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University of Iowa News Release
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Nov. 30, 2011 UI hosts re-showing of documentary Boys and Men Healing Dec. 7 The recent high-profile sexual abuse cases of young boys at both Penn State and Syracuse Universities are triggering painful memories for victims and survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) everywhere, according to local advocates and counselors.
Because of this, the UI will bring back a documentary that was originally shown on campus last spring as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The film is titled Boys and Men Healing and will be shown at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, in the Ohio State Room (Room 343) of the Iowa Memorial Union. It is free and open to the public.
This event is co-sponsored by RVAP, University Counseling Service, and WRAC.
"In light of these high-profile cases, we decided to offer another opportunity for campus and community members to come together to view and discuss this film," Stewart Kroon says, "and hopefully connect CSA survivors with the resources and support they need to heal, especially for those who have never talked about this before." Although the recent cases are drawing more attention to this issue, this is not a new problem, Stewart Kroon says. In fact, it is estimated that 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18. However, there is often a lack of understanding about the healing process of adult male survivors of CSA. "Though this film focuses on male survivors of CSA, a topic which until recent days has not received a great deal of public notice, we hope that by viewing and listening to the stories of the men in the film, attendees will gain greater insight into CSA and its particular impact on boys and men, as well as survivors of all kinds of sexual abuse, of all genders," Stewart Kroon says. For more information on RVAP, visit http://www.uiowa.edu/~rvap/. For more information on University Counseling Service, visit http://www.uiowa.edu/ucs/, and for more information on WRAC, visit http://www.uiowa.edu/~wrac/. For more information or special accommodations to attend this event, call WRAC at 319-335-1486. NOTE TO EDITORS: Members of the media are welcome to interview any of the organizers prior to the documentary screening, but they ask that members of the media not cover the actual event to honor the privacy of victims/survivors who may attend. STORY SOURCE: University of Iowa News Services, 300 Plaza Centre One, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-2500 MEDIA CONTACTS: Linda Kroon, WRAC, 319-335-1486, linda-kroon@uiowa.edu; Ren Stinson, University Counseling Service, 319-335-7294, ren-stinson@uiowa.edu; Jerrod Koon, WRAC, jerrod-koon@uiowa.edu; Lois Gray, University News Services, 319-384-0077, lois-gray@uiowa.edu
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"Those in the counseling professions are hearing more from people who experienced child sexual abuse because of the extensive media coverage and more people talking about this in every day conversations," says Linda Stewart Kroon, director of the University of Iowa Women's Resource and Action Center (WRAC).
The one-hour film will be followed by a Q & A and discussion period, facilitated by Jerrod Koon (photo, right), a WRAC counselor and UI graduate student in the UI College of Education's counseling psychology program, and Ren Stinson (photo, bottom left), a staff psychologist with University Counseling Service. Trained advocates from the UI Rape Victim Advocacy Program (RVAP) will also be available to provide information, resources, and support.
Boys and Men Healing is a documentary about the impact that sexual abuse of boys has on the individual and society. The documentary emphasizes the importance of healing and speaking out for male survivors. The film portrays the stories of three courageous men whose healing process helped them reclaim their lives -- while giving them a powerful voice to speak out, and take bold action toward prevention for other boys. The film includes a support group of men and is testimony to the importance of men finding safe places to support one another and share their stories together.