Produced by George Clooney and directed by Academy Award-winner Eva Orner, Surviving Ohio State delves into the sexual abuse scandal surrounding athletics doctor Richard Strauss, whose two-decade tenure at Ohio State University saw the abuse of hundreds of students. Several lawsuits filed by survivors are still pending, including accusations that the university ignored the actions of Strauss and allowed them to continue. In her poignant examination, Orner utilizes compelling interviews with survivors to shed light on the extensive trauma inflicted and the systemic failures that allowed such misconduct to persist. By meticulously revealing the details of a 2019 investigative report conducted by the university, which brought about payment of over $60 million to victims, she not only brings crucial attention to a dark chapter in collegiate athletics, but also sparks essential dialogue regarding the urgent call for greater protections for students within educational institutions.—Deborah Rudolph

Eva Orner