Film about Lauren McCluskey to be shown

By learning about stories like Lauren McCluskey’s, Molly Schotzko said dating violence awareness can evoke change for the better.

The fifth anniversary of McCluskey’s death was felt through communities around the nation when it took place in October. The University of Utah track athlete from Pullman High School was allegedly murdered in 2018 by a stalking ex-boyfriend.

Washington State University’s Power of Voice speaker series will present “Evoking Change — The Lauren McCluskey Story” in her honor. It will feature ESPN’s investigative documentary film, “Listen,” as well as a discussion with panelists who’ve advocated for her story.

The film screening can be viewed at Goertzen Hall 21 at 4:30 p.m. on Monday; the panel will be held at the same place at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Schotzko, an assistant communication professor at WSU, said when fellow Power of Voice committee members approached her about holding a series in remembrance of McCluskey, she said she needed to be involved.

McCluskey’s story is personal to Schotzko; having run track at WSU, she worked with McCluskey’s mother after graduating and watched McCluskey’s progress as an athlete over the years. She said she felt it was natural to moderate the discussion.

Power of Voice has held a panel series twice a year virtually since the COVID-19 pandemic. Schotzko said this event will be one of the first held in person.

Rather than focus on the details of McCluskey’s death, Schotzko said panelists will take the opportunity to focus on how her story has made an impact.

Shortly after her death, McCluskey’s parents, Jill and Matt McCluskey, co-founded the Lauren McCluskey Foundation. The organization’s focus is to bring awareness to dating violence and campus safety.

Schotzko said McCluskey’s story has gained national attention and the work the foundation has done, as well as others advocating for domestic violence awareness.

“I believe awareness is a level of change,” Schotzko said. “You have the power to influence the culture in a powerful way … making sure we’re doing everything we can do to help women and prevent this from happening in the future.”

The event will kick off with a screening of “Listen,” a documentary about McCluskey’s murder and systemic failures that led to her death. Nicole Noren, the film’s director, will attend the screening and share her notes. Schotzko said she’ll also share a few words and answer questions about the documentary.

Later on, a group of panelists will discuss the impact of McCluskey’s story and the role that powerful voices played in raising awareness.

Schotzko said Jill McCluskey and Noren will be joined by an attorney and former Utah state senator, Jain Iwamoto, as well as Devon Cantwell-Chavez, a Utah alumna and creator of the off-campus group UnsafeU.

Iwamoto will discuss policies and bills she’s moved forward to improve campus safety and create stricter laws that regulate dating violence. Cantwell-Chavez will talk about UnsafeU, which brought attention to the university’s flaws and how the system failed McCluskey.

All panelists will answer a list of prepared questions, investigating the value of social change, why dating violence awareness is important and the magnitude of McCluskey’s story. The audience will have an opportunity to prompt panelists toward the end of the discussion.

“We have the ability to do good in the world with the tools we were given,” Schotzko said. “This is a very sad, personal story about a person who was murdered in our community that’s inspired many to try and help this never happen again.”

Details about “Evoking Change — The Lauren McCluskey Story” can be found at murrow.wsu.edu/power-of-voice/. Learn more about the Lauren McCluskey Foundation by visiting laurenmccluskey.org.

Pearce can be reached at epearce@dnews.com