Film Analysis: The Hunting Ground

The Hunting Ground, a popular documentary publicized by Lady Gaga and former Vice President Joe Biden, highlighted the role collegiate fraternities play in creating a culture of sexual violence. In fact, Sigma Alpha Epsilon gained the notorious pseudonym of Sexual Assault Expected for the frequent acts of sexual assault associated with their fraternity (Scully). Although the documentary highlighted just one specific fraternity, it also discussed the pervasive culture of sexual violence in fraternities across the nation. Like all social organizations, fraternities possessed a culture designed to reinforce certain behaviors. The culture of collegiate fraternities encouraged sexual assault through peer pressure, substance abuse, and college administration

complicity.
Statistical evidence demonstrated that fraternities comprised a disproportionate amount of college sexual assault cases. A study conducted in 2009 by Jaqueline Minow and Christopher Einolf, found that one-third of all rapes reported on college campuses occurred at a fraternity house (Minow). Since only one-in-eight college students participate as members in Greek life, fraternities represent a disproportionate percentage of all campus rapes (Scully). The elevated statistics reflect the existence of a culture that encourages sexual violence. Insurance statistics proved the prevalence of sexual assault at fraternities. Many national fraternities purchased insurance policies to cover injuries suffered at fraternity houses. A 2010 study by a major fraternity insurance provider, found that fifteen percent of all insurance claims related to sexual assault (Scully). However, experts agreed that the actual number of sexual assaults remained underrepresented because victims lacked knowledge of the claim process (Scully). These insurance statistics further indicate the frequency with which sexual assault occurs in relationship to collegiate fraternities. Although statistics indicate that collegiate fraternities were unequivocally related to high rates of sexual violence, actual rates are difficult to prove because of under reporting. While there are documented cases of sexual assault on all campuses, forty-five percent of colleges reported no cases of sexual violence in 2012 (Scully). To make matters worse, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos eliminated the requirement for colleges to report these cases in September of 2017 because she believed that the accused were being treated unfairly. Still, the numbers proved that fraternities play a major role in sexual violence on campus.
The propensity of fraternity brothers to commit sexual assault resulted from cultural factors that produced a predatory behavior.

Peer pressure caused many of the problems in the fraternities by creating an environment that encouraged and normalized sexual aggression. Fraternity brothers pressured other members to have sex, even going to the extent of aiding each other in “prepping for assault” (Starecheski). As they encouraged one another, the issue became not just an individual flaw, but a group failure. The collective behavior meant that the instant a potential victim entered the door, they were surrounded by multiple predators instead of just an individual. Many times, these men minimized their actions by failing to recognize their behavior as aggressive (Starecheski). In The Hunting Grounds, one male stated in an interview, “Just because they had sex and she said no, doesn’t make it rape.” Fraternity members later bragged to their friends about the assault, and as a result, they would receive praise (Starecheski). While not all brothers participated, none of them did anything to stop or prevent these occurrences. Between encouragement and passivity, normalization of sexual assault in fraternities emerged. Doctor John Foubert, a researcher at Oklahoma State University, said, "One of the things that matters most to boys and emerging adult men is the opinion of other men" (Starecheski). He continued to discuss that many of the men disagreed with their peers’ decisions, but the silence of others motivated them to remain silent as well (Starecheski). Sexual violence in fraternities continued because the people with knowledge of the incidences failed to react. Due to the lack of action, a culture grew and thrived without negative

repercussions.
Peer pressure existed in many different forms including predatory emails, sexual competition, and mob scenes. In 2013, a Georgia Tech fraternity brother sent an email to multiple fraternity brothers that discussed luring “rape bait” (Gehlbach). The email advised other brothers to get women drunk, assault them, and then “expunge” (Gehlbach). In this context, expunge means to remove the woman from his room after forcible intercourse. Some of the fraternity brothers later claimed that this email was a joke and showed little to no remorse about their actions (Gehlbach). The normalization of sexual assault in this fraternity grew obvious when this serious matter twisted into a joke. The attitudes expressed by fraternity members in the email proved that the men either did not know that the email described rape or lacked the conscious to feel remorse. Many other fraternities participated in competitions that sexually degraded women, with younger members occasionally using rape to gain social status (Carone). For example, fraternity brothers at Pennsylvania State photographed topless and unconscious women (Paquette). A private Facebook page featured these photos in a competition for the most photographs (Paquette). The men at Pennsylvania State proved their total disregard for woman in making their bodies an object and a game. At Yale, rape culture included a mob from Delta Kappa Epsilon Phi fraternity chanting outside of a dorm that housed freshmen women (Foderaro). The fraternity’s pledges shouted, “No means yes, yes means anal” (Foderaro). The fraternity often practiced this degrading behavior as a part of fraternity rush week. Cultural practices like these have contributed to an environment that belittled women and promoted predatory practices.
Substance abuse also played a part in fraternity rape culture. Often, alcohol deliberately supplied to women made them less inhibited or blackout drunk, allowing the men to preform sexual acts with less resistance (Jozkowski). The alcohol interfered with the brain’s functioning, resulted in poor judgement, and caused a woman to be overly flirtatious (“Alcohol’s Effect on the Body”). If a woman acted this way, a fraternity member interpreted this as consent for sex. Also, a victim could be unconscious or confused making it impossible for her to have consented to sexual acts. The fraternity brothers neglected to recognize that legal and ethical sexual behavior requires cognizant consent from all parties involved. Date rape drugs were another way fraternity men used chemical substances to manipulate women (“Date Rape Drugs”). Rohypnol, commonly known as roofies, caused judgement loss, unconsciousness, hallucinations, and drowsiness (“Date Rape Drugs”). Although roofies were the most commonly used drugs, they were gradually being replaced by drugs less likely to discolor or cloud beverages (“Date Rape Drugs”). Other drugs commonly used included Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid and Ketamine (“Date Rape Drugs”). Gamma Hydroxybutyric acid comes in a liquid form that is odorless and colorless, therefore undetectable to the victim (“Date Rape Drugs”). In situations with date rape drugs, the victim’s ability to consent or even maintain consciousness was robbed from them. Substance abuse created a perfect environment for predators to violate women.
Many specific incidents of substance abuse existed and created an even larger problem with fraternity sexual violence. At Tau Kappa Epsilon, three women and one man were hospitalized for drug overdose, each had a different colored x on his or her hand (“Fraternity In Milwaukee Suspended…”). After investigation, law enforcement concluded that the different colored x’s identified which individuals would be targeted with a specific drug, while the male victim was accidentally drugged by drink sharing (“Fraternity In Milwaukee Suspended…”). Further investigation proved the female victims were sexually assaulted after being drugged (“Fraternity In Milwaukee Suspended…”). The incidence showed evidence of premeditated coordination amongst fraternity brothers to commit sexual assault. Victims were targeted as they walked through the door rendering them incapable of consent. In another event, University of Missouri Delta Upsilon fraternity supplied new members with date rape drugs (“University of Missouri…”). In order to become a brother, they were required to use them to sexually assault women (“University of Missouri…”). The abuse of alcohol and drugs facilitated sexual exploitation, often leaving the victim with little or no memory of the event.
Failure of college administrations to respond to sexual assaults further enabled fraternities to perpetuate a rape culture. Colleges worried that their reputation would be affected in annual crime statistics underreported sexual violence. Academic institutions relied on tuition, so to protect the college, administrators dissuaded victims from reporting sexual assault by questioning their clothing choices, alcohol consumption, and behavior (Scully). Studies estimated that only 20 percent of victims actually reported sex crimes (“The Criminal Justice System: Statistics.”). Victims were plagued by shame, isolation, and fear. Other money considerations also led colleges to avoid punishing fraternities accused of sexual assault. The Greek system provided three billion dollars of housing to students that would otherwise depend