OCR Text |
Show Tl Monday, December 3, 1990 The Daily Utah Chronicle - Page Four QJ. student makes documentary on sexual abuse By Michael Sea re Chronicle Staff Writer A University of Utah graduate student recently completed a documentary video designed to help facilitate the reevaluation of the U.S. Justice System's approach to child sexual abuse cases. Rhea Gavry, a U. graduate student in film studies, recently video documentary, "After completed a one-hou- r McMartin...VVho Walks Point?," designed as a reaction to the recent McMartin child molestation case in California. "The video features top national professionals in the field of child sexual abuse intervention and treatment responding to the recent McMartin preschool trial decision," Gavry said. Peggy McMartin Buckey and her son, Ray Buckey, were brought to trial in 1983, charged with running a "large, satanic, sex ring," in a Manhattan Beach preschool. The couple was charged with 65 counts of child molestation. After two and a half years and more than $15 million in trial costs the longest, costliest trial in United States history the McMartins were acquitted of all charges. "When that happened, a lot of people in the child sexual abuse field were shocked," Gavry said. "And this film is in response to that decision." The decision created a large amount of concern about the way in which child sexual molestation cases are handled, Gavry said. therapists question sexually abused children, in the way interviews with abused children are videotaped, in the sensational allegations presented, and in the way the media reports on child molestation cases. After the decision, several national child sexual abuse organizations contacted Gavry to create a documentary showing the varied reactions from experts in the field. The video will be screened twice on Dec. 4 in the Salt Cancer fcjrt l.img and Hlood Dental Research Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and Deafness and Other Disorders Allergy and Infectious Disease General Medical Sciences Child Health and Human Development Eye Institute 1 International Center Human Genome Research Library of Medicine Total of the Utah Child Sexual Abuse Task Force; Barbara Thompson, director of Family Services; Shelia Hamilton, appropriations $1,598,501,000 $1.027.86. 000 $129,851,000 $557,594,000 $1,686,504,000 $591,839,000 $629,239,000 $426.3si0.000 $229,419,000 $661,204,000 S892.1 o3,000 $668,390,000 S 463,639,000 $246,595,000 S218,cYi7,000 S232. 1S3.O0U $162,185,000 $186,784,000 S22932.0(X) S3R979.000 $332,612,000 $29,293,000 $15,656,000 $6,558,000 $332,844,000 35,518,000 $17,624,000 $82,509,000 $72,876,000 $7967000 S!.084,036,(XX) 5t 12.000 $143,528,000 S92,f15,000 "People have had a positive outlook towards research funding," he said. Currently the NIH is funding departments in several areas at the U. A major research area in the Health Sciences Center deals with genetics research. The George S. and Dolores Eccles Institute of Human Genetics was recently dedicated and will house more than 400 geneticists in 72 laboratories. The center will provide several opportunities for the NIH to give grant money. The National Institute for Human Genome research received one of the largest increases in funding. Their budget increased from $56.5 million to $82.5 million. Other areas concerning research and training awards- that were - appropriated money from Congress are the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration, Mental health research and research training, and the Centers for Disease Control. pill Massachusetts agreed, saying, "We all recognize that merely providing information will not prevent crimes from occurring, but making these materials available will enable students to judge the safety of their campus and to better protect themselves." . , W. mmmm" CHRONICLE PHOTOJudd R. Hillman minds about going to Campus crime statistics may not change people'sfor them to have the is it but important the schools they like, said. U. student, information, Regina Culley, More snow can keep resorts out of slump SALT LAKE CITY(AP) A national decline in tourism should skip Utah as long as the state's ski resorts continue to get plentiful snowfall, travel industry experts say. "You give me the snow and I'll guarantee you the skiers, "said R, Thayne Robson, director of the University of Utah's Bureau of Economic and Business Research. So far this season, there has been enough snow for several resorts to open at least some of their Thanksgiving runs by although the snow didn't come soon enough to fill the slopes with skiers. out-of-to- Because the first major winter storm didn't ready the resorts until Thanksgiving week, resort operators said there wasn't enough time for visitors to many would-b- e plan a trip. However, now that snow covers the slopes, resorts are expecting a brisk Christmas season business.. "Everyone is on schedule at - Shepherd said even if crime statistics will not change the on and off campus committed against students will encourage victims to report any violation of their rights." Sen. Edward Kennedy of ... British Broadcasting Company, Gavry said from page one crime . "After McMartin" has created substantial interest for people concerned with child sexual abuse, such as lawyers, medical professionals, psychologists, district attorneys, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the crime personal safety. "I believe that the knowledge of i sexual abuse cases. won't happen to me." "There's crime out there, but you can't let it ruin your life," she students about possible dangers on campus. With proper warning, an individual is more likely to take extra measures to ensure his or her - "Some of the people on the film's panel feel the case should not have been brought to trial because the allegations of ritual, satanic, sex rings were so bizarre," Gavry said. The fourth part of the video contains discussion by professionals about the responsibility of the media to child Tribune, and Roy Wadsen, a police officer in the Salt Lake sex crimes unit. "The screening of 'After McMartin here in Salt Lake City is intended to bring the discussion to a local level," Gavry said. Among the many panelists in the video is the presiding judge in the McMartin trial, Judge William Pounders. "The surprise decision has encouraged many professionals that deal with these cases to reevaluate our current system's approach to these complicated and sometimes sensational sexual abuse cases," Gavry said. advancements they must come from research." He added that overall public support towards research projects has been high. He said that is why Congress allocated more money for the NTH instead of having to cut their budget. money, accounting for about half of the research dollars. The College of Science receives about $13 million while the College of Engineering receives $11 million. For fiscal year 1989, the U. School of Medicine received approximately $54 million from fees, tuition and private gifts. But 35 percent of the funding came from federal funds. Brophy said, "Since the mid '80s there has been a realization that if we want to have economic and medical trial. KTVX News, Carol Sisco, a reporter for the The Salt Lake $7,987220,000 $7,276,783,000 source: Chronicle of Higher Education from page one Some experts in the field feel videotaping is an infringement on the child's privacy, Gavry explained. "Others feel that it's the only way to be sure," she added. The third part of the video covers the controversy surrounding the sensational allegations in the McMartin molestation. Some of these professionals include Grethe Peterson, chair SSI Environmental Health Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Institute on Aging Research Resources Center Tor Nursing research and prevention, Gavry said. The first part contains discussion on the controversy or direct questions with surrounding therapists using leading abused. been have sexually who children "There are some people who feel the therapists plant information in the child using leading questions," Gavry . explained. The second part of the video is a discussion on both the negative and positive aspects of videotaping interviews with children who have been sexually molested. hosted by professionals in the field of child sexual 1990 fiscal spending Institute The video covers four controversies surrounding the McMartin trial and the field of child sexual abuse treatment Lake Art Center auditorium. The first screening, at 1:00 p.m., will be for those interested in training in child sexual abuse treatment and prevention. The second screening, at 8:00 p.m., will be open to the general public. Each screening will be followed by a discussion session National Institutes of Health 1991 Appropriations 1991 research "After McMartin" was created to encourage and facilitate that evaluation, she added. Gavry said that some experts find problems in the way Utah's Sen. Orrin Hatch was another supporter of the bill. Regina Culley, a junior who lives in the residence halls, said the law is a good one, especially for people living on campus, but high crime statistics will not stop people from going to the school they want to go to. "I'm relatively aware of what going on around me," Culley said, but she also said she thinks "it said. minds of students or their parents, the fact they have a choice is important. "The more information the students have, the better off they are." Shepherd said because people have the choice to help themselves, they will become more involved in protecting themselves. Also, people at the U. are intelligent and like to become involved with various aspects of the campus. "Thev can understand and reason better, and they're more inclinedwto become involved in their own safety," he said. One aspect of the law states there, is a need "to encourage the development of policies and procedures to address sexual assaults and racial violence on college campuses." But one area of the law could provide a loophole for some schools, Shepherd said. It requires that rapes be reported but does not specifically address sexual assault.' Some schools or departments may have different this point. But a lot can happen between now and Christmas. We're keeping our fingers crossed," said Raelene Davis, marketing director of the Utah Ski Association. Robson and other Utah economists have already Predicted that aUtah will not recession, by although the national to economy is expected ' suffer. - Nationally, both sun and ski destinations, are bracing for a slump in tourism this winter as Americans faced with an uncertain future become increasingly hesitant about spending money on vacations. Although Utah's $2 billion-plu- s travel industry is feeling some effects from the rapia rise in gasoline prices since the Middle East crisis began, experts here expect only a slowdown in the growth rate. "Utah has some real pluses," Robson said, "We offer tremendous value for the price, Those who get hurt in a recession are the expensive places." definitions of what the two crimes are. Some schools may classify rape and sexual assault in the same way, but using the loophole to keep from reporting certain crimes would be bad policy, he said. "Just because there's a loophole in the law doesn't mean we have to leave it in our collecting and presenting information." Gore said some people think college campuses are as secure as their home, but in reality campuses are "as vulnerable to crime as any other environment." Shepherd said a past problem with colleges was that they were considered "little islands," but colleges are not. They are "big business and can be big communities." , In addition to those criminal offenses which will be required to be reported, the number of arrests for liquor law violations, drug abuse violations and weapons possessions will also have to be reported. The act also requires receiving Federal financial assistance to provide certain "institutions of higher education information with respect to the graduation rates of student-athlete- s at such institutions...." |