"The Hunting Ground" Screening

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and to shine a light on this important concern, Dixie Regional Medical Center is teaming with the DOVE Center, Dixie State University, and Washington County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition to screen the documentary “The Hunting Ground.”  Information, referrals, and prevention education resources will be offered and light refreshments served.
Chosen by the Utah Film Critics Association as the best documentary of 2015, the film reports on the widespread issues concerning campus rape, and the aftermath victims face as they come forward.  The powerful film recently received increased public attention after its Oscar-nominated song, “Till It Happens to You,” was performed by Lady Gaga, joined on stage by sexual assault survivors.
“The sobering stories and statistics that this film reveals should be mandatory education for our young men and women,” said Elizabeth Bluhm, DOVE Center Rape and Sexual Assault Advocacy Coordinator. “We made an investment to secure the rights to screen this film because we feel it’s a vital message for our community. We want parents, grandparents, educators, coaches, faith-based leaders, anyone who touches a young person’s life to have an understanding of the scope and reality of sexual violence. Ignorance does not protect innocence; in reality ignorance can endanger our innocents.”
Bluhm and her colleagues in victim advocacy strongly encourage parents to teach daughters and sons about the realities of sexual assault. “I think the important message of the film, that we echo in our prevention education, is blame does not lie with the victim. We need to have discussions about consent and recognize that our children are being bombarded with messages that tell them it’s OK to just take what you want. The message that ‘force is a turn on’ undermines the value of empathy and common decency.”
Sherri Gerry, Chairman of the Washington County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition, said, “Some people don’t understand that our community is just as affected as others. Sadly our statistics are a bit higher than the national average, and many people find this hard to believe. I understand their disbelief. I was equally as troubled when I saw the statistics.”
She added that her coalition is trying to raise awareness about the incidence of sexual crimes in southern Utah and resources available to survivors. “We want to do what we can to guard this community and the family values many hold dear. Members of this coalition want to protect our community, and to increase the sense of security for everyone who comes here.”
She applauded the message shared in “The Hunting Ground” which provides a powerful witness that sexual assault is a crime that crosses all lines of race, gender, education, and background. “Seeing their faces, hearing their stories,” Gerry said, “it makes the prevalence of sexual assault a reality, and I hope it generates some meaningful conversations in our homes.”