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The Hunting Ground. Aired 10-11p ET
Aired November 22, 2015 - 21:54 ET
[21:54:03] ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: Good evening. I'm Alisyn Camerota. The hunting ground is a powerful film that sparks a wide range of reactions. The filmmakers set out to tell the story from the point of view of the survivors or as the law calls them, the accusers. During the next hour, CNN will bring you differing viewpoints on this critically important topic. We wanted to begin this conversation by hearing from the presidents of the schools in the film. But they declined our repeated invitations. Over the last month, we asked the presidents of Florida State University, Notre Dame, Amherst, St. Mary's, UC Berkeley, University of Connecticut, Harvard, UNC, and six others to talk with us. Every one of them declined. We offered to adjust the timing, the date, the location of the interviews to make it more convenient for them. They still declined. We also asked the president of the association of American universities. He declined as well. But one university administrator said yes. Mike Powers is the University of Alaska Fairbanks interim chancellor. And he felt this topic was so important, he traveled here toe New York City from Fairbanks, Alaska, to join us. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) [21:55:12] CAMEROTA: Chancellor Powers, thanks so much for being here. MICHAEL POWERS, INTERIM CHANCELLOR, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS: Thank you for having me. CAMEROTA: Why did you feel it was important to come here and talk about this? POWERS: It's a crisis on U.S. campuses. It needs to be changed. It has been with us since time and memorial, and enough is enough. That's the feeling we're receiving on our campus. CAMEROTA: I know you watched the hunting ground. What was it about it that moved you? POWERS: Emotionally, you felt heartbroken for these victims who came forward. And I admire the courage with which they came forward to make a point about what's happening. I was angry with the -- with the response, the lack of protections from universities. And I was absolutely outraged by the ignorance and the callousness of the entire communities that turned a deaf ear to these victims. CAMEROTA: And it had such a profound effect on you that you then wrote a letter to your campus community issuing a public apology. I mean, you personally had nothing to apologize for. Why did you feel that that was important? I think it's important for the entire higher education to come forward and make a change. And to admit what is happening, and we all know it's happening on college campuses. It may not be rampant across campuses. At the University of Alaska, I sent my own children there. It's a safe campus in many respects. However, these things happen, and it's wrong and it must be addressed. CAMEROTA: CNN did get a statement from FSU in which they said the "Hunting Ground," quote, "is a simplistic narrative that does a disservice to all universities and colleges." Why do you feel so differently about engaging, about confronting it than some of the other presidents do? POWERS: Because of my own personal experience, because I know what is happening on campuses. You're turning a blind eye to what is happening. CAMEROTA: Is there something about university of Alaska Fairbanks? Is it happening more there? Did you see it? Were people reporting it more? I mean, why did you take action? POWERS: No, it is not happening more there. But what we are seeing is an increase in awareness and more reporting being done, which is healthy. But as someone aware of what is happening across campuses, we know this is an issue in America. CAMEROTA: Chancellor Powers, we really appreciate you coming to talk about this tonight. Thanks so much. POWERS: You're very welcome. Thank you. (END VIDEOTAPE) CAMEROTA: Now, let's turn to one of the most controversial sections of the "Hunting Ground." It takes place at Harvard law school, where one student Kamilah Willingham accused another, Brandon Winston, of sexual assault. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I went into the hearing and even the professors were like, did I give him the wrong message with our friendship and he misunderstood our friendship? The response was like, no, because, you know, sex was never a part of that friendship. And if we were ever going to be introduced when I was awake would be a good time for that. (END VIDEO CLIP) CAMEROTA: In the days leading up to CNN's premiere of the film, Winston's attorney issues a press release publicly naming his client and saying that the film is quote "rife with inaccuracies." That lawyer, Norman Zalkind, joins us now. Mr. Zalkind, thanks so much for being here. Can you tell us your concerns about how your client was depicted in the film? NORMAN ZALKIND, LEAD TRIAL COUNSEL FOR BRANDON WINSTON: It appears to me that it's a lie as to what happened. And not only did the jury acquit him of any of the charges connected in the case, except for a lesser included minor misdemeanor, but the grand jury failed to indict him on anything to do with Kamilah Willingham and they didn't believe her. And the Harvard law school, when this case went up on appeal to the law faculty, a majority of the faculty decided that there wasn't enough evidence to find him responsible. And she was just not credible at any point in time. CAMEROTA: Hold on one second. I want to challenge you on that, Mr. Zalkind, because she was credible enough that the first process, the process by which your client was expelled, did go in her favor. First, when Harvard looked at this case, they believed Kamilah's story, not your client's. Then what happened was there was an appeals process. Just let me finish. There was an appeals process that was unlike any appeals process we know as Americans to be fair. Kamilah was not alerted that there was an appeal happening. The appeals process only heard from your client. They only got his side of the story. She wasn't even part of it. And he was then reinstated at Harvard. There were two different findings at Harvard. ZALKIND: I don't -- I don't agree with you, because the appeal process is a normal process in schools. I don't think you can criticize the Harvard law school, which is a very ethical and honorable group of people. The best law school in America, probably. [22:00:13] CAMEROTA: I want to ask you about something that you wrote in your press release. And you said that the accuser, Kamilah, who you are talking ability quote "capitalized on her accusations to become a celebrity," end quote. Mr. Zalkind, do you really believe that this is the kind of notoriety or celebrity that Kamilah would have wanted, this kind of public scrutiny? This kind of embarrassment, to have to talk about what happened in her sex life? ZALKIND: Well, it sure seems that way. I have seen videos of her in presentations. She's becoming a spokesman for victims, when she's not a victim. Yes, I believe she is capitalizing on this. I believe that she's making a career out of this. And she looks much happier when she's on TV than when she was in that courtroom. She was not credible. CAMEROTA: Mr. Zalkind, I have met her as well. I have seen her crying. I have seen her look sensitive. I have seen her look distraught. That is your interpretation. And it's an awfully cynical one that she would want to go through, again, this sort of public scrutiny for four years in order to become, as you say, a celebrity. I do just want to focus, though, on the campus tribunal. Because that's one of the things we're talking about tonight, that there is this dual justice system that many Americans don't know about. And so, the idea on campus there's an appeal that can happen that is secret, that the accuser doesn't know about, that the accuser isn't told about, that the accuser is not part of. That is a flawed justice system. ZALKIND: Look, I'm not going to go into the details of what happened in that one because I wasn't the attorney, but I have handled -- we have handled probably as many of these campus cases as anyone in the country. We are not finding that a lot of United States, not all of them, that a lot of universities, the procedure or un-fill (ph) at this point in time to males. So that I don't agree with you that it was flawed. This is one of the best procedures we had ever seen. CAMEROTA: Do you think it's fair to the accuser not to have her be a part of it? An appeal? ZALKIND: Neither of them -- neither of them are a part of it. They don't go up there and talk to the professors when they're coming to a decision. Neither of them. He might have known it was happening. And I assume she knew and she could have found out, but he doesn't go up and persuade them to do anything. They did this On the Record. They did this by reading the transcripts. And they had tapes of all the hearings. And that's what they did. It was a fair decision. And you can see that by the proceedings that happened after. You are wrong if you think this was unfair. CAMEROTA: Mr. Zalkind, we appreciate you being on to share that side of the story. Thank you for being with us. ZALKIND: Thank you. CAMEROTA: For the record, the accused, Brandon Winston, did participate in Harvard's appeals process. He gave live testimony via Skype, and he filed written objections. The accuser, Kamilah Willingham, was offered neither opportunity and was not even notified that the appeals process was happening. In December of 2014, the department of education required Harvard Law School to change that policy and provide all parties equal opportunities to participate in the discipline process. Up next, from a White House screening to a grassroots movement, we will look at the impact the "Hunting Ground" is already having on the national conversation. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [22:07:05] CAMEROTA: Welcome back to this special, "Sexual Assault on Campus." In the ten months since it debuts, "the Hunting Ground" has gone from a film to a national movement for change. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I pull outside and banged my head against the wall and was raped. CAMEROTA (voice-over): Since its Sundance film festival premiere, the "Hunting Ground" has been screened at more than 700 campuses and venues nationwide, including the White House. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's on us to stop sexual assault. CAMEROTA: Adding to that, President Obama launched the "it's on us" campaign. BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're here to say that today it's not on you. This is not your fight alone. This is on all of us. Every one of us to fight campus sexual assault. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: t's consent. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because sex without it isn't sex. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's rape. CAMEROTA: And based on numerous studies, it's still happening at an alarming rate. A recent survey involving 27 universities shows 23 percent of women on college campuses, that's nearly one in four, experiences sexual assault or misconduct. Published in September, it's touted as one of the largest studies of its kind, with more than 150,000 students participating. But critics question the findings based on a low response rate, just around 19 percent. Also, the survey relied on voluntary responses, not mandatory, so the sample was not scientific. What do you think of the findings of that survey? KIMBERLY LAU, ATTORNEY, WARSHAW BURSTEIN LLP: I had a lot of problems with the way that they defined certain terms. CAMEROTA: Such as? LAU: They include conduct such as unwanted, repeated dinner date requests or telling an offensive sexual joke. CAMEROTA: Attorney Kimberly Lau has handled nearly 50 cases of sexual assault on college campuses, defending mostly men. She said her clients are victims of overzealous college administrators. LAU: The pendulum has swung way too far in the other direction. What I'm seeing from the male perspective is that the cards are stacked against them the second they walk in the door, they feel like they're being treated as guilty. LYNN ROSENTHAL, VICE PRESIDENT, NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE: Look, four decades, schools refused to investigate these cases at all. Survivors know the difference between a time that they maybe weren't crazy about a relationship they were in and when somebody has sexually assaulted or sexually abused them. CAMEROTA: The governors of California and New York recently signed laws requiring colleges in their states to enforce affirmative consent, meaning everything other than yes means no. ROSENTHAL: I think there will be a day that I won't be alive for it, but people will look back and say, how did we ever accept and tolerate that level of sexual violence? [22:10:04] CAMEROTA: Celebrities like Lena Dunham are also working towards that goal. Dunham urging her three million twitter followers to see the film. While Lady Gaga, who recently described herself as a victim of sexual assault, was so moved, she lent her voice to "the Hunting Ground." The song for the film has more than 19 million views and counting. (END VIDEOTAPE) CAMEROTA: We want to bring in our panel now. We want to welcome Stuart Taylor. He is a critic of the film and the author of until proven innocent, political correctness and the shameful injustice of the Duke Lacrosse rape case. Melinda Hennenberger is the editor of "Roll Call" and has written extensively on sexual violence, and Jon Krakauer is the author of "Missoula, Rape and the Justice System in a college town." Welcome to all of you. Stuart, I want to start with you. You're a critic of "the Hunting Ground." What's your biggest issue with it? STUART TAYLOR, AUTHOR, UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT: Well, let me first start with what's OK about it. Rape is a huge national problem. None of us disagree with that. The film makes that clear. There are heartbreaking stories told by rape victims. That's a public service to show those stories. And they're infuriating episodes of male disgusting male behavior, the film shows that. All that would be to the good. But for the fact that on the whole, I submit this film is not an honest, truth seeking fair documentary. It's slick, skillful propaganda. In the most general sense, it vastly exaggerates the amount of rape that goes on on campuses, as have a lot of other people, including the polls that are shown on the film, which are basically rigged polls, with phony questions. It also vastly understates how vigilant colleges are about pursuing allegations. In fact, the disciplinary process in colleges all across the country, in part because of the Obama administration dictates, is pervasively slanted against male accused males and there are accused males all over the country who have been expelled and branded as rapists for life who are innocent. CAMEROTA: OK. Let's dig into some of the points that you have raised because they are all compelling and interesting. First, in terms of the studies, the numbers have been not all over the place, but they vary somewhat, the studies done over the past 30 years in terms of what's going on, on college campuses. But they all show that something is going on. They may identify forcible rape differently than they do sexual assault, but it always comes back as something significant is happening on college campuses. Let me get Linda to respond to that first. MELINDA HENNENBERGER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, ROLL CALL: Well, four out of the five major national surveys that have been done have shown pretty consistently that between one in four and one in five women have been sexually assaulted during college. CAMEROTA: Jon, you have been studying this for your book, Missoula. What have you found is going on on college campuses? JON KRAKAUER, AUTHOR, MISSOULA, RAPE AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN A COLLEGE TOWN: I disagree completely with Stuart. That men are now the victims. The pendulum has swung a little bit, but it's got a lot farther to swing. I mean, what I saw in Missoula and other cities is that campuses are not and have not been vigilant about erasing sexual assault or punishing perpetrators. And you know, "the Hunting Ground" I think very clearly shows why colleges are so reluctant to take courageous action on sexual assault. They don't want to hurt their brands. They don't want to alienate donors. CAMEROTA: Linda, I want to ask you, do you think the definitions are overly broad and are skewing the results of what's going on on college campuses? HENNENBERGER: I think that the unwanted touching that critics always say is mixed in with the rape and attempted rape stats, if you only look at rape, you still see 11 percent, 12 percent, 16 percent, 13 percent in these major national studies. That's really high. That's an epidemic. TAYLOR: Most women don't report whatever happened, and then in the survey, the American association American universities association asked why didn't you report it? Well, because of this, because of that, because of the other thing. Sixty one percent, if I remember correctly, said because I didn't think it was seriously enough. These are women who are supposedly raped. Do you think they thought they were raped? CAMEROTA: Well, that's really an interesting point because that may have to do more with culture than crime. Jon, why don't some people report if they have been raped? KRAKAUER: Because there's a bunch of reasons. And statistics show many, many rape victims did not want to admit to themselves they were raped. It's so upsetting, especially when it's an acquaintance rain, as most of these 85 percent of these cases on universities are, it's so upsetting. You have lost so much trust. It's easier to deny to yourself you are raped. This isn't I'm not making this up. There is plenty of science that shows this. So, there's all kind of reasons why women, the most typical response when is a woman is raped is to say call up a friend and say, oh, my God, was I just raped? I think I might have been raped. They don't say I was raped. People don't -- it's too much for them to process. [22:15:24] HENNENBERGER: And it's a part of the healing process, part of the psychological trauma, when you're in a situation like that. And that's really one of the things I appreciated so much about your book. That "Missoula" really goes into how normal it is for a woman who has been raped to try to -- to try to deal with that by telling yourself this can't have happened. This can't have been that bad. You know, you're really in this state of suspended animation and freezing in a lot of cases. TAYLOR: Two points. I give women more credit for being adults than some people do. I think if a woman says no, I wasn't raped, the likeliest explanation is no, she wasn't raped. The people who do these surveyed that we're hearing about, they don't buy that. So they don't ask her, were you raped? They ask her a bunch of other questions they interpret as meaning she was raped. CAMEROTA: Stick around. We have much more to talk about. We want Stuart and Melinda and Jon to stay with us. Because up next, NFL quarterback Jameis Winston and his accuser, how their lives have changed since the release of the film. And we have much more from our guests. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [22:20:07] CAMEROTA: Welcome back to our special sexual assault on campus. Over the last few weeks, CNN has made several attempts to interview officials at Florida State University, the school where Jameis Winston was a star quarterback when he was accused of rape. FSU denied CNN's multiple requests for an interview, but the school did send us a statement questioning some accuracy and claiming quote "FSU does not tolerate campus rape. Like other major universities, we have been moving with uncommon institutional speed to meet new title IX requirements for thorough investigations and resolutions of sexual assault complaints." Let's bring in our sports anchor Rachel Nichols. She has been looking into how Jameis Winston's life and the life of his accuser have changed since the film's release. RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Well, Alysin, just to put Jameis Winston into some context, he is one of the most high profile athletes to ever have been accused of rape. He is a Heisman trophy winner. He led his team to the college football national championship, and earlier this year, he became the NFL's number overall one draft pick. And although, Winston was never charged with any crime related to the rape accusations he faced at Florida State, he is still facing a civil suit filed by his accuser, Erica Kinsman. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ERICK KINSMAN, ACCUSED JAMEIS WINSTON OF RAPE: I kind of just want to know, like, why me. NICHOLS (voice-over): Erica Kinsman says she repeatedly said no to Jameis Winston. KINSMAN: I remember his roommate or whoever this other guy was, came in and he was saying, like, dude, stop. Like what are you doing? She is telling you to stop. NICHOLS: But Winston has strongly denied the allegations. Going so far as to file a countersuit for defamation. In legal filings his attorney said Kinsman has been inconsistent about the details of what happened that night, at one point, claiming she was drugged, an allegation that is now absent from her lawsuit. And tests run by a toxicologist at the University of Florida showed no evidence of drugs in her system other than alcohol. The countersuit said quote "MS. Kinsman did not do or say anything to express that she didn't want to engage in sex." Winston claims his friend quote "entered the bedroom, either to participate in the sexual acts or as a prank." The suit goes on to say Winston's friends who were present that night quote "have stated they have no reason to believe Ms. Kinsman and Mr. Winston were not engaged in consensual sex." And they signed affidavits to consistent with that. Kinsman has also filed suit against the Florida State University board of trustees claiming title IX violations. The suit says quote "despite FSU police being on notice within an hour of the rape on December 7th, 2012, an FSU athletic department's awareness of the rape in January 2013, the incident was never reported by either of those departments to FSU's title IX coordinator. Kinsman says she was subject to discrimination because FSU deliberately decided not to investigation and address Winston's rape of plaintiff for close to two years so that Winston's college football career would be unaffected. FSU disagrees. In a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, the university state quote "no appropriate person at FSU had actual knowledge of the assault until November 8th, 2013." Kinsman attorney declined to be interviews for this piece. Winston's attorney never responded to our request. But Winston is far from the only college athlete accused of rape, and FSU is far from the only school accused of falling short in handling these types of cases. Last August, Sam (INAUDIBLE), a defensive end at Baylor University, was sentenced to six month in jail and ten years probation for raping a fellow student in 2013. That's a much different judgment than Baylor had reached when it examined the case itself. According to an investigation by Texas monthly, the school didn't even see the hospital rape kit before quote "clearing (INAUDIBLE)." Baylor University president Ken Star has since issued a statement announcing the school has hired an outside firm to examine Baylor's handling of the case. And just last month, UCLA punter (INAUDIBLE) was arrested on three counts of rape stemming from an alleged assault of a student he met at an off-campus house party. In that case, the university immediately suspended (INAUDIBLE) from the team. DR. BRIAN HAINLINE, NCAA CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER: They have to make certain that athletics is not operating differently from music, from physics, from anyone else. NICHOLS: Dr. Brian Hainline is the chief medical officer for the NCAA. So if a high profile athlete is accused of a crime, it is in the school or the program's best interest to have that go away. How do you resolve that with the fact that you want hopefully as an educational institution, to see justice done? HAINLINE: So what you're getting to the heart of is culture. How do you make a cultural shift? And sometimes, you can legislate culture, but it doesn't work very well. You really need people to step up. [22:25:02] NICHOLS: As an example, Hainline points out a rule recently passed by the SEC. It bans it schools from taking players who have been dismissed from other schools for any sexual violence. HAINLINE: That's when you really have a change. Then, people aren't perceiving that there's a competitive advantage by keeping someone in. You hopefully turned it into a competitive disadvantage because then what you say, me as a parent, do I want my son or daughter competing in that school where they overlook things like that, and that's the culture that I'm exposing my child to? NICHOLS: The NCAA has published a hand book on how athletic departments should handle sexual assault investigations, but some say it doesn't go far enough, and the organization should implement a standard policy. HAINLINE: You can have an athletic program that makes money, but if it's harming kids, no one's going to wand your kids to go there. I would be very happy if five years from now, we could say the culture of sport has been so transformed that parents know when their kids are being recruited that they're going to a safe place. NICHOLS: Hainline calls the fact his quote "cultural dream." (END VIDEOTAPE) NICHOLS: We had a long conversation with Dr. Hainline, and I have to give him credit. He was very open about the depth of the problem here. A lot of colleges do depend on millions of dollars that their football or basketball programs bring in. And sometimes it really is a player, a quarterback, a point guard, who can make all the difference between winning and losing, between the coach keeping his job or not. So there's just an inherently huge financial conflict of interest in a school taking a rape allegation seriously, and potentially stopping that gravy train. And here's the real kicker, Alysin. The U.S. Senate put out a report just last year that found that 20 percent of schools, it is policy to have the athletic department, not the larger school administration, but the athletic department, be the ones with oversight in investigating sexual violence against athletes. So those cases against athletes. So the people who would most directly benefit from hey, this rape didn't really happen, that idea, at 20 percent of schools, those are the people that a victim would have to try to go to to get justice. CAMEROTA: Rachel Nichols, thank you. When we come back, we will get our guests' reaction. Who do they believe? (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [22:00:54] CAMEROTA: Welcome back to our CNN special, sexual assault on campus. I'm back with Stuart Taylor, Melinda Hennenberger, and Jon Krakauer. Stuart, let me start with you because I know that you have written how you believe that "the Hunting Ground" basically set out to railroad Jameis Winston and ruin career. But as we have learned, he is now a starting quarterback in the NFL, of course. Meanwhile his accuser, Erica Kinsman was, as we saw on the film, mocked, marginalized, she felt she had to leave FSU as a result. So in other words, it leaves the impression that Erica Kinsman's life was much more negatively affected than his was. TAYLOR: It probably was, for the reasons you give. But the real question is did he rape her or not? Now, I don't doubt that there's a lot of athletes who have done a lot of raping in colleges as in this country and some get coddled by the colleges. My co-author Casey Johnson and I in the book talk about some of those cases, we talk about some other cases where the athlete is railroads and even though he is clearly innocent. The Jameis Winston case which I have written about at length is in the middle. I wouldn't bet money that he is innocent. I think he is probably innocent. Why do I think that? Because the very good retired Florida Supreme Court justice Harding who heard his case for FSU and did a very good job, found, not by a lot, but by a little that it was at least as clear, his innocence was at least as likely as his guilt. CAMEROTA: It was Major Harding said, I do not find the credibility of one story substantially stronger than the other. In other words, he couldn't determine who was telling the truth here, and neither one had a substantial sort of hold on truth and accuracy. TAYLOR: That's a fair statement. And if I suggested otherwise earlier, I accept that. So did Willie Meggs, a pretty good prosecutor, more or less said the same thing that both of them emphasized something that this film, we are talking about this film, hides, or hid until I exposed it and then they put a little bit in. One, there are devastating hits on Erica Kinsman's capability when it was first called in, she said I was hit on the head and I blacked out and woke up being raped in this guy's bed. Oops. No head injury shown by the hospital. She dropped that right away. Then the story became, and in "the Hunting Ground," especially the first time around, remains I was drugged and woke up and so forth, was being raped. Oops, two, toxicology tests look for 130 or some drugs. No evidence of drugs. Guess what. When she testified in her FSU story at great length last December, no mention of being drugged. CAMEROTA: Let me stop you there because I see you both nodding vigorously, Melinda. HENNENBERGER: She actually never said she had a head injury. Her friend, because she said her head hurt, reported that, made that leap, that assumption. She herself never reported having a head injury. And the Tallahassee police had a very -- such a flawed investigation that it was not much of an investigation at all. The DA concluded that he was very hobbled by this botched initial investigation. CAMEROTA: Jon, isn't this an illustration of what we see so often in these cases? He said, she said. Somehow, investigators have to parse who is saying the right thing, who is most believable after the fact. I know you believe Erica Kinsman, but just explain the challenges of when you have to figure out who is telling the truth. KRAKAUER: When the police did zero investigation for, you know, 11 months, and they never really did any investigation. The prosecutor, he praised so much, he never interviewed Winston. He never requested cell phone records or video records. So yes, this case -- but even with all that, if you look at who is credible and who isn't, you look at the reaction of Erica Kinsman after the event, the tweets, the interviews, she was traumatized. She has never lied. She -- her reputation is pretty sterling. She's not promiscuous, she has the same boyfriend as she has now. You look at Jameis Winston's record of lying, repeatedly stole crab legs, get two different stories. He and his buddies who were with him that night have this saying, yes, we leave the door open because we want to run a train on these girls. [22:35:13] HENNENBERGER: That's the thing, when you talk about the pendulum swinging to the other extreme, which I do not believe, you know, where that might happen, it's another instance of the same problem. It's not the other extreme. And the problem is not taking a serious problem seriously enough. All you have to do is investigate fully. It doesn't -- CAMEROTA: Meaning they could solve the problem of false accusations if the campus took it seriously from the beginning. HENNENBERGER: Such a small percentage of false allegations ever, but let's not assume it happened. Let's not assume it didn't happen. Let's fully investigate each case in its own right all the way through. And if that happened, we wouldn't have the problem that you're alluding to. TAYLOR: Can I concede a couple points and then add a couple points? I'm not here as a character witness for Jameis Winston. He did steal crab legs. He has behaved horribly. He behaved pretty badly with Erica Kinsman even if you believe his version. The question is whether it's rape. And there is very serious evidence casting grave doubt on her credibility. (CROSSTALK) KRAKAUER: That's not true. Her story has not changed at all. The media, you know, Winston's lawyer got out and made false statement after false statement. There has been so much misinformation. And you have repeated it in your article about the railroading of Jameis Winston without checking it. CAMEROTA: Hold on a second. I mean, look. The larger issue here is this is one case. OK. We could do this for every single case. We could parse all the evidence on either side or what, do you point, Jon, what the investigators did not look for in evidence. But to the larger point, and I know you have looked at this at Notre Dame. You have looked at this in lots of places. Are college athletes exempt because the school has such a symbiotic relationship with them that they can't have their reputations ruined? HENNENBERGER: I don't want to paint with such a broad brush as to say that always happens. But unfortunately in some of the cases I looked at, the kids who nobody -- were nobodies from nowhere, also tended to get away with it because the school didn't want to have it known that this was a place where this kind of thing could go on, what you said about harming the brand. Schools can be very, very protective and want to look like this can't go on on my campus, which is why they want to keep the numbers of reports low. CAMEROTA: Melinda, Stuart, Jon, thank you for this conversation. Next, did a campus court ruin a San Diego sophomore's life? A CNN investigation no parent will want to miss. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [22:41:34] CAMEROTA: Welcome back to this CNN special, sexual assault on campus. One of the first decisions each victim must make is do I report this crime, and if so, where? But what victims of campus sexual assault may not realize is there are two parallel justice systems. One in the criminal courts, the other a campus tribunal and they may have radically different outcomes. CNN's Sarah Ganim has been looking into the courts and finds that justice may not be their first priority. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SARA GANIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This young man's life changed when a fellow student accused him of sexual misconduct. His school, the University of California San Diego started investigating. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I knew that I had all the evidence I needed to make this go away as quick as possible. GANIM: The accusation came from a woman he had sexual relations with. She said some of the encounters were not consensual. He denies that. His name has never been public, and he doesn't want his identity revealed. The university held a disciplinary hearing. Like all schools that receive federal funding, UCSD is required to investigate and adjudicate sexual assault complaints from students. Most schools don't need to notify police. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't really know what to expect. I thought it would be fair. GANIM: But the student said it wasn't fair. He was allowed to bring a lawyer, but the lawyer couldn't speak and could only submit questions for the accuser in writing. MATTHEW HABERKORN, ATTORNEY: We had a set of questions, 32 total, handed to the hearing officer. And then she started to skip questions and started to say, well, I'm not going to ask that. She wouldn't say why. GANIM: Had you ever seen anything like that before in a court hearing? HABERKORN: No. It just doesn't happen. GANIM: That's because unlike court hearings, individual universities make up their own rules for the disciplinary tribunals. The department of education requires that the process be prompt, thorough, and impartial. The university becomes prosecutor, jury, and judge. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I tried to object a few times, and they reminded me that it was just a school hearing and it wasn't criminal, so I wasn't allowed to do that. GANIM: In campus hearings, guilt has a lower bar. It's not beyond a reasonable doubt, but for most universities, the standard is whether the accused is more likely than not responsible. In this case, the UCSD hearing panel found the accuser was credible in her assertion that he tried to digitally penetrate her and he ignored her objections, they ruled that more likely than not, he violated the student code for sexual misconduct. Every time he appealed, his punishment was increased, with no explanation. When you learned that you were suspended for more than a year from school, how did you feel? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At that point, I was pretty devastated just because if I'm suspended or expelled from a school, I don't have many options left in my future. GANIM: So he took the university to court. And in a highly publicized ruling, a judge overturned the sanctions, ruling that UCSD's hearing was unfair and that evidence did not support the findings. The university is appealing the judge's ruling and would not comment for the story, citing pending litigation. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm all for true victims of rape to receive all the assistance they need. But at the same time, the accused students have rights. GANIM: The UCSD case is one of more than 20 that have been brought against universities in recent months by students found responsible for sexual misconduct. [22:45:06] JEANNIE SUK, PROFESSOR, HARVARD LAW SCHOOL: We are going to see a lot more of these cases coming down. GANIM: Harvard law professor Jeannie Suk is a vocal critic of the tribunal process. SUK: What is terribly unfortunate is that if any of these cases are actually cases where someone has been raped, then what that means is that the unfair process will make the case vulnerable to being overturned and the victim will not be vindicated. GANIM: Suk believes universities are overreacting to a 2011 letter written by the department of education which said sexual harassment of students which includes acts of sexual violence is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by title IX. Schools must adjudicate these cases or risk losing federal funding. SUK: Universities have been running scared, scared that they're going to be investigated by the department of education or found to be, to have violated title IX. GANIM: Even advocates of these tribunals like Allison Kiss of the Cleary Center for Security of Campus say that schools need to invest more time and money into training the people who are handling these cases. ALLISON KISS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CLEARY CENTER FOR SECURITY OF CAMPUS: Many campuses put people in charge of responding to sexual harassment and sexual assault who quite frankly should not be in charge of responding to sexual assault. GANIM: And some say that means the process can be unfair for both the accused and the accuser. Eva was a student at Southern Illinois University when she confided in a friend that she was sexually assaulted. Without telling her, the friend reported it to the university. Eva said she was stunned when the administration notified her in an email that they were investigating her case. Were you reluctant to go through with this process? EVA, STUDENT, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY: Yes. I didn't want to do it. But they said we don't need your consent. This is happening. Once it started, I had to beg and plead and call incessantly and ask the university to keep my notified, keep me aware, just tell me what the next steps are. And they -- they just ignored my calls. They didn't respond. When they did, they were not helpful. GANIM: The school found him responsible and then what happened? EVA: They suspended him, effective immediately, for two years. And then he appealed. GANIM: He won the appeal. It turns out the university had the wrong date. The actual date of the alleged assault was beyond their statute of limitations. Eva watched her case fall apart over a procedural error. Southern Illinois University would not comment on Eva's case, citing legal and privacy concerns. And told CNN, the university takes all reports and investigations of sexual assaults very seriously. EVA: I felt like I had survived a semester of torture. Of being forced to relive what was the worst day of my life over and over again. And I felt like it was for nothing. GANIM: But even with all of the flaws in these university panels, some say they are still necessary to keep victims and campuses safe. So when someone says to you, these need to go away, every rape needs to be investigated by the police and a prosecutor's office, what do you say? KISS: The problem that we're seeing now is that when students are coming forward, it's often long after an assault has happened, so they may not have the option to get the forensic evidence or something that will hold up in a court of law. GANIM: This is their only option. KISS: This is oftentimes their only option. (END VIDEOTAPE) CAMEROTA: So Sara, let's talk a little bit more about Eva's case. You reported there that her friend reported the incident, the alleged incident, but not Eva. Why didn't she go to the authorities? GANIM: Eva, like so many of the women that we talked to as part of the story, said she just wanted to put this behind her and concentrate on her education. She had classes with this guy several times a week. She was scare said of what would happen if she reported it, and she wanted to move on and not have to relive this incident. Now, she ended up having to relive it anyway through this process, but she doesn't feel like she got any justice. This really goes to the heart of why advocates say these tribunals have to exist, because of the close proximity that people have to each other on campus. They need some way to discipline when there is misconduct at the university. You know that a police case can take months, even years at times. They need some immediacy in dealing with the issues. CAMEROTA: Right. It helps us explains why some victims don't want to come forward. Sara Ganim, thanks so much for that reporting. Up next, the filmmakers behind "the Hunting Ground," their chance to talk and address all of these issues right after this. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [22:53:31] CAMEROTA: Welcome back. We've been talking about the film "the Hunting Ground" for the last hour. Now, let's bring in the filmmakers. Academy award nominated two-time Emmy winners Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering. Great to have you here to talk about all of this. So, when you see the impact that your film has had in just the past less than a year, and you hear the conversation we have been having tonight, is this what you expected, Kirby? KIRBY DICK, DIRECTOR, THE HUNTING GROUND: This is what I hoped. You know, I mean, we faced a problem, when we made a film about a problem that had been covered up for decades. And you never know how a film will impact audiences, impact the country, but this film has really impacted the country. Since its premiere at Sundance, I mean, we screened it, there have been nearly 1,000 screenings on college campuses. And each time it screens on a college campus, it starts activism, it starts discussion, it starts change. CAMEROTA: One of the things that is striking about the film is how many students you got to talk to you on camera, women and men. One of the women in the film said she hadn't even told her mother yet. So now, how are they feeling now that their stories are public? AMY ZIERING, PRODUCER, THE HUNTING GROUND: They are feeling empowered and validated in a way they never had before. It's been heartening to see how people are rallying around the people who are coming forward, applauding them for their courage. And what I noticed that every screening, someone comes up to me and says, you know, I was too scared to say something. Thank you for this film. It's made me feel better to know there are others it has happened to who are talking. [22:55:00] CAMEROTA: I mean, there's so much of this that is in the shadows, that people keep secret. We talk about how few victims actually report rape. For them to go on camera and know they would be on national television, it's a huge decision. DICK: It is an act of courage. And I think this entire country owes a debt to everybody who was on this film. I mean, there is no question. Without survivors coming forward and reporting their assault, talking about it to the press, the public will not know about it, and there's no opportunity for their perpetrator to be charged in any way. ZIERING: And people have been afraid to come forward because of the shame and stigma around this act. But what they're really only doing, and also, there's a lot of misconceptions that people are coming forward for like self-aggrandizement or glory, the way we see (INAUDIBLE) in reality TV. But all these people are only coming forward because they are trying to stop a crime from being committed on someone else. And that's what I think is really important. That's what I think the film shows. No one is coming forward for any other reason than to just try and have justice served and have someone not be able to perpetrate this crime on someone else. CAMEROTA: Why didn't you reach out to get the men's side of the story, those who were accused? ZIERING: We did reach out, and most of them, I think, all of them refused to speak to us. All the major subjects in the film declined our interview request. So we did reach out. CAMEROTA: But from the beginning, I mean, they say that you were late in reaching out. From the beginning, why didn't you want to weave in their stories, their version of what happened? DICK: Well, because we were following multiple stories. We are dozens of stories. And we didn't know until late in the process that which stories would be in the film. So that was the reason. I mean, you know, you're editing a documentary, we edit the film right up to the end. In fact, we were editing after the Sundance premiere. So we didn't want to go to somebody if they weren't going to be in the film. And the other thing that is key here is other than Jameis Winston, whose name is public, we didn't names any of these accused. So we knew that their names are not going to be out there. CAMEROTA: And yet, some of their stories are in the public record. Some of them did go through investigations as well as even court cases. Why didn't you included -- even if they rejected wanting to be interviewed on camera, why didn't you include their version that came out in public documents? DICK: We included -- actually, what we did is went through thousands of pages, you know, in making this. We corroborated everything that was in this. What we really -- one of the things we really wanted to show that hadn't been shown before is the perspective of the survivors. And we thought that was very, very important. CAMEROTA: Last week, 19 Harvard law professors reviewed the case on appeal. Issued a press release stating that quote "there was never any evidence that Mr. Winston used force, nor were there even any charges that he used force. No evidence whatsoever was introduced add trial that he was the one responsible for the inebriated state of the women who are portrayed as his victims, nor was anybody vested with final decision-making authority persuaded that Mr. Winston was guilty of any sexual assault offense at all," end quote. They went on to say that Mr. Winston was vindicated by them and the judicial proceedings, and quote "subjected to a long, harmful ordeal for no good reason." DICK: Well, let's start from the beginning. The film does not say that Brandon Winston used force. So the fact that these Harvard law professors are implying that the film did when in fact it didn't already raises credibility issues around these professors. Secondly, the grand jury indicted him on two counts of sexual assault. Now, let's keep this in mind. Actually, it's very rare when a survivor reports an assault to the police that the accused is even arrested, you know. It's about one in five. And then it's even rarer that it goes to prosecution, about one in ten. So obviously, everybody involved in law enforcement thought that this was a very credible case and moved it forward. And in the end, he was convicted. He was convicted. CAMEROTA: So just to be clear, the grand jury in this case indicted him. But he was convicted of something much lesser. DICK: Right. This happens all the time. I mean, it's very difficult to get a conviction for acquaintance rape, particularly among students. This is why prosecutors very rarely take these kind of cases. The fact the prosecutor took this case shows there was a great deal of evidence that this actually happened. CAMEROTA: And again, to be clear, he was convicted of, which was non- sexual assault, a misdemeanor, and it was not of Kamilah. It was of her friend. DICK: Correct. ZIERING: I would like to say to these law professors, where have they been? If 98 times out of 100 women are telling the truth, and we know there's an epidemic that is uncontested of one in five getting assaulted on our campuses, where are the letters from the last 20 years from the 19 law professors, the injustices toward all these women? CAMEROTA: Another school you featured in the film, FSU, Florida State University, in a letter to CNN, FSU, that's of course, the school where Jameis Winston was accused of rape, they call your film quote "unfair and journalistically indefensible." FSU said they did provide Erica a victim's advocate, in other words, they did take some action towards the victim, and they brought in an independent judge, they say, to investigate her case. What is your sigh? How do you respond? DICK: You know, Erica has told her story four or five times and, you know, on the record. And she has been completely consistent all the way through. She is extremely credible, right? What happened here is that FSU took two years to come to the point of having a hearing. You know, the department of education strongly recommends that it take 60 days. I mean, FSU was aware of the problem. The Florida state football coach, the Florida state police, was aware that this assault had happened within two months of the assault happening. Yet, they allowed this process to go on for two years. I mean, Florida State has completely failed in this. I think, you know, the "New York Times" did an excellent piece on this that showed conclusively how Florida State had failed. CAMEROTA: You have heard this evening, there has been criticism of the film from different corners, from different colleges, from different attorneys. Did any of that surprise you? DICK: No, you know, there hasn't been that much criticism. I think -- I want to say most schools have not been critical of this. You know, the fact that so many schools have actually used this as a way of opening up discussion on their campus, sometimes its faculty, sometimes its students, sometimes its administrators themselves who want this discussion to start. So, you know, the vast majority of the schools have not been critical of this at all. They know this is a problem. And I think, you know, the fact that this school is compelling them to change in some ways they wanted to do this themselves. I was sitting down with one college president where there was a problem. And she said I need pressure to make change. I need pressure. And so this is giving them an opportunity. CAMEROTA: Amy, Kirby, thank you for being here and for answering all of these questions. It's been a great conversation. DICK: Thank you. AMY ZIERING, PRODUCER, THE HUNTING GROUND: Thank you. CAMEROTA: Thank you for spending the evening with CNN. Watching "the Hunting Ground" and discussing the challenges of trying to stop sexual assaults on campus. This is an important conversation to have together and with our daughters and sons, to make sure their college experience can be about learning and not about fear. If you are a victim of sexual assault, looking for support tonight, you can call this free confidential hotline. It's 1-800-656-4673. Or hope. You can also visit CNN.com/impact for more resources. I'm Alisyn Camerota. Thank you for watching.


text:
For the last three years, Canada has lagged the United States in using its rail system to haul crude oil, hindered by a lack of loading terminals and a shortage of specially built rail cars that reheat viscous oil sands crude.
Now it's on the brink of catching up. Over the next 12 months, producers like Cenovus Energy Inc and logistics firms like Gibson Energy Inc will load up mile-long dedicated trains with ultra-heavy bitumen oil and move them thousands of miles in heated and coiled rail cars that eliminate the need to dilute the crude for pipeline shipments.
Yet they are opening up a new phase in the oil-by-rail boom at a moment of deepening uncertainty. An oil-train derailment that killed 50 people in Quebec has cast a shadow over the controversial practice and could raise new hurdles.
For the moment, the handful of new projects to potentially quadruple the amount of oil sands crude shipped by rail are moving ahead. Exports could soon rival U.S. shale oil rail shipments, currently three times greater than Canada's.
James Cairns, vice president of petroleum and chemicals at Canadian National Railway Co, said in Calgary this week that companies were moving at "breakneck speed" to overcome nationwide shortages of both infrastructure and rolling stock.
"In my 26 years in the rail business I have never seen this much massive investment in CN lines by our customers to get their products onto our railways," Cairns said. CN, the nation's largest carrier, expects to more than double last year's 30,000 carloads of raw bitumen and crude this year.
It is still too early to say how the derailment in the small town of Lac-Megantic will affect the oil-by-rail trend. The runaway 72-car oil train derailed and exploded in the center of the town in the worst North American rail disaster in two decades. The company that operated the train said the sole engineer on duty failed to adequately secure it.
Environmentalists and local groups have already expressed deep concerns about oil trains crisscrossing the continent, mirroring the vigorous campaigns against new pipelines.
Early this year, China-owned oil sands producer Nexen faced objections to a proposed project to move crude by rail to the Port of Prince Rupert on the West Coast.
Mike Hudema, climate and energy campaigner at Greenpeace, says many groups have expressed concerns, "especially in the wake of Lac-Megantic." The main worry is an older model tank car that regulators say is flawed. Cars ordered after October 2011, which include most heated cars, are better protected from accidents. Nexen says the project has not advanced for months.
Still, oil executives say the Quebec disaster should not slow progress.
"This won't have an impact," said Lyle Stevens, senior vice president of North American exploitation at Canadian Natural Resources Ltd, which intends to continue shipping an estimated 15,000 bpd of Canadian crude by rail.
Canada is entering a trade that has upended U.S. crude oil markets for three years. As hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling boosted Bakken oil output, a shortage of pipeline capacity in North Dakota and significant price discrepancies turned producers and traders toward trains, boosting shipments from zero to more than 500,000 bpd in that period.
Canadian rail loadings have risen more modestly, according to data. Despite discounts of as much as $40 a barrel between Western Canada Select heavy blend and U.S. crude, a lack of logistics and railcars has limited growth. Pipelines, while nearly full, remained a viable, typically cheaper, option.
"We could be seeing a shift in Bakken by rail to Canadian crude by rail"
This year, the Railway Association of Canada expects up to 140,000 carloads of crude to be shipped, equivalent to about 230,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the 600-barrel tank cars that are standard for Canada. In 2009, only 500 cars were loaded.
In the United States, shipments swelled to almost 100,000 cars in the first quarter, some 760,000 bpd based on the 700-barrel cars that are standard for lighter oil shipments, according to American Association of Railroads data.
Canada is poised to catch up. Although Gulf Coast refiners are starting to replace Bakken rail shipments with nearby Texas shale oil, they are eager to buy Canadian heavy crude instead of costlier imports.
"We could be seeing a shift in Bakken by rail to Canadian crude by rail," said Wood Mackenzie analyst Anna Temple.
Canada exported an average of 46,000 bpd of crude by rail to the United States in 2012, only 2 percent of total crude exports, according to National Energy Board data. But it reached 120,000 bpd in December, and many industry players estimated more than 200,000 bpd by the end of 2013.
As shipments of oil sands from landlocked Alberta to lucrative U.S. markets grow, they may also play into the debate over the contentious northern leg of TransCanada Corp's Keystone XL pipeline. U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to make a final decision on whether to allow the project this year.
In a preliminary report, the U.S. State Department said rejecting the pipeline would not necessarily slow production since rail shipments would increase. But experts question whether there will be enough rail capacity.
Compared to the first wave of rail shipments from the Bakken, the new Canada boom is being driven by more complicated and potentially longer-lasting economics: the opportunity for producers to avoid blending bitumen with imported oil.
Raw bitumen straight out of the ground is hard and too viscous to move by pipeline or in a general-purpose railcars unless it is diluted. Current pipeline shipments have to be diluted with 30 percent condensate so they flow easily.
But the heated and coiled tank cars designed to carry bitumen require less or no diluent at all. As a result, more bitumen fills the car, reducing the cost of purchasing diluent, a growing share of which needs to be imported.
Smaller than standard oil tank cars, they are equipped with insulation to keep the bitumen warm during transit. When the car is ready to be unloaded, steam is pumped into special heater coils on the exterior to raise the temperature to around 150 degrees centigrade, allowing the bitumen to be pumped out.
"Rail is not just a stopgap. As producers become more accustomed to using this type of transport and as investments are made, it's not going to disappear overnight," said Mark Pinney, manager of markets and transportation at the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
Diluent imports to Canada have risen five-fold since 2007 to 260,000 bpd, according to industry data. The Canadian Energy Research Institute forecasts demand at 670,000 bpd by 2020.
North American tank car makers such as Trinity Industries, Inc are racing to roll out cars to meet demand. An estimated 50,000 tank cars were on back order for crude oil shipping at the end of the first quarter.
Although companies do not provide data on the types of cars they are making, UBS analyst Eric Crawford says 60 percent of the backlog is for insulated cars that can transport bitumen.
Retrofitting some of the existing 300,000 oil tank car fleet is "not practical due to the costs," said Dennis Nuss, a spokesman for refiner Phillips 66. Phillips will take delivery of 2,000 larger general purpose railcars this year.
Companies including Gibson Energy and Canexus are building or expanding four terminals in western Canada that can load so-called "unit trains," with 120 cars carrying 70,000 barrels. These could cut the cost of a Gulf Coast shipment by 20 percent.
"The real bang for our buck is from the unit train and that comes in next year," says Don Swystun, vice president at Cenovus, which is counting on new terminals that will expand rail shipments five-fold to 30,000 bpd next year.
Gibson, which is signing up customers for a 60,000-bpd terminal in Hardisty, Alberta, estimates using a unit train would cut the cost of moving crude to the Gulf Coast to $14-$17 per barrel, compared with $17-$21 per barrel on a manifest train hauling mixed cargo.
Shippers are confident that rail trade will be profitable in the long term, even though the discount of benchmark U.S. crude prices to European Brent has slumped this month to a 2-1/2 year low, a disincentive for U.S. refiners to buy North American crude. Last week the number of rail cars loaded with oil in the United States and Canada fell to the lowest in six months.
U.S. refiners are also investing. Tesoro Corp is ordering an undisclosed number of the cars for its rail-to-barge project in Vancouver, Washington. PBF Energy has insulated cars on order to increase shipments to its Delaware refinery.
"Every time we bring in another barrel of Canadian heavy crude, we make enormous progress with regard to reducing our raw material cost," PBF Chairman Tom O'Malley recently told analysts. The refiner aims to triple deliveries to 80,000 bpd by year's end with new rail cars. "That is the game."
© Thomson Reuters 2013

subset: commoncrawl


text: Since 2013, significant changes have been made to your personal injury protection coverage (PIP). You are still required to carry the coverage, but the changes will restrict your ability to seek and obtain medical care after an accident. Continue reading Understanding Recent Changes to Florida's No-fault or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Law


text:
James Franco better strengthen his defenses, because the Beyhive is about to come for him in full force. The actor/everything else was caught walking around LA dressed as Beyoncé a la her "Hold Up" video for an unidentified project, and if the Amy Schumer debacle taught us anything, it's that no one parodies Beyoncé.
.@JamesFrancoTV spotted dressed as Beyoncé in #HoldUp while filming an upcoming project in LA. pic.twitter.com/B6nv1oakmI
— BEYONCÉ LEGION (@Bey_Legion) December 21, 2016
But this is James Franco, meaning anything and everything is ripe for appropriation, Beyhive and accusations of racism be damned! Let's just hope that this is for a project that isn't James Franco-specific but rather someone else's film or art project or music video or… whatever. If this is, in fact, Franco's idea, I genuinely fear for his safety.
Good luck James! You're gonna need it.


text:
Aries prefers to regard every sexual encounter as a conquest, even if it's for the nth time with the same partner. To Aries, the seduction as well as the act itself are challenges. Otherwise a great deal of the excitement is gone for Aries.
Also, Aries is mostly in quite a hurry, sort of as if participating in a race. Wham bam. That gives little room for any extended foreplay. On the other hand, Aries will not give up until reaching the satisfactory conclusion for both. But as soon as that happens, Aries wants to move on to other activities.
Of course, Aries want to be the one taking the initiatives. Even when that's not the case, the partner usually understands to make Aries feel as if being the one in charge, the one making the advances and bringing things to their conclusion.
To Aries, it's the activity of sex that attracts the most, not feelings of intimacy or sharing a memorable experience that deepens the relation. Aries has little patience for courting and cuddling.
Still, it can be quite fun also for Aries' partner. There's a no-nonsense directness to Aries sexuality, which has its own charm. Sex as aerobics. If nothing else, it's an intense exercise promoting fitness.
Some partners find it refreshing, whereas others are not satisfied at all. The latter are not likely to long for repetition. So, Aries tends to change partners frequently, until the right one comes along.
The right one is a partner being fine with sex in Aries' tempo and mentality. That's usually someone of the same taste, or a person who finds other reasons for keeping the relationship – someone not that interested in their sex life. It's going to be often, but quickly over and done with. That gives plenty of time for other activities.
What might expand Aries' sex life beyond the quickie is a formidable challenge, a partner demanding much more to get satisfied and not hesitating the least to let Aries know it. In such a relation, Aries might remain in bed for whatever time it takes – and finding it delightful. It may even reform Aries into another attitude towards sex completely. At least for as long as this relation lasts.
Sexuality and your Zodiac Sign
The most basic component of your horoscope is your star sign, which is the Zodiac sign the sun occupied at the time of your birth. The above text about your sexuality is based on that.
The sun is not really the driving force of a person's sexuality. You have to check your complete horoscope chart to get the full picture of your sexuality according to astrology. Still, your star sign gives some clues to your sexual habits and preferences.
Zodiac Sign
Sex Horoscopes
Here are links to all the twelve Zodiac signs and what astrology reveals about their sexuality traits.
English name:
The Maiden (or Virgin)
Sun sign dates:
August 23 – September 22
English name:
The Scorpion
Sun sign dates:
October 23 – November 21
English name:
The Archer
Sun sign dates:
November 22 – December 21
English name:
The Goat (or Sea-Goat)
Sun sign dates:
December 22 – January 20
English name:
The Water-Bearer
Sun sign dates:
January 20 – February 19
For those of you who prefer to read, here's the video transcription (click here to watch video)
- Hi. It's Holly again, and we're gonna talk about sensuality and sexuality. Let's talk about Aries here at Zodiacsignastrology.org. The Aries prefers to regard every sexual encounter as a conquest as something that they have to conquer ... an adventure. They want it to be a little bit of a game. They kinda wanna work for it, but they do get impatient if you make them work too hard.
So this can be kind of tricky, right? They like to, they love seduction as well as the act itself. They find it all so challenging and so intriguing. Aries is mostly, very much in a hurry. You know I've said in the other charts readings that I've done about Zodiac signs is that Aries can be impatient. So they kind of go towards their sexuality and their sensuality with their partner as if they're participating in a race. So wham, bam, thank you ma'am maybe a, a little bit more of what they're looking for.
Now, does that mean it's quick in the sack and jump out of bed, and that's no fun at all, is it? But for some of you, you might find that quite intriguing. But you know what? I'll tell you a little secret. Aries might be able to go for another round or two. So is it quick? Maybe. Can it be fun all night long? Absolutely. Now with Aries, they may not be the ones that lie around in bed after cuddling and holding hands or talking about how wonderful it was. They'll be moving on to the next adventure or the next thing that they want to do. Will it be with you? As long as you don't take it personally. It is their characteristic. It's in their personality to always be thinking about what's next. It doesn't mean that they didn't enjoy themselves, and that they didn't have fun.
Of course, this is always up for discussion, and we always encourage that in relationships. Now of course Aries wants to be the one taking the initiatives. So if you're in a hurry to have sex as well too, you're in a hurry to be intimate as well, they might back off a bit. You don't wanna know why? Because it's kind of a little bit too easy peasy for them. It's not that much fun. It's not that much of an adventure if they don't have a quest to conquer. So give your Aries a little bit of a chance to be able to be the initiator themselves. Now let's say you're a Cancer or possibly you're a Pisces or Capricorn, and you want to take things a little bit slower. You don't like the eager beavers. You don't like the ones that are rushing off into a hurry. That might create an imbalance in trust for you. Or you're wondering is that all they want from me.
So you might want to make it clear to your Aries that although you are eager to have this encounter with them when the time is right, it will happen. And that gives them another challenge, right? And it opens a line of communication. So if you're falling in lust or in love with your Aries, this is what you can expect from your partner.
Now if you're an Aries yourself and you find that oh here I am in another relationship with a ... Virgo who again can be quite cautious and move slow in their intimacy. 'Cause they're quick, deliberate and quite detailed oriented, and you might find that I blew it again because I tried too hard and moved too fast. Just explain to your Virgo lover, your Virgo partner that this is how I work, and I don't mean it to be ... too forward thinking. I don't want to scare you away. Let's have a conversation about this.
So be open to understand your Aries, lustful self. The fiery fire that lies within you. You remember Aries is a fire sign. And if you're with an Aries, try to understand and have an open conversation about that so that you're sexuality and your sensuality can be top-notch in your relationship.


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Hi Lynn,
No this is not true at all. If he ever criticized a musician it was strictly his opinion about that particular musician's musicianship. Race had nothing to do with it. It is unjust to spin it this way. Just look at some of the musicians he raved about ... Louis Armstrong, Roy Eldridge, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday, and Bud Powell, to name a few. Those just named are all "African-American jazz musicians", the last of which he named one of his sons after!
Unfortunately we do live in a world rife with racists, and rife with those who in their own insecurities will unfairly play the "race card". Lennie Tristano was neither, although he had to deal with both, just like all the rest of us!
Real music transcends all of this, by the way ...
Yes, he did have strong opinions!
Tristano's personality?
General Discussion
5 posts • Page 1 of 1
Re: Tristano's personality?
Ed is a former Lennie pupil who teaches Lennie's methods for jazz piano in North Carolina
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Re: Tristano's personality?
I don't agree with statement about racism. It had place some time ago but not now, nowadays people are really afraid to express some racist acts and thoughts about Afro-americans. Now write people are victims. I guess nowadays you have even more rights and opportunities if you are Afro-american. Some time ago every term paper of help unemployment wrote about discrimination of different races, but you won't find anything like this now.
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text:
Will Barton is Having a Breakout Season
POSTED BY: WILL BARTON in NEWS
The Denver Nuggets are in a key moment of their rebuilding process, the time in which franchises need to find out who's a keeper and who is not on their long-term plans. Minutes and opportunities are available to players who might not be getting them otherwise and it's on them to make the most of their chance. One player who has done so is the electrifying Will Barton.
Barton arrived at Denver last trade deadline from Portland in the transaction that landed the Trail Blazers Arron Afflalo. He immediately showed his worth during his short stint as a Nugget, stuffing the stat sheet thanks to his athleticism and motor. That performance earned him a three-year, $10 million contract that was based mostly on upside, as he had been buried in the bench his first two seasons in the league.
That deal is now looking like an absolute steal.
Barton has broken out in a major way. He's posting career highs in every positive statistical category and career lows in turnover percentage and fouls per minute. He's averaging 17 points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal while shooting 46 percent from the floor and 39 percent from beyond the arc. He's gone from bit player to rotation stalwart while skipping the growing pains that plague players who get their first shot at big minutes.
Get my Thrill gear for game day!
The first 29 games of the season were proof enough that his performance wasn't a fluke but a five-game stretch to end 2015 and start 2016 that featured matchups against the Spurs, Thunder, Trail Blazers, Cavaliers and Warriors only cemented his status as both Sixth Man of the Year and Most Improved Player candidate. Not only can Barton play but he can do it against quality competition, despite still having some flaws.
As a shooter, Barton excels on catch and shoot opportunities (42 percent) but struggles on pull ups (31 percent), which makes his driving game easy to defend on isolations. He is, however, deadly in transition and has enough tools at his disposal to get to the rim in the half court, especially after ball screens. He changes speeds on his drives and shows patience, but he's also not afraid to just throw his body around.
What makes Barton stand out in a sea of decent scorers is his ability to contribute in other areas. He's a terrific rebounder, boasting a defensive rebound percentage fitting for a power forward, despite weighing in at a slender 175 lbs. He's also a decent playmaker, able to find the open man on pick and rolls and read the floor for the occasional high degree of difficulty assist.
As a defender, Barton is a mixed bag. He still has work to do to become an asset on that end, but he doesn't really hurt the Nuggets when he's on the court, either. He's quick, long and tries hard, so he can't be exploited in isolations unless the opponent is much bigger. On the ball, he's generally good, although, navigating ball screens is a problem because of his lack of strength. Off the ball, he can fall asleep at times and sometimes gambles for steals, though, occasionally those gambles pay off.
Barton has made a huge, unexpected leap this season, so it's understandable to wonder if it's sustainable. Fortunately, for the Nuggets, it seems like it might be. His three-point shooting percentage — the biggest outlier — has come in increased attempts, as he's already fired as many outside shots as on the last two seasons combined. The rest of his game was solid when he finally got playing time after the trade last year and is looking even better now that he has a defined role and the confidence boost that comes with it.
Barton is on the books for two more seasons, which means Denver has locked up a 24-year-old up-and-coming wing on the cheap for their transitional period. The Nuggets have made small moves using their cap space — extending Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler, bringing over Nikola Jokic — that won't swing their 2015/16 season but puts them in a better position to face the next step of their rebuild. Signing Barton has been, unexpectedly, the best of the bunch, as his contract makes him one of the best values in the league.
Denver is four games away from the No. 8 seed but making the playoffs seems like a longshot. That's fine for a franchise that could benefit greatly from another high pick. This season will continue to be all about internal development under coach Michael Malone. For Barton, that means finding consistency, as he followed up those good five games with a stinker on Sunday. If he can do that, he will establish himself as one of the best reserves in the league and a potential part of the foundation in Denver.
Jesus Gomez | todaysfastbreak.com | January 4, 2016


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The World Soke / Sokeship Council is dedicated to the brotherhood of the martial arts the membership division is compiling resume of Soke, Grandmasters and Head Founders to be posted. If you feel you meet the stringent requirements of the World Soke Council, please send us your resume and request to join. You will need to send us a short biography to be placed next to your name and system along with a photograph, e mail, contact information, and web site address.
We have had wonderful responses from the Soke and Head Founders we have been in contact with. Please note; we do not have a standard council with a board of directors at this time. We feel that all Soke and Head Founders that are members should have an equal voice in spreading the arts in a positive light, and must rise above the standard to set a new level of honor and excellence. We receive many applications for consideration so please be patient. If you are a 1st degree through 4th or equivalent do not bother sending in your application as it is very doubtful you will be admitted as you need more experience in the arts. Best wishes.
Please be patient if you do not have broad band for the Grandmasters photographs to appear.
Grandmasters Council Members
Dr. Giovani Acevedo Soke- Founder Goju Kempo
Website E MAIL
Jim Alty - Founder of American Kempo JuJitsu.
James Alty holds 8th Dan in Kempo, 6th Dan in Chinese Kenpo Karate, 3rd Dan in Yoshitsune JuJitsu, 1st Dan in Goju-Ryu, 1st Dan in Combat JuJitsu. He is former Chairman of the World Martial Arts Federation, Inc. and was inducted into The World Martial Arts Hall of Fame 2000, the International Federation of JuJutsuans 2007 Legion of Honor, receiving the Samurai Award and the Kenpo International Hall of Fame 2009. He is currently teaching 6 days a week at New Horizon Karate.
American Kenpo JuJitsu E MAIL
Professor Ron Bradbury Soke- Founder American Kenpo Bu-justsu Karate
The System which Professor Bradbury is the Founder and Grandmaster of is American Kenpo Bu-Jutsu, and it is a System of self-offense in which people learn how to end a confrontation. American Kenpo Bu-Jutsu doesn't train with non-lethal techniques, nor does it train to back up after a technique is executed. Students train to attack with the most lethal techniques in their arsenal and to keep attacking until the threat is destroyed.
American Kenpo Bu Jutsu E MAIL
David Cooper Soke- Founder American Creative Form Kung Fu
Soke Cooper, MS, a martial artist since 1968, has specialized in non-sport, practical, and lethal techniques for decades. This means defenses against attackers with knives, guns, and clubs as well as larger and stronger opponents intent on extreme harm to your body.
Grandmaster Jedan Figueroa Soke- Founder Jedan Ryu Jujitsu
Jedan O. Figueroa Ph.D./Soke , Grandmaster 10 degree in Jujitsu is the Director and founder of the American JuJitsu Academy JedanRyu since 1983 , President and founder of Puerto Rico JuJitsu Association since 1991 , President and founder of the International JuJitsu Hall of Fame since 2000.
Kyoshi Dave Degrouchie Soke- Founder Goju Senjutsu
Kyoshi Dave Degrouchie has been training in, and teaching the martial arts for 19 years. He has studied the arts of Jujutsu, Tang Soo Do, Karate and Tai Chi, and is the founder of Bujutsu Okuden Ryu. He has been inducted and nominated into various halls of fame, and has served in an administrative capacity for various worldwide martial arts organizations. He presently holds the grade of Rokudan, and is the founder of the World Budo Alliance. Kyoshi Degrouchie has completed two of his seven volume work in progress series, "Modern Weapons 101", and has put together the Goju-Senjutsu Black belt/Instructor training video program, so that individuals worldwide can learn aspects of his art. Kyoshi Degrouchie has spent the bulk of his time in Budo researching the truths of the Budo physical, and has recently embarked on deeper study into the Budo mental and spiritual path. Kyoshi Degrouchie openly welcomes all individuals regardless of status and grade, to get in touch to discuss theory and findings of Budo.
World Budo Alliance E MAIL
Professor Carter Hargrave Soke- Founder American Combat Kempo
Grandmaster Hargrave is the founder of Combat Martial Arts and American Combat Kempo. He is the President of the World Kempo Association,World Jeet Kune Do Federation, and the American Combat Kempo Association. Hargrave is also serves as the grading board chairman for the World Budo Alliance.
World Kempo Association Jeet Kune Do Federation E MAIL
Dan Hausel - Soke Seiyo Shorin-Ryu
7 time hall of fame inductee, a Who's Who in the World, certified black belt in 7 different martial arts, and a professor of martial arts at the University of Wyoming. Four characteristics of Seiyo Shorin-Ryu include: (1) emphasis of positive personality development of the student, (2) maximum focus and power in technique, (3) development of realistic applications for all techniques in the 50 kata taught in the system, and (4) continual evolution of the style
Website E MAIL
Hanshi Nimr Hassan - Koga Ha Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo
hassan Menkyo Hanshi Hassan is presently the only surviving student in the continental United States to be taught by Great Grand Master James M. Mitose. He is the only Menkyo Hanshi who teaches the ancient and traditional Koga Ha Kosho Shorei Ryu Temple Dance/Escaping Art systems. Menkyo Hanshi Nimr R. Hassan was selected over other candidates to become the ichi deschi" (disciple/only student) of the Great Grand Master. In this position, Menkyo Hanshi Hassan was instructed in the ancient and traditional manner by receiving the secrets from mouth to ear.
Professor Larry Hilton Soke- Founder Nippon Ketsugo Kai
hiltonProfessor Larry Hilton is the Head Founder of the Self Defense System known as Nippon Ketsugo Ryu Ju Jitsu/ Kenpo. This dynamic art was formulated in 1981. Today there are over 2000 martial artist studying this system.
Professor Hilton is a 44 year veteran of the martial arts and is a member of 6 International Hall of Fame Associations.
Stephan F. Kaufman Soke-Founder Hebi-ryu American Karate Budo
Kaufman is the author of The Martial Artist's Book of Five Rings, Sun Tzu's Art of War, The Shogun Scrolls, The Living Tao (all Charles E. Tuttle) and Zen and the Art of Stickfighting (NTC/Contemporary). He is the founder of Life-Force Energy Healingâ and Self-Revealization Acceptance.
Website E MAIL
Glen E. Kwan Soke- Founder Genki Do Kempo
untitled In June of 1974, Hanshi Kwan achieved his 1st degree Black Belt in Chinese Kempo Karate. In 1974, Soke Kwan moved to Barrie, Ontario, and began teaching what has evolved into Genki-do Kempo Karate, incorporating Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and North American Freestyle Karate. Undoubtedly the evolution of Genkido Kempo was influenced by many of the teachers Soke Kwan trained with, including: Grandmaster Ed Parker (American Kenpo Karate), Soke Steve Reynolds (Jiu-jitsu-kai), Grandmaster Chuck Platten (Hapkido), Sensei Monty Guest (Chito-ryu), Soke Israel Segarra (Goju-kai), Prof. Wally Jay (Small Circle Jiu-jitsu), O'Sensei Harold Howard (Jiu-jitsu), Grandmaster Olaf Simon (Kempo), Grandmaster Denis R. Decker (Chi Ling Pai Kempo). E MAIL
Joseph Lumpkin - Soke Shinsei Hapkido
a Christian based martial arts system. He has been training in martial arts since 1972. Joseph holds a Sixth Degree Black Belt in Hapkido, Third degree in Akayama Ryu Jujistu under its founder, Mark Barlow, as well as Second Degree Black Belts in Shotokan Karate, and Kodokan Judo. He currently trains with Mark Barlow, head of Akayama Ryu and Chris Dewey, USA Judo coach. He is guided and backed by Ian Cyrus, head of Cho Son Do and head student of Master Ji Han Jae, the father of Hapkido. Joseph Lumpkin received his Doctorate of Ministry from Battlefield Baptist Institute.He is currently the C.E.O. of the worldwide youth outreach, Karate for Christ. His organization has over 7000 members in 26 countries.
Website E MAIL
Avelino R. Mayoral- Soke San Dai
Soke San Dai, Hanshi Mayoral, Judan 10th Dan Black Belt
Hanshi, Avelino R. Mayoral, Soke San Dai, Judan, 10th Dan Black Belt, Shizenki Ryu Bujutsu. Begain his training in Shizenki Ryu Bujutsu in January of 1965. He is a direct practitioner of the late, Ph.D Louis Fried, Soke Ni Dai Judan, 10th Dan Black Belt. Hanshi, Mayoral gained the position of Soke San Dai in November 1991 after the death of Louis Fried. Ph.D Louis Fried was a direct practitioner of Shizenki Ryu Bujutsu founder, Soke Sho Dai, Kenwi Tasuki. Shizenki Ryu Bujutsu was founded by Soke Sho Dai Tasuki in 1920.
Dr. E.A. Moore- Soke
Dr. Moore is the founder and president of the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame the oldest martial arts Hall of Fame in existence.
Website E MAIL
Dr. Larry Sanders- Soke
Dr. Larry Sanders is the founder of Nei Wai Chia Martial Arts. He has over four decades of martial arts experience and is a multi-time inductee in the Martial Arts Hall Of Fame.
Website E MAIL
Grandmaster Steve Otstot - Tae Kwon Do 9th Dan
Grandmaster Steve Otstot has been in the Martial Arts over 30 years and has a 9th Degree Black Belt in Taekwon Do and 4th. Degree Black Belt in Hapkido. He is the Chief Instructor for the Martial Arts for the Handicapable Inc, Vice President of the Tactical Hapkido Alliance, Vice President of the Pylsung Do Federation, on the Board of the World Wide Kickboxing Federation, and Director of Handicapable Self Defense in the World Budo Alliance. He is a corner judge for the Keystone International Kickboxing Association located in Mechanicsburg, Pa. and the World Wide Kickboxing Federation located in Rochester New York. He is also on the board for the Pennsylvania Referee's Association
Steel Tiger Martial Arts E MAIL
Robert Reece Soke- Founder Raiondo Goju
Reece developed Raiondo-goju to incorporate his 25 years experiences in the arts. He started Chippawa Martial Arts in 1995,and was re-certified as a United States Combat Martial Arts instructor and promoted. He has trained in Japanese, Okinawian and Chinese Goju-ryu,Chito ryu, Chinese Kempo, Jujitsu,Tai chi chuan, kobuto, knife & cane, and is a member of Neko-do systems of Goju-ryu, Tanren Goju-ryu. Member Latin American Grandmasters & Soke Council, Inc (LAGSC)and Board member of International Martial Arts Association.
Chippawa Martial Arts E MAIL
Professor Dave Shelton Soke- Founder Matsumura Soken Do
He was the second American to receive the Shihan (Master) Instructor Certificate from O'Sensei Hohan Soken in October 1969. And he is the founder of Shorin Ryu Matsumura Soken Do. He was also the first authorized Instructor to teach Shorin Ryu Matsumura Seito, outside of Okinawa, in November 1969.He was a top competitor on the Gulf Coast 1970-1975, and began officiating in 1970. Since then he has acted as Chief Judge, Chief Referee, Tournament Official, Tournament Director, Weapons Advisor, and Special Guest, for numerous national tournaments.
Matsumura Seito Society
Mark Shuey Soke- Founder Cane Masters
Soke Shuey has degrees in Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, and Hapkido. He has a Master's Certification with USNKA (United States National Karate Assoc.), ATAMA (American Teacher's Assoc. of the Martial Arts), USMA (United States Martial Arts Association), as well as the Independent Karate School Association. Mark is also the Head of Cane Instruction and Nevada State Director for the International Combat Hapkido Federation.
Cane Masters
Kyoshi Robert Sterling Soke- Kuma- Ryu Karate-Jutsu
Professor Alan Thornton Soke- Founder Senai Seisshinryu Shihandokai thorntonProfessor Thornton's personal philosophy of martial art training is very traditional in its approach for 'Quality rather than Quantity' - stressing the essential value of a good respectful attitude towards your fellow martial artists and society in general. Thus, as you gradually advance and fully develop in your training, you should become much more balanced, self-disciplined, respectful, peaceful and in full harmony within your body, mind and spirit.
Lawrence Valadez Soke- Valadez Kenpo-Ryu
Sensei Valadez is the founder of the Martial Art system Known as Valadez Kenpo-Ryu., a system that is recognized by the International Sungja Do Association, Korea Do Christian Martial Arts Association, World Federation of Universal Combat Systems, Tamashii Ryu Kempo Karate Do & Kobudo Federation Inc., World Headmaster and Sokeship Union, American College of Martial Science, Independent Martial Arts Federation, and the Cobra Martial Arts Association. He holds a 6th Dan in his own system and rejects the idea that system founders should automatically hold 10th Dan Black Belts.
Website E MAIL


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We see a world where change is no longer an obstacle, but an opportunity.
In recent years, we have observed that companies who have experienced stable financial success for decades tend to avoid change, and in the process fail to evolve at a quick enough pace to remain relevant. They essentially get stuck doing what they have always done, blindly assuming their success will last forever. But old paradigms are fast-dissolving and the new reality is: what got you here today, won't necessarily get you there tomorrow.
We provide strategic tools and services to drive change so companies can realize their full potential.
With more than 70 employees, we are now one of the largest agencies in Western Canada. Over the past 20 years, we have worked with a wide array of both public and private sector clients across the Canadian Prairies, U.S. and internationally – with a specific focus on agriculture.
Our mission is to help people and organizations reinvent themselves by changing from the inside out.


text:
The Plymouth Consultant Radiologist Partnership is one of the largest independent partnerships in existence providing radiological expertise, reporting and consultancy services. It has existed for over 25 years and has now grown to encompass 11 Consultant Radiologists, covering a wide range of sub specialty modalities. Plymouth Radiology Consultants also run Easy Imaging, which runs along side the Radiology partnership and provides MRI and Ultrasound services.
Services are of the highest quality are regularly audited and competitively priced. Reports will be issued in timescales in accordance with contract; within 24 hours in certain circumstances.
|Plymouth provides a range of secondary and tertiary specialties for patients from across the South West Peninsula and beyond, including being the regional cardiac and neurosurgical centre.
The Partnership works with GPs, Consultants, Professional Sports Teams and Athletes local to the South West, but increasingly provide a reporting service for images taken at other hospitals around the whole of the United Kingdom. The Partners are happy to consider work from abroad as well where required. Arrangements are in place to manage this process electronically or via couriers and administrative tracking; whichever is more appropriate for the customer.


text:
TAMPA � For weeks, rumors have swirled of a plot to shake up the Hillsborough County Commission and dramatically alter the political landscape there.
On Wednesday, that speculation became reality when Commissioner Sandy Murman unveiled a proposal to change the board�s makeup.
In its current state, there are seven county commissioners � four elected in equally apportioned single-member districts and three who serve county-wide. Murman, a Republican, wants to eliminate the at-large seats and instead have seven or nine single-member districts.
She said Hillsborough�s population is too large for county commissioners to effectively serve their constituents, and smaller districts will give communities and minorities greater voice on the board. The county is the size of Rhode Island and more populous than 10 states
"All of the other major counties have no county-wide commissioners," Murman said.
But others see a naked political move by Murman to shore up her future on the board.
Murman was re-elected in 2016 to a four-year term in her District 2 seat, but has filed to run for an open at-large seat this year.
If the commission approves this plan, she could pull back from running in what has already been a tough election cycle for Republicans. Then she could stay in her district until 2020, when she can run again for a seat drawn around her south Tampa home.
Asked three times after the meeting, Murman would not commit to staying in the countywide race if her proposal advances.
"I can�t say," Murman told the Tampa Bay Times. "You never say no to anything. But right now I�m still moving forward."
Several candidates have announced plans to run to replace Murman and would be sent scrambling if she changes her mind in the coming weeks.
Commissioner Les Miller, a Democrat, grilled Murman over her past opposition to similar proposals. Twice, Miller has asked commissioners to consider smaller districts that could add a second minority-majority district. Murman helped defeat both efforts.
"It amazes me that I brought this up two times, and it went down the tubes twice, and now all the sudden it�s coming back," Miller said. "I just hope this is not politically driven."
Replied Murman: "People�s feelings can evolve over time."
The make-up of the county commission is set in the county charter. To change it, five commissioners would have to agree to place an amendment on the ballot and a majority of voters would have to approve it.
A motion by Murman to study the idea was rejected by commissioners. But at the end of the meeting, a defiant Murman nevertheless requested a staff report.
It is unclear if there is enough support on the commission for the proposal to reach the ballot.
Miller said he would only support it if the staff of the county�s planning commission drew the new district boundaries. Murman wouldn�t commit to that. The commission is currently in charge of drawing the commission map.
Commissioners Victor Crist, a Republican, and Pat Kemp, a Democrat, opposed the idea. Crist praised the existing system because it allows residents to elect a majority of the county commissioners who represent the county � one commissioners from their district, and three at-large commissioners. Under this new proposal, voters will only have a say on one of seven or nine.
"What we have right now works and it works well," Crist said. Crist is running for a countywide seat this year.
Kemp may have the most to lose if the board eliminates at-large seats. She was elected countywide, but would have to run for re-election in 2020 in whatever district encompasses her Seminole Heights home. That area has traditionally been represented by a black politician on the county commission.
The debate on districts came during a conversation on another charter amendment, this one to implement term limits. Commissioners approved Kemp�s request for a staff report.
Crist wondered if this was also politically driven and an attempt to push out the tenured Republican commissioners more quickly in a county that is trending Democratic.
On a 4-3 vote, commissioners rejected a charter amendment to elect constitutional officers, like the sheriff and tax collector, in nonpartisan races. Both the local Republican and Democratic parties opposed it.
Contact Steve Contorno at [email protected] or (813) 226-3433. Follow @scontorno.


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Tag Archives: spaghetti squash caseroles
Spaghetti Squash–2 ways
Hello! Happy Thursday! I am so congested today that I want to punch someone. Hoping this will clear up by tomorrow or my cube mates better watch out. I am looking forward to the weekend because one of my best … Continue reading
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There's a project gaining popularity on GitHub, the website where programmers share their projects with each other, called "Startup Incorporation Checklist."
The checklist was created by Leo Hochberg, founder of startups Stampnik and Let's Maybe.
"Other than building a product people want, incorporating a new business is essential to raising money, opening a bank account, and creating a legal entity for contracts and other liabilities. For technical folks like me, it's the 'necessary evil,' of founding a company," Hochberg writes on GitHub.
One funny thing stuck out. Among the couple of notes at the top (the process takes several weeks, you should consult a lawyer, etc.) he warned: "Many steps require the use of snail mail or a fax machine."
No doubt, there are people founding a company these days who have never operated a fax machine.
So Hochberg offered some advice. He found an app, HelloFax, which sends faxes without a fax machine. It's still possible to buy a fax machine, of course. Or to run by Kinkos and use one. But developers would, naturally, prefer an app.
HelloFax is the sister service to HelloSign and when the checklist went viral on Hacker News, the co-founder couldn't help but jump in with a comment and a plug for his document services to which Hochberg responded, "Thanks for building a great service and down with the fax machines."


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