>> THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY... FIRST, WOMEN, CHILDREN AND THE IMMIGRATION SHOWDOWN.
THEN RAPE CHARGES AGAINST BILL COSBY AND WHY STATES PLACE TIME LIMITS ON PROSECUTION OF THE CRIME OF RAPE.
BEHIND THE HEADLINES WHAT GLORIA STEINEM SAYS SEXUAL ASSAULT CAN BE ELIMINATED.
[♪♪♪] >> HELLO I'M BONNIE ERBE WELCOME TO THE CONTRARY, A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS.
UP FIRST, WOMEN, CHILDREN AND IMMIGRATION.
SUPPORTERS OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S EXECUTIVE ORDER ON IMMIGRATION SAY IT HONORS AMERICAN VALUES BY KEEPING MORE FAMILIES TOGETHER.
OPPONENTS SAY IT'S UNFAIRLY BEING IMPOSED WITHOUT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
ACCORDING TO THE MIGRATION POLICY INSTITUTE ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF IMMIGRANTS ILLEGALLY IN THE U.S. LIVE WITH A CHILD WHO IS A U.S. CITIZEN.
THE PRESIDENT'S ORDER COULD SHIELD FIVE MILLION PEOPLE MOST OF THEM WOMEN AND CHILDREN FROM DEPORTATION.
FOUR MILLION IMMIGRANTS WITH NO CRIMINAL RECORDS WILL BE ABLE TO WORK LEGALLY IN THE COUNTRY.
ALSO INCLUDED, IS AN EXPANSION OF THE DREAMERS PROGRAM FOR YOUNG IMMIGRANTS WHO CAME TO THE U.S. AS CHILDREN.
HOWEVER, THEIR PARENTS GET NO PROTECTION.
CRITICS ON THE LEFT IS SAY THE ORDER DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH AND CRITICS ON THE RIGHT ARE PROMISING TO TAKE THEIR OWN ACTION.
IS THIS A FAMILY PRESERVATION BILL ACTION, RATHER AS THE PRESIDENT SAYS IT IS?
>> BONNIE THEY HAVE NO AVOIDING THE FAMILY SOLIDARITY THEME THAT RUNS THROUGHOUT THE ORDER.
BUT WHEN THE FAMILIES COME OUT OF THE SHADOWS THEY WILL BOLSTER THE ECONOMY.
>> IT IS MORE ABOUT POLITICS THAN FAMILIES.
AND WHICH FAMILIES.
THOSE HERE ILLEGALLY ORTHOS TRYING TO COME IN THE RIGHT WAY.
>> IN TRUTH WE'VE HAD 30 YEARS TO CHANGE IMMIGRATION.
>> I AGREE THAT THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM WE HAVE HERE IS BROKEN AND IT'S TIME FOR REFORM BUT THIS IS NOT REAL REFORM THIS IS A POLITICAL MOVE AND IT DOESN'T DO MUCH FOR MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES.
>> DEMOCRATS ARE ASKING REPUBLICANS YOU ARE THE FAMILY VALUES PARTY, WHY DON'T YOU WANT TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER?
>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO SEPARATE FAMILIES.
THE ISSUE IS WHY ARE WE IMPLEMENTING POLICIES THAT ARE ASKING FAMILIES TO RISK THE LIVES OF THEIR CHILDREN BY TRYING TO GET THEM ACROSS THE BORDER.
WE SAW THAT OVER THE SUMMER.
I WENT DOWN TO TEXAS IT WAS NOT ALL FAMILIES COMING ACROSS THAT BORDER TOGETHERCH A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE SENDING THEIR CHILDREN ON THEIR OWN.
A LOT WERE YOUNG MEN COMING BY THEMSELVES.
AND THERE ARE MANY IMMIGRANT FAMILIES IN THIS COUNTRY THEY MAY LIVE HERE BUT TRYING TO GET THEIR MOTHER HERE LEGALLY OR A SON HERE LEGALLY AND THEY ARE IN LINE RIGHT NOW.
PRESIDENT OBAMA JUST PUT FIVE MILLION PEOPLE AHEAD OF THEM.
AND I THINK THAT IS WRONG.
>> WELL, THEY ARE HERE.
AND THE ISSUE FOR THE PRESIDENT IS WHAT DO YOU DO WITH FAMILIES WHO ARE HERE THAT ARE BEING TORN APART BY THE DELAY IN IMMIGRATION REFORM?
AND IF YOU DOUBT THAT THERE ARE FAMILIES YOU OUGHT TO LOOK AT WHERE THE PRESSURE WAS COMING FROM.
IT WAS PRESSURE FROM FAMILIES WHO ARE HERE, WHO -- >> FAMILIES YOU MEAN MOTHERS AND CHILDREN?
>> THERE IS A -- YOU CANNOT COME AND CLAIM THE PRESIDENT'S EXECUTIVE ORDER.
SO IT'S NOT ABOUT DRAWING MORE PEOPLE HERE AND ANY SIMILARITY TO WHAT HAPPENED IN CENTRAL AMERICA THIS SUMMER IS NOT APROPOS.
SO THIS WAS DRIVEN BY FAMILIES OVER AND OVER AND PICKETING COMING TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE CONGRESS AND IT WAS DRIVEN ALSO BY THE FACT THAT ANYBODY WHO IS WIDE AWAKE KNOWS THAT THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE IN WHICH I SERVE, IS NOT ABOUT TO BRING IMMIGRATION REFORM TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THIS CONGRESS OR ANY CONGRESS THEY CONTROL.
SOMEBODY HAD TO ANSWER THESE FAMILIES AND THE PRESIDENT DID IT.
>> THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
AND I HAVE TO SAY I UNDERSTAND THE MOTHER WHO CAME HERE TO ESCAPE STRIVE AND IS WORKING HARD.
MY FATHER ESCAPED A DICTATOR IN UGANDA AND CAME WITH NOTHING.
$8 AND TWO PARENTS TO TAKE CARE OF AND HE BUILT IT ON HIS OWN.
MY FATHER WAS 71.
HE IMMIGRATED IN 1971.
DIFFERENT YEARS BUT THEY IMMIGRATED LEGALLY.
I TAKE GREAT OFFENSE TO FIVE MILLION PEOPLE BEING UNDOCUMENTED AND BEING ABLE TO BE NOW LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS WHEN THEY HAVE BROKEN RULES NO MATTER WHAT.
>> I THINK WE ARE ALL IGNORING THE ISSUE WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY ON OUR HANDS.
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN SCHOOLS COME FROM FAMILIES THAT ARE UNDOCUMENTED?
WE HAVE A CRISIS.
AND PER REPRESENTATIVE HOLMES' POINT AND SHE LIVES THIS EVERYDAY ON THE FLOOR THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE LEGISLATION PASSED.
I THINK OBAMA WAS BLAF IN SAYING WE GOT TO FIX THIS.
>> I HAVE A -- WHEN DEMOCRATS SAY WE GOT TO FIX IT, DON'T THEY MEAN WE'VE GOT TO GIVE LEGAL RESIDENCY OR PERMITS OR SOMETHING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE WITHOUT CONSIDERING IF THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS?
>> WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE?
I.
>> ASKING PEOPLE HERE ILLEGALLY TO LEAVE.
>> PLEASE, THEY HAVE A TRIED THAT.
AND THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 10 AND 15 YEARS.
NOBODY EVEN THE MOST FAR RIGHT-WING REPUBLICANS SAY ROUND THEM UP AND FIND WHERE THEY ARE.
>> THIS IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.
AND HERE IS THE REALITY.
IF THERE IS A REAL CRISIS WHAT IS THE CRISIS?
NOBODY IS BEING SENT HOME RIGHT NOW THIS PRESIDENT HE CLAIMS HE HAS DEPORTED MORE PEOPLE BUT HE COUNTS THE NUMBERS LIKE AT THE BORDER.
INTERNAL DEPORTATION IS DOWN TO THE LOWEST NUMBERS SINCE THE 1970s.
>> YOU ARE SAYING NOBODY IS SENDING ANYBODY HOME?
I THOUGHT THE WHOLE TEA PARTIESTS AND ANTI-IMMIGRATION REFORM PEOPLE DO WANT THE 11-AND-A-HALF MILLION SENT BACK.
>> I AGREE BUT MY POINT IS WHAT IS THE CRISIS IN THE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO SCHOOL?
MANY PEOPLE ARE WORKING.
THE NUMBERS ARE IN THE LABOR FORCE.
AND TO SAY THERE IS A CRISIS THIS CRISIS EXISTED SIX YEARS AGO WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA CAME INTO OFFICE AND HAD A CONGRESS CONTROLLED BY DEMOCRATS AND HOUSE CONTROLLED BY DEMOCRATS AND DID NOTHING ON THE ISSUE.
HE WAITED SIX YEARS BECAUSE HE WANTED TO DO OTHER THINGS.
HE WAITED UNTIL AFTER AN ELECTION.
HE IS GOING AROUND THE PEOPLE.
HE IS GOING AROUND THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES.
AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY -- >> HE IS USING A TOOL THAT ANY PRESIDENT CAN USE IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS.
AND I SAY IT IS A CRISIS WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MILLIONS OF -- >> THEY WERE HERE A YEAR AGO, FIVE YEARS AGO.
>> THIS HAS BEEN A CRISIS AT THE BOILING.
YOU ARE IN THE COLD WATER AND YOU TURN THE HEAT UP SLOWLY AND THE FROG NEVER JUMPS OUT IF THE WATER IS HOT THE FROG JUMPS OUT.
IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR 30 YEARS WE HAVE GOTTEN TO NO PLACE AND ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN T DOESN'T MEAN IT'S PERFECT AND OTHER THINGS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN BUT WE HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE.
>> NOT TO FIX THE PROBLEM CALLED THE BORDER THAT ALLOWED IT TO GET WORSE AND WORSE.
>> I MEAN BORDER IS ONE THING BUT THE OTHER THING IS THAT MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE ILLEGALLY CAME OVER ON LEGAL VISAS AND TOURIST STUDENT VISAS.
>> BUT YOU HAVE TO ENFORCE THAT STUFF.
>> YOU MAKE IT LOOK LIKE IT'S ALL HISPANICS.
AND WE ARE NOT.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EASTERN EUROPEANS AND ASIANS, EVERYBODY.
WHY IS IT THAT THE HOUSE -- WHY DON'T THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE COME UP WITH A BILL AND OFFER IT OF?
>> LET'S UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO THEMSELVES.
THEY HAD IN 2010, THE MAJORITY OF THE STATE LEGISLATURES.
THEY NOT ONLY JERRY MANNEDDERRED THEMSELVES BUT LUBER JERRY MANDERRED THEMSELVES TOO 75% WHITE DISTRICTS.
SO THERE IS NOT ONLY NO INCENTIVE THEY THINK THERE IS A PAYBACK.
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO MOVE YOU CANNOT TELL ME THEY ARE GOING TO MOVE.
>> NO THEY ARE NOT GOING TO MOVE THE BILL THAT YOU WANT AND THE PRESIDENT WANTS BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE NOT GOING TO MOVE.
>> THE SENATE PASSED A BILL.
THEY COULD HAVE MOVED A PIECE OF A BILL, AND THEY COULD HAVE MOVED A VERSION OF THAT BILL THEY DIDN'T DO IT FOR THE REASON I HAVE JUST INDICATED.
THAT IS A STRUCTURAL REASON WHEN AND THAT OUGHT TO BE A LESSON TO ALL OF US.
BOTH PARTIES ARE BETTER WHEN BOTH PARTIES ARE DIVERSE.
>> THEY DID NOT MOVE THAT BILL BECAUSE THEY KNEW IF THEY DID A PART OF THE BILL IT WOULD GO BACK TO THE SENATE AND IT WOULD ADD AN AMNESTY.
AND MOST AMERICANS DON'T WANT AMNESTY.
>> CONGRESS HAS TO VOTE ON IT.
>> FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE @BONNIEERBE.
FROM IMMIGRATION TO THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST BILL COSBY.
MORE THAN A DOZEN WOMEN HAVE ACCUSED COMEDIAN AND ACTOR BILL COSBY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND RAPE MOST OF THEM INCLUDING THE CLAIM HE DRUGGED THEM BEFORE THE ASSAULTS.
MOST OF THE STORIES ARE DECADES OLD.
ONE GOING BACK TO 1969 AND CANNOT BE PROSECUTED BECAUSE THERE'S STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS ON SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES.
THEY VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.
CALIFORNIA STATUTE IS 10 YEARS IN MOST CASES, PENNSYLVANIA 12, AND TEXAS HAS A FIVE-YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.
BUT THERE'S AN EXCEPTION IF DNA EVIDENCE TAKEN AROUND THE TIME OF THE ALLEGED ASSAULT EXISTS.
THEN THERE'S NO SUCH TIME LIMIT.
THE COSBY CASE RAISES MANY QUESTIONS BUT CHIEF MAY BE SHOULD STATES ABOLISH STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS ON THE CRIME OF RAPE WHEN THERE ARE NONE FOR MURDER?
SO WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE PUBLIC POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF THIS CASE NOT THE DETAILS OF WHO DID WHAT TO WHOM.
IF WE ARE JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS THAT HE IS GUILTY AS CHARGED, AND YOU SAY THAT YOU DON'T BELIEVE HE IS.
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
I WASN'T IN THE SCENARIOS TONIGHT CAME OUT OF THE BLUE.
THESE WERE NOT STORY I FOLLOWED IN THE PAST AND I AM SURPRISED BASED ON WOULD WE THOUGHT BILL COSBY WAS THAT THIS WOULD OCCUR.
TO THE POINT OF THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IT IS A STATE BY STATE ISSUE.
I DO THINK -- >> BUT THERE'S NONE ON MURDER.
>> THERE'S NOT.
>> WHY SHOULD SHOULD THERE BE ON RAPE?
>> MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE.
I'M NOT SAYING IT'S RIGHT THAT TEXAS HAS A FIVE-YEAR STATUTE.
BUT I WILL SAY WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THE REASON THERE ARE STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS IS BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE INNOCENT EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE ACCUSED OF BAD THINGS AND HOW LONG OVER THE COURSE OF SOMEONE'S LIFE SHOULD SOMEBODY BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND KEEP ACCUSING THEM.
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE AFTER SO MANY YEARS THE EVIDENCE -- >> THAT IS ALSO WHY.
>> AND THAT IS PROBABLY MORE TRUE OF EVIDENCE OF THIS KIND THAN THERE IS OF MURDER.
THIS IS -- >> I'M SORRY.
BUT ISN'T THERE A SEXIST ATTITUDE TOWARD PUTTING A STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON RAPE BUT NOT ON MURDER?
>> PERHAPS BECAUSE REMEMBER ALL OF THESE LAWS WERE MADE AT A TIME WHEN SEXISM WAS RIFE.
BUT I AGREE WE HAVE TO LOOK CAREFULLY WHEN WE LIFT THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.
MY FIRST THOUGHT IS WHY NOT?
IF YOU CAN PROVE IT WHY NOT?
>> AND TEXAS HAS AN INTERESTING EXCEPTION WHICH SAYS IF THERE'S DNA EVIDENCE THEN YOU CAN BRING IT 25 YEARS LATER AND NOT EVEN CALIFORNIA HAVE THAT.
>> BUT SO AND HERE IS WHERE WE NEED TO LOOK AT IF WE LIFT IT HERE, SHOULD WE LIFT IT IN OTHER PLACES?
AND IF THE REASON FOR IT WAS SEXISM IN THE FIRST PLACE A GOOD REASON TO LIFT IT.
BUT YOU WANT LAWYERS AND CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS TO LOOK AT IT.
THE DNA EVIDENCE IT SEEMS MAYBE IF THERE'S DNA EVIDENCE ON ANYTHING THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS SHOULD BE LIFTED.
SO WE WANT TO BE CAREFUL BUT RAPE, THIS COMES UP AT A TIME WHEN RAPE IS OF ALL THE CRIMES BEING DISCUSSED IN THIS COUNTRY PERHAPS AT THE FOREMOST.
SO IT COULD NOT COME UP AT A WORSE TIME FOR BILL COSBY AND MORE TRAGIC TIME BUT PERHAPS THE BEST TIME BECAUSE WE ARE CONSIDERING THESE ISSUES NOW WHEN THEY ARE RIPE.
>> SOCIAL MEDIA EXPOSED THIS, I THINK BECAUSE I HAVE TO TELL YOU I THINK THE MEDIA WAS COMPLICIT.
THERE ARE EDITORS WHO SAID WE WILL NOT TAKE THIS AGAINST BILL COSBY AND WE DON'T WANT TO TREAD THE LINE OF LIBEL.
>> I THOUGHT THE PROSECUTOR IN PHILADELPHIA TALKED ABOUT IT AND BELIEVED THERE WAS SOMETHING DONE BUT HE DID NOT THINK THERE WAS ENOUGH TO TAKE IT TO A JURY.
>> WE HAVE NOT SEEN IT COME UP AT TOP OF PAGE.
YOU SEE IT EVERYWHERE IT'S TRENDING LARGELY BECAUSE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND PEOPLE SAYING WE HAVE TO LIFT THIS STORY TO THE PUBLIC EYE.
>> SHOULD YOUNG WOMEN BEING PUSHING FOR AN END TO THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON RAPE?
>> AS WE LOOK AT LAWS AS A MECHANISM TO HELP ADDRESS WRONGS TO VICTIM, THERE IS NO CRIME THAT CREATES MORE DAMAGE TO AN INDIVIDUAL THAN RAPE.
IT AFFECTS ON A SPIRITUAL LEVEL, IT AFFECTS ON A PHYSICAL LEVEL, AFFECTS ON A EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL LEVEL.
AND THERE SHOULD BE NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON RAPE AT ALL.
AND IT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT.
AND IN A WAY, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR RAPE TO BE LOOKED AT IN THAT SERIOUS MANNER.
IT WOULD HELP WOMEN REPORT IT MORE.
AND HELP BEEF UP PROSECUTION WHEN IT HAPPENS.
SO I THINK ABSOLUTELY IT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHERE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IS NOT APPROPRIATE.
>> WELL, I LOOK AT THIS AND SAY BUT WHAT IF SOMEBODY WAITS 20 YEARS TO COME FORWARD AND THEY HAVE NO EVIDENCE BEYOND I DECIDE TODAY TO BRING IT UP?
>> AT THAT POINT A PROSECUTOR IS GOING TO DO THE SAME THING THE GUY IN PHILADELPHIA DID AND SAY I CANNOT GET THIS PAST A JURY.
>> BUT NOT ALWAYS.
>> AND BY THE WAY, I DON'T THINK THERE WERE RAPE KITS BACK IN -- READILY AVAILABLE AS THEY ARE TODAY.
NOW A WOMAN GETS RAPED AND GOES TO A POLICE STATION AND GETS A PHYSICAL EVIDENCE TAKEN.
MAYBE SHE DOESN'T WANT TO PRESS CHARGES FOR WHATEVER REASON BUT 20 YEARS LATER SHE HAS A PSYCHOLOGICAL HE REVELATION AND WANTS TO WHY NOT?
>> THE SURVIVORS COMPARTMENTALIZE THIS STUFF AND SOMEBODY WHO HAS NOT BEEN THROUGH IT I'M HEARING THE TALES AND PEOPLE ARE SAYING YOU KNOW IT WAS REALLY HURTFUL.
I HURT MYSELF AND HAD TO BE SILENT.
>> AND HAVING BEEN A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN THROUGH IT AND IS SURMOUNTED IT I CAN TELL YOU YOU DO COMPARTMENTALIZE IT AND YOU ARE READY WHEN YOU ARE READY.
AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH WHY THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS SHOULD BE LIFTED FOR THIS.
>> THE THEME OF MS. MAGAZINE'S WONDER AWARDS WAS GRASSROOTS ACTIVISM ONE OF THE MAJOR FOCUSES WAS THE WORK YOUNG WOMEN WERE DOING TO FIGHT CAMPUS RAPE.
>> MS. MAGAZINE GAVE OUT THE WONDER AWARDS IN CELEBRATION OF THE 42nd YEAR IN PUBLICATION.
THE TOP ISSUE FOR WOMEN ACCORDING TO COFOUNDER GLORIA STEINEM IS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, PARTICULARLY ON CAMPUS.
>> I THINK VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IS THE BIG ISSUE FOR EVERYBODY OF EVERY AGE REALLY.
AND WITH THE NEW UNDERSTANDING OF HOW MUCH SEXUAL ASSAULT THERE IS ON CAMPUS THAT ONE IN FIVE WOMEN HAS BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED ON CAMPUS, IT'S CLEARLY A HUGE, HUGE AND GROWING CONCERN.
>> THE YOUNG WOMEN DON'T WANT TO PUT UP WITH IT ANYMORE AND A LOT OF YOUNG MEN DON'T EITHER.
THERE'S NOW TREMENDOUS ACTIVITY.
LAST TIME I CHECKED OVER 10,000 COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
SCHOOLS NOW ARE TREATING IT UNIVERSITIES ARE TREAT TO GO MORE SERIOUSLY.
THEY HAVE TO GET ON IT AND TREAT IT MORE SERIOUSLY BECAUSE IT'S STILL RUINING LIVES.
>> SEVERAL WOMEN RECEIVED AWARDS FOR THEIR ROLES.
INCLUDING EMMA SULKOWICZ.
WHO STARTED THE CARRY THAT WEIGHT CAMPAIGN.
THE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY STUDENT CARRIED A MATTRESS WITH HER FOR NINE MONTHS AS BOTH A PIECE OF PERFORMANCE ART IN SOLIDARITY WITH SURVIVORS OF CAMPUS RAPE, AND AS A PROTEST AGAINST COLLEGES LAX RESPONSE.
>> EVER SINCE I WAS ASSAULTED I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OUT OF MY SITUATION.
HOW DO YOU DISTILL MEANING FROM TRAUMA?
DEVELOPING MATTRESS PERFORMANCE WITH ONLY PART OF THE JOB.
ALONE, I'M JUST AN ART STUDENT CARRYING A MATTRESS.
TOGETHER, HOWEVER, WE CREATE ARTWORK THAT TRANSFORMS.
>> FARAH TUNIS OF BLACK WOMEN'S BLUEPRINT FOUNDED HER GROUP TO FIGHT SEXUAL ASSAULT AT HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE SEEN.
WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.
[APPLAUSE] AND.
>> AND ANDREA PINO STARTED END RAPE ON CAMPUS AFTER HER RAPE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA FORCED HER TO DROPOUT.
>> UNLIKE MANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM, I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND I WILL BE TURNING 23 IN FAMILY AND MY FAMILY DOESN'T KNOW Y.
>> IS IT POSSIBLE TO ELIMINATE RAPE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.
STEINEM HAS A CLEARANCE.
>> OF COURSE IT'S POSSIBLE TO END IT.
IT TAKES HUMANIZING MASCULINITY.
I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, MEN THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIRS GET BORN INTO A CULTURE THAT TELLS THEM THAT THEY HAVE TO DOMINATE AND EVEN IN SOME CASES BE VIOLENT IN ORDER TO BE REAL MEN.
AND SOME MEN A FEW MEN GET HOOKED ON IT LIKE A DRUG AND FEEL THEY CAN'T FUNCTION OR BE THEMSELVES OR BE WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE UNLESS THEY ARE BEING AGGRESSIVE AND EVEN VIOLENT.
SO JUST AS WE TRANSFORM THE IDEA OF FEMININITY INTO HUMANITY, WE NEED TO TRANSFORM THE IDEA OF MASCULINITY INTO HUMANITY.
SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT WOMEN AND MEN ARE LINKED NOT RANKED.
>> SO FIRST OF ALL, I COVERED THAT EVENT THIS WEEK AND I THOUGHT THE STATEMENT OF THE WOMAN DOING THE WORK ON HBCU'S WAS SO POWERFUL JUST BEING RECOGNIZED MEANT SO MUCH TO THEM AND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT -- EVEN THE PRESIDENT TALKED ABOUT RAPE ENDING RAPE ON CAMPUS.
DID HE GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT HBCU'S?
NO.
BUT WITH THIS EXPOSURE DO YOU THINK THESE WOMEN -- >> HE SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE INTO DETAIL BECAUSE THIS IS RAMPANT CAMPUSES THROUGHOUT AND WHY IS IT?
BECAUSE WOMEN HAVE NOT BEEN SEEN.
WE TALKED ABOUT RAPE IN THE LAST SEGMENT AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT AGAIN BECAUSE MORE AND MORE WOMEN ARE UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A CRIME COMMITTED IN PRIVATE.
AND UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO TAKE OFF THE PRIVACY VEIL IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE COMMITTED.
SUCH THE EXPOSURE CANNOT BE MORE IMPORTANT.
>> I ASK GLORIA STEINEM AND WE'LL USE MORE OF THE INTERVIEW FOR WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH BUT I ASKED HER IF IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WHY IS IT THAT SO MANY WOMEN ARE COMING OUT NOW AND REPORTING HAVING BEEN SEXUALLY ABUSED AND TRAMATIZED.
WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE 40 YEARS AGO THIS WAS NOT GOING ON.
AND MY FRIENDS DID NOT TALK TO ME ABOUT IT.
SO -- >> RAPE WASN'T GOING ON?
>> REPORTING?
>> TALKING ABOUT IT OR REPORTING IT.
AND IT IS AN ISSUE LIKE IT IS NOW.
AND I ASKED STEINEM IS THAT BECAUSE THERE IS MORE OF IT NOW OR IT WAS JUST A CLOSED OFF BACK THEN?
>> I HAVE TO SAY I'M PROUD OF THE WORK OF THE YOUNG WOMEN ON CAMPUSES STARTING THE NON-PROFITS AND INITIATIVES BECAUSE I WAS IN COLLEGE LESS THAN A DECADE AGO, AND IT WAS STILL TOUGH THEN.
I WAS A WOMEN STUDIES MINOR.
I WOULD WALK AROUND CAMPUS AND SEE THE WOMEN WITH SIGNS SAYING DON'T BE QUIET YOU ARE A VICTIM LET PEOPLE KNOW AND THERE WERE SERVICES BUT I WILL BE DARNED IF I WOULD REPORT IF I WAS VIOLATED SEXUALLY FOR FEAR OF BEING EXPOSED.
IT WAS SOMETHING SHAMEFUL AND IT IS CULTURAL.
I GREW UP IN A CULTURE MY PARENTS CAME FROM AN INDIAN BACKGROUND YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT SEX IN PUBLIC WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN VIOLATED IN PRIVATE.
AND I'M SO GLAD THAT WOMEN ARE FEELING EMPOWERED BECAUSE THE SOCIETY WE LIVE IN GIRLS LIKE ME FEEL LIKE WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE.
WE ARE GOING TO GET AT OUR ATTACKER.
>> BEAUTIFUL WORDS.
HAVING BEEN -- >> I WANT TO SAY, RIGHT, STEINEM SAID I SAID DO WE KNOW WHETHER THERE'S MORE OF IT.
AND SHE SAID NOBODY KNOWS.
>> WHAT TELLS ITS OWN STORY.
I THINK IN TRUTH, HAVING BEEN AT THE RECEIVING END OF UNFORTUNATE RAPE AND THE RECEIVING END OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND THE RECEIVING END OF TRAFFICKING AND HAVING GONE TO COLLEGE, I THINK WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH IS COLLEGES NEED TO EMBRACE THEIR VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN ADVANCING WOMEN.
THERE WAS A DAY WHEN ALL OF THE INSTITUTIONS ACROSS AMERICA MOST DID NOT ACCEPT WOMEN.
WHAT DO WE HAVE TODAY?
ALMOST WOMEN ARE THE MAJORITY ON MOST CAMPUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
NOW WHAT THEY NEED TO DO THE MECHANISM FOR ENDING THIS ON CAMPUS ARE THE CAMPUSES TO EMBRACE THIS WHERE THEY CAN MAKE SOCIEITAL CHANGE AND TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
DO THEY RIGHT NOW?
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
>> YOU DON'T THINK NOW?
>> NO.
>> I'M NOT TALKING A YEAR AGO BECAUSE SO MUCH HAS CHANGED IN A YEAR.
>> NO, I'M TELLING YOU.
I WAS A FACULTY WIFE FOR EIGHT YEARS.
AND STILL HAVE CLOSE WORK THAT I DO WITH COLLEGES.
COLLEGES MAY HAVE ORGANIZATIONS, FEMINIST MAJORITIES ON CAMPUS AND SMALL ORGANIZATIONS LED BY THE WONDERFUL YOUNG WOMEN BUT TRUTH IT IS NOT TOP AGENDA FOR ANY COLLEGE EVEN THE WOMEN'S COLLEGES TO LOOK AT SEXUAL ABUSE AND TAKE A CHANGING ROLE.
BUT IF THEY DID, THERE WOULD BE MASSIVE POWERFUL BENEFICIAL OUT COMES WITH THAT.
SO I HOPE THEY EMBRACE THAT.
>> WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO IGNORING IT?
>> I THINK SOMETIMES CAMPAIGNS LIKE THIS GO ON AND YOU CELEBRATE THE WOMEN WHICH IS WONDERFUL BUT THAT CAN MASK DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE DOING SOMETHING.
THE GOAL WOULD BE THAT THESE WOMEN NEVER NEED A PLATFORM THAT IS THE GOAL.
AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE FOCUS ON WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO STOP IT.
WHETHER IT IS A CAMPUS.
NOT ALL YOUNG PEOPLE ARE IN COLLEGE.
>> THAT IS WHAT IS LEADING TO THE ACTION FROM THE ADMINISTRATION WHERE THEY ARE NOW EXPOSING THE NAMES OF THESE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES BECAUSE WOMEN HAVE COME OUT.
IF THEY HAD HAD NOT COME OUT YOU WOULD HAVE THE ACTION.
>> AND ONE FINAL THING I AM A COLUMBIA ALUM AND I LOVE MY UNIVERSITY BUT I ASHAMED WITH WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT YOUNG ART STUDENT.
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.
AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
[♪♪♪] FOR A TRANSCRIPT OF THIS EPISODE OF TO THE CONTRARY VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.
