Film and discussion to focus on sexual assault in U.S. military

KALAMAZOO—Western Michigan University will be the host for a screening and panel discussion of "The Invisible War," a documentary about sexual assault in the U.S. military. The event is set for 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 15, in WMU's Little Theatre at the corner of Oakland Drive and Oliver Lane, and is free and open to the public.

The screening is part of the area's observance of April as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. There will be free parking, complimentary refreshments, informational displays and literature available in the theatre lobby. Onsite counselors will also be available throughout the evening. The feature-length documentary will be followed by a short intermission and then a panel discussion including:

• Mary Asmonga-Knapp, WMU trustee and manager of the Family Advocacy Program for the Department of Defense's Defense Logistics Agency at the Hart Dole Inouye Federal Center in Battle Creek, Mich.
• Dr. Joetta Carr, a counselor specializing in sexual assault recovery and WMU professor of gender and women's studies
• Malcolm Marson, U.S. Air Force Vietnam veteran and retired civilian contractor for the USO

Dr. Angela Moe, associate professor of sociology, will moderate the evening's activities and will be joined during the panel discussion by Kelle Brooks, a YWCA crisis response volunteer and army veteran.

Directed by Kirby Dick and produced by Amy Ziering and Tanner King Barklow, "The Invisible War" premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, where it received the U.S. Documentary Audience Award. It also was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 85th Academy Awards.

The presentation was spearheaded by Asmonga-Knapp and Moe. The screening received financial support through WMU's Office of the President and Department of Sociology.

For more information, contact Angela Moe at angie.moe@wmich.edu or (269) 387-5276.