EVERY TWO MINUTES
Beginning as a student production, Every Two Minutes is a 2014 documentary film and college orientation program that brought greater attention to the issue of sexual assault on college campuses and communities across our nation. The film weaves the narratives of 14 survivors of sexual abuse and highlights the work within the Michigan State Center for Survivors. One key voice is that of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer: then, Democratic Senate Majority Leader. In 2014, the film received a national grant from the Robin McGraw & Dr. Phil Foundation and was featured on the Dr. Phil show. The grant enabled filmmakers to tour across the Midwest to connect with Big 10 Universities and gather data on how various colleges were addressing the issue of sexual assault. In 2016, E2M grew into a college orientation program for incoming freshmen in collaboration with Neon Entertainment.
The Film
There is an average of 237,868 victims of rape and sexual assault each year; one every two minutes.
The 2014 documentary, Every Two Minutes, reveals 14 sexual assault survivors’ breaking their silence around this underreported crime. Their varying stories reveal similar themes of institutional injustice, limited resources, and disbelief. Interspersed with survivor testimonials are interviews with therapists, nurses, police, and sexual assault advocates as they unveil the largely unacknowledged community of people victimized by sexual assault. Advocates, often students, of the Michigan State University Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention Team are followed during 24-hour shifts for the program’s crisis hotline and medical advocacy response unit. The advocacy emergency response bag presents a silent narrative within the film—as the bag weaves through the testimonials of those immersed in responding to sexual violence, it serves as a constant reminder that sexual assault is not an abstract problem but one that occurs within our communities every day. Featured within the film is Governor Whitmer, who discusses her experiences as a newly recognized survivor and expresses the importance of shifting blame to the perpetrator, rising for justice, and believing survivors.
The College Orientation Program
With fragmented reporting procedures, a lack of education surrounding the recognition of non-consensual sexual interactions, and a tendency for people to perpetuate this form of violence, it can be hard to sift through all the “grey”.
The Every Two Minutes Program with Neon Entertainment addresses the often confusing and multi-faceted proponents of sexual violence on college campuses. Using testimonials from the E2M feature film, the program helps provide a face to the incredibly prevalent yet under-reported population of survivors. Students will be challenged to re-frame how they view, educate, and treat those affected by sexual assault.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Empower and motivate students to take action and respond appropriately to acts of sexual violence
Emphasize Title IX and the Federal Laws that protect students
Equip students with Bystander Intervention skills
Breakdown the Myths & Misconceptions of sexual violence and help students discern between facts and information that may perpetuate these myths
Inform students on proper reporting processes & locate university advocacy resources
Provide direction for supporting peers that may have experienced sexual assault
The Measured Impact.
Breaking Silence.
Provided 14 survivors of sexual violence a platform to share their experiences and break their silence. Their voices became a part of the larger movement and encouraged more survivors on campus to speak out and hold their perpetrators accountable.
Preventing Future Violence.
Served as part of mandatory training programs for incoming college freshmen and campus athletic programs - created in 2015 out of the new Title XI Executive Orders requiring training for all students.
Connecting Communities.
Connected with 12 University programs (including the Big 10) across the Midwest to collect data, and compare resources available for sexual assault survivors on campus. The collaboration helped universities create stronger initiatives to address the issue more effectively.
Equipping Our Advocates.
Assisted in essential training for incoming hotline crisis and medical advocates alongside Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Units. The film was adopted into the training for incoming students for the Sexual Assualt Crisis Intervention Team.
