The Hunting Ground has been a magnet for controversy since it premiered at Sundance last February. It has been shown at hundreds of college campuses, provoking heated discussions about the prevalence of sexual assault as well as how educational institutions handle accusations of rape. The film has also elicited protests from administrators and faculty from some of the schools that it names along with questions about its objectivity. In this week’s conversation, Robert and filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering don’t shy away from the criticism of the film. They engage in an energetic dialogue about what contributes to the high rate of sexual assault on college campuses as well as why The Hunting Ground has provoked more debate than their earlier film, The Invisible War about sexual assault in the military. They also discuss the movement the film has helped to inspire and why they believe it should be shown on every college campus.
Quote by director Kirby Dick:
“What you’ve seen is these colleges and universities putting their own reputation and their financial well-being ahead of the safety of their students.”
Credits
Guests:
Kirby Dick – film producer and director, Amy Ziering – film producer and director
Host:
Robert Scheer
Producers:
Joshua Scheer, Rebecca Mooney