The Hunting Ground And The Book Crash Into Me

When thinking of college campuses, most adults would assume that these campuses are one hundred percent safe for their children to attend. The film The Hunting Ground and the book Crash Into Me, by Liz Seccuro, were both introduced in class, and demonstrate how college campuses are not as safe as they’re advertised to be. Both the film, and the movie together depicted how college campuses deal with the outcome of a sexual assault on campus, which is not adequate or acceptable for today’s standards in helping aid sexual assault victims. As expressed in the film, The Hunting Ground (2015), one in every five women while attending college, have been sexually assaulted during their time period at college. This film informs viewers of the existent

widespread dispute in society concerning sexual assault on college campuses. Throughout the book, Crash Into Me, there are various examples of how the University of Virginia had handled Liz’s sexual assault claim inefficiently. Liz even went to the medical center on campus, which was not of much help to her either in this case.
The factors that influence the decision to investigate a sexual assault on the college campus, does not have a wide range to work with. Most college campuses do not report the actual amount of sexual assaults their campuses incur, nor do they really aid victims in the situation at hand. From watching the film The Hunting Ground and reading the book Crash Into Me, it illustrated how college campuses decide whether or not to pursue an investigation. Both demonstrate how college campus officials victim blame the individual, which deters the victim from further reporting for fear that it was their fault. In the book, Crash Into Me (2011), Liz was asked various victim-blaming questions regarding her sexual assault on campus, questions referring to what she was wearing, if she was sure if she was raped or just regretted sex the next morning, or if she had anything to drink, etc.
In addition to this, campuses also want some form of evidence involved with the case in order to investigate to a more full extent. Even though Liz in the book had her undergarments left over, this was not sufficient enough evidence for the campus to investigate. The University of Virginia had treated Liz’s case carelessly, and told her she could not report to the police, since they did not have jurisdiction over the fraternity part of the campus (Crash Into Me, 2011). This campus puts Liz in a situation where she feels there was nothing she, or the campus, nor the police could do, and there was nobody who could or would listen to her claim. This outcome from the college left Liz unaided and helpless as a victim of sexual assault on her own campus.
Following the reading, the film presented in class also single-handedly mentions various high-rated, and elite schools that have problems with sexual assault on their campuses. Some college campuses mentioned in the film over sexual assault on college campuses were Notre Dame, Harvard, Berkley, and Florida State. The film, The Hunting Ground (2015), states there were numerous studies conducted nationally and individually in the past decade that have came to the conclusion that roughly twenty percent of women, who are college students, will be sexually victimized throughout the duration of college. By knowing this, it establishes to viewers just how immense this issue has grown to become on college campuses, and how college campuses are not effectively and efficiently helping the sexual assault victims on their campuses.
One very good example of how college campuses handle sexual assault investigations from the film, The Hunting Ground (2015), was from a woman that goes by the name of Kamilah Willingham. A fellow classmate at Harvard assaulted her and her friend while they were asleep and/or unconscious. She had reported this to her school, and the school had conducted their own hearing over the case of whether or not to remove him from Harvard, if he did in fact violate the school’s code regarding sexual assault. At first, Harvard had the assailant removed from school and found that he had touched these women without their consent and while they were unconscious. Throughout the following of the film, The Hunting Ground (2015), it later progresses that this offender wants to appeal the decision and come back to Harvard. Willingham was never notified of the appeal, or the decision that they had made to allow him to come back and attend Harvard. In this case it represents how careless campuses’ are regarding their Title IX policies. Obviously Harvard violates that policy by not informing the victim of the appeal, the findings, the decision, and the final vote regarding her offender’s appeal to come back and attend Harvard.
Another example from the film, The Hunting Ground (2015), would be the case of Erica Kinsman and Jameis Winston, which was a case heard about not only locally in her area, but nationwide due to the fact that Winston was a “star,” football athlete at Florida State University.

The police department was as much of a culprit as the college campus itself in regards to dealing with sexual assault cases. Both institutions delayed the investigation, and postponed talking to Winston due to the fact that this was a football town. The Hunting Ground (2015) depicts how not only the police, and the campus neglect Kinsman assault, but also how the public affected her investigation. The football community surrounding this campus, with the up and coming football legend Winston had driven Kinsman right out of Tallahassee. Winston’s DNA was not taken, nor was he interviewed as a top suspect, and neither was his phone records taken. Sixty-six days had passed, and the police department closes the case because they had no evidence to support Kinsman claim, nor did they attempt to get any evidence from the perpetrator Winston (The Hunting Ground, 2015). In addition to that, following up a year after the rape was reported to the police and the school, the campus finally did their own investigation. Winston refused to talk to them; therefore the case was closed again until brought up again another two years later. During this time Kinsman was asked over one hundred questions, while Winston was only asked three questions regarding his assault on Kinsman (The Hunting Ground, 2015). This is a perfect example of how college campuses treat the victims of

assault.
A great quote that ties into this film is stated in Crash Into Me, “Remember, in a rape case, it is never ever the alleged rapist on trial, whether in the courtroom or in the media. The victim is on trial. Always.” (Securro, 2011, p. 114). In this case against Winston, Kinsman is the one trial even though she was the one who was assaulted, as opposed to the football star Winston who is given special treatment and consideration. This is in part due to the fact that FSU is a football town/campus with a lot of donors and sponsors behind it; therefore the school and the police department want to sweep this case under rug, as if it never happened since Winston is star football player for FSU.
To summarize the cinematic, and literature overview of how college campuses handle and investigate sexual assault cases is astonishingly horrendous and a widespread issue; therefore, alterations in policies need to be implemented on college campuses regarding sexual assault investigations/cases. Future campuses need to help aid sexual assault victims more adequately in their cases, and give them any information and resources needed. Every claim on a college campus should be investigated to the fullest extent starting now and for future cases. There should be mandated reporting with a hefty fine attached to it if colleges do not comply with reporting the actual number of sexual assaults on their campuses; however, if they do not comply continuously but still pay the fine, there should be the option to cut funds completely to all schools and be in possible shut down if the sexual assaults and other crimes in general are not being reported.