PETOSKEY — The Up North Green Party invites the public and interested Green voters for a viewing and discussion of the documentary film "The Hunting Ground" at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 22, at the Red Sky Stage, 445 E. Mitchell Street, Petoskey.

"The Hunting Ground," which premiered in 2015, documents the survivors of rape and sexual assault on the nation's college campuses through first-person testimonies and expert insights. The film follows two college activists who network with other survivors at colleges and universities around the country and use a Title IX legal strategy to fight the educational institutions that have tried to silence them.

Charlevoix Courier
February 16, 2018

"What happened at MSU isn't the first time a college protected sexual assault perpetrators and tried to silence survivors. One in five women in college are sexually assaulted, and few perpetrators are held responsible," said LuAnne Kozma, Up North Green Party co-chair.

The public is becoming aware of institutional cover-ups of sexual harassment and assault, because of the whistleblowing acts and legal actions by women nationally and by women and girls in the sports programs at Michigan State University who are survivors of sexual assault. But before MSU and Harvey Weinstein, several years ago survivors of sexual assault across the nation's college campuses began organizing against these educational institutions. "The Hunting Ground" is their story.

"'The Hunting Ground' helps us follow the lead of survivors in dismantling and changing the system that has for too long perpetuated rape culture, protected perpetrators and harmed yet more students," said Kozma. "It's time to act for that change."

There will be a break in the middle of the film to discuss what the Green Party can do to stand with survivors and effect change on college campuses.

The Up North Green Party is a local chapter of the Green Party of Michigan that organized in 2000 and became active in peace and environmental issues. New members are welcome.

For more information, visit www.upnorthgreenparty.org.