. Because of this movie however, his life is further degraded by the blurring of the case. Throughout the documentary, the filmmakers accurately show the terrible nature of college campuses and administrations, however, they do it at the expense of a young man who may not have even committed the crime.

The filmmakers themselves say that they did extensive fact checking on all of the cases, which creates even more problems seeing as they allowed this case to be portrayed in the way it was.

It is the press’ job to tell the truth and to do so accurately. This documentary would be perfect if not for the story of Kamilah as it starts to lose credibility with it. It only strengthens the argument that men are under threat of being falsely accused and having their lives ruined, even though that false accusations of rape and sexual harassment are a small percentage of overall rape accusations. If you want to include controversial cases such as Kamilah, you have to show both sides of the equation. If you don’t, you are only adding fuel for the counter-argument.

More documentaries such as The Hunting Ground are needed in today’s society where these sexual assaults are rampant. I personally believe that more documentaries for all social issues should be made because media is a fantastic tool to educate the masses. However, the full truth must be told if a scenario is to be presented, whether it be statistics or an investigation. By telling the full truth, the documentary secures the moral high ground. Education is the key to progress, so that is exactly what individuals must do; but, among others, the press should print the news and raise hell by telling the whole story.

1. How can we raise awareness to this problem so people can believe, empathize and support survivors without having to experience the trauma themselves? What voice should the accused hold in these situations?
            I think awareness relies on the people who make choices in punishing those who committed such hurtful and inhumane acts. The best way to support survivors of this I think would be emotional counseling, support, and closure. Closure in the sense that someone who is convicted of rape is severely punished. The accused should be given the right to a fair trial but if they are convicted of the crime, they have no more voice because they don't deserve it.

2. When was the organization founded?

Title IX was an organization founded in 2013 by a group of sexual assault and sexual harassment survivors from all genders, races, and sexual orientations.

3. What are the organization's key objectives?

The key objectives for the Title IX organization is for the education of high school and college students about their rights to an education without fear of sexual violence. Also the support of victims who have been sexually assaulted, raped, or harassed by counseling and sometimes closure if possible. They also advocate for policy changes for campuses across the United States in the hopes that change can happen and that further violence can be controlled and stopped.

4. Where does this organization receive its funding?

The organization is a nonprofit organization so it receives a majority of its funding from donations. Donors include people and different organizations with the same objectives.

5. How has the organization been portrayed in the news?

The organization has been portrayed positively in the news. In a majority of news coverage, the organization has been connected with positive outreaches to survivors in need and for people testifying against their abusers. In more recent news, the group has been targeting Secretary of Education Betsy Devos plan to change Title IX which could hurt the chances of ever being reform to college campus sexual violence and college safety.

Choose a picture from “The Hunting Ground”

I chose this picture because from other related stories about sexual violence on college campus, this picture resonates how dangerous college can be. You can see a women walking across a bridge but she's a lone and it's dark outside. In many stories of sexua assault on college campuses, these assaults happen at night and in dark places. I also see a metaphor with this photo because of its relationship with a female walking towards the unknown. Like what's gonna happen when she keeps walking across the bridge? Will it be good or bad?