Alderman Hosts Screening of 'The Hunting Ground' Examining Sex Assault on College Campuses

CHICAGO, IL -- It’s a film that every young man or woman should watch before heading off to college, and a documentary that parents should view with their high school-aged son or daughter.

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th) wants to fill the theater at the Beverly Arts Center on Aug. 24 with community members for a special screening of the Kirby Dick and producer Amy Ziering’s Academy Award-nominated documentary, The Hunting Ground, which examines rape and sexual assault on college campuses. Annie Clark, one of the survivors and activists profiled in the film, will be available for an audience question-and-answer session after the screening. The screening is sponsored by the 19th Ward Youth Foundation and the domestic violence and sexual assault advocates group Chicago Says No More.

“With so many local kids heading back to school I think it is an important topic to highlight,” O’Shea said. “I’d like to get as many parents of college age students involved in this conversation as possible.”

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Filled with survivors’ stories and staggering statistics, the shocking 2015 documentary is the kind of film that most adults, women especially, wish they had seen before heading off to college.

According to the film. 20 percent of female college students will become victims of sexual assault, or 1 in 5. Two of three sexual abusers are repeat offenders, and, shockingly, 95 percent of sex assault on college campuses is never reported.

The Hunting Ground trailer

The Hunting Ground also examines the lengths administrators have gone to cover up sex assault and protect offenders -- while doing nothing for the victims -- at their respective schools.

“Kids go off to college and they’re on their own,” O’Shea said. “They’re lucky if they know a few friends on campus. They often find themselves in difficult situations that they’re not prepared for.”

BAC will screen The Hunting Ground at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 24. Tickets are $7.50 for members, $9.50 non-members. The Hunting Ground is rated PG-13. Tickets can be purchased in advance online.

“I want to reach out to local high schools to come see this film,” O’Shea said, the father of three children, including a soon-to-be McAuley freshman. “It’s very powerful. There are some graphic descriptions. You’ll be shocked by the schools in the film. Harvard and Notre Dame are mentioned.”

Beverly Arts Center is located at 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago.