Focus on Campus Sex Assault

The critically acclaimed documentary “The Hunting Ground,” which covers the widespread problem of sexual assault on college campuses, will be screened on Monday at the East Hampton Library.

The library and East Hampton Town’s Department of Human Services, along with the East Hampton Town Police Department, the Family Service League, the Retreat domestic violence shelter, East Hampton High School, and I-Tri, an empowerment-through-athletics program for teenage girls, are jointly sponsoring the screening in order to get the message out to young people that sexual assault is a problem among college students. The film presents research showing that one in five women in college experience sexual assault, most often in their freshman or sophomore years, and 5 percent of men in college are also victims.

The screening and a subsequent panel discussion with local experts will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Baldwin Family Lecture Room. The 45-minute high school version of the film will be shown. It is targeted at youth ages 15 and up, their parents, parents of middle school students, and teachers. Students who attend will receive credit for two hours of community service.

“Sexual assault is a national issue that seriously threatens our young people’s safety and well-being,” East Hampton Town Councilwoman Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said in a statement. “Through the viewing of this film, our community will gain a clearer understanding of sexual assault, its impact on our young people, and how we can empower them to stay safe and make smart choices.”