duPont-Winning Director Eva Orner on The Making of “Surviving Ohio State”

by Thu Le, 2025-26 duPont Fellow

“What they were getting a lot of was people not believing them, and saying if it was me, I would have beat the shit out of this guy. And so since the film came out, there hasn't been any question that what happened to them was real. It's been the most gratifying, one of the most gratifying experiences I've had.” 

- Eva Orner, Director of “Surviving Ohio State,” 2026 duPont-Columbia Award Winner.  

Listen to the On Assignment Podcast here.

“Surviving Ohio State” is a 2026 duPont-Columbia Award-winning documentary that follows the heartbreaking testimonies of former Ohio State University student athletes who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of their team doctor Richard Strauss. More than 30 years later, they are bravely sharing their stories as they continue to fight for accountability from Ohio State. 

On the latest episode of the On Assignment Podcast, Director Eva Orner takes duPont Awards Director Lisa R Cohen and J-School students behind-the-scenes after screening the film, to reveal what doubts she overcame to make the film; how she built trust with the fragile survivors; and practical advice she has for emerging documentary filmmakers.

You can stream “Surviving Ohio State” on HBO Max.

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