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1
00:00:10,178 --> 00:00:13,139
[cheers and applause]
2
00:00:13,139 --> 00:00:16,268
[dramatic music]
3
00:00:16,268 --> 00:00:17,686
- You know, my senior year,
4
00:00:17,686 --> 00:00:21,231
I wanted to go to college
for acting.
5
00:00:21,231 --> 00:00:24,109
In my mind, I wanted
to start a theater company
6
00:00:24,109 --> 00:00:25,610
and, like, make films,
7
00:00:25,610 --> 00:00:28,029
and I kind of wanted
to do the whole thing.
8
00:00:28,029 --> 00:00:32,033
[cheering,
person speaking indistinctly]
9
00:00:32,033 --> 00:00:35,704
He was like, "Why don't you go
to the University of Utah?
10
00:00:35,704 --> 00:00:37,664
"Like, they have a great
acting program.
11
00:00:37,664 --> 00:00:39,791
I'm gonna be moving there."
12
00:00:39,791 --> 00:00:41,835
[students cheering]
13
00:00:41,835 --> 00:00:44,212
♪ ♪
14
00:00:44,212 --> 00:00:45,588
Look at my teeth.
15
00:00:45,588 --> 00:00:48,049
[chuckles] I got my braces off!
16
00:00:48,049 --> 00:00:49,592
So I did,
17
00:00:49,592 --> 00:00:53,471
and I moved to Utah
and went to school there.
18
00:00:53,471 --> 00:00:55,015
I should get
my own video camera
19
00:00:55,015 --> 00:00:58,143
and film stuff in Utah
like my teeth.
20
00:00:58,143 --> 00:01:02,355
And I moved into the basement
with him and his wife.
21
00:01:02,355 --> 00:01:09,279
♪ ♪
22
00:01:19,581 --> 00:01:21,791
Both my parents were
kind of worried about me
23
00:01:21,791 --> 00:01:24,836
going somewhere
out of state...
24
00:01:24,836 --> 00:01:27,172
but then when I told them
that, like,
25
00:01:27,172 --> 00:01:28,673
"I don't need to live
in the dorms,
26
00:01:28,673 --> 00:01:30,925
"I can live, you know,
in the basement
27
00:01:30,925 --> 00:01:33,011
of the theater teacher,"
28
00:01:33,011 --> 00:01:34,679
I think that made them feel
29
00:01:34,679 --> 00:01:36,973
like I would at least be around
some people that were familiar.
30
00:01:39,059 --> 00:01:41,728
He had successfully groomed me
31
00:01:41,728 --> 00:01:45,106
to the point where I didn't
have anybody anymore.
32
00:01:45,106 --> 00:01:47,776
I was isolated and alone,
33
00:01:47,776 --> 00:01:51,029
and I felt like I owed it
to him
34
00:01:51,029 --> 00:01:54,157
to at least show up and give
the relationship a try,
35
00:01:54,157 --> 00:01:57,994
and that kind of meant
without conditions.
36
00:01:57,994 --> 00:02:03,416
♪ ♪
37
00:02:03,416 --> 00:02:07,420
The basement
was cold and dark,
38
00:02:07,420 --> 00:02:09,964
and it was like a prison.
39
00:02:09,964 --> 00:02:13,677
It felt like I was
somebody's captive
40
00:02:13,677 --> 00:02:16,096
in a way.
41
00:02:16,096 --> 00:02:18,056
There was just, like, a little
kind of slit of a window
42
00:02:18,056 --> 00:02:19,432
at the very top.
43
00:02:19,432 --> 00:02:21,726
Otherwise, it was pretty dark.
44
00:02:21,726 --> 00:02:26,356
And it was right across
from his office,
45
00:02:26,356 --> 00:02:28,274
where he spent
most of his time.
46
00:02:30,151 --> 00:02:33,196
That was the first time
that I had sex.
47
00:02:33,196 --> 00:02:35,782
♪ ♪
48
00:02:35,782 --> 00:02:38,368
I didn't have any friends
who were able to say,
49
00:02:38,368 --> 00:02:40,120
"This is weird, Cheryl.
50
00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:42,622
This is weird.
This is not normal."
51
00:02:42,622 --> 00:02:44,791
♪ ♪
52
00:02:44,791 --> 00:02:47,127
I've been
a little crazy lately.
53
00:02:47,127 --> 00:02:50,630
The teacher is getting
frustrated with me a lot.
54
00:02:50,630 --> 00:02:53,341
Honestly, sometimes
I feel unwanted
55
00:02:53,341 --> 00:02:55,927
or like I couldn't go to him
for anything
56
00:02:55,927 --> 00:02:58,930
because I'd be bothering him.
57
00:02:58,930 --> 00:03:01,891
I can't see past
what my brain is telling me,
58
00:03:01,891 --> 00:03:04,686
even though I know in my heart
that he loves me.
59
00:03:04,686 --> 00:03:09,607
♪ ♪
60
00:03:13,945 --> 00:03:15,196
I had been struggling
61
00:03:15,196 --> 00:03:18,450
with how to talk about this
for a long time.
62
00:03:18,450 --> 00:03:21,119
We stayed together
until I was 22.
63
00:03:21,119 --> 00:03:23,163
And so the grooming
led to this,
64
00:03:23,163 --> 00:03:24,622
what some people would say,
65
00:03:24,622 --> 00:03:27,625
was, like, a consensual
relationship.
66
00:03:27,625 --> 00:03:31,254
And so I think that was part
of what was so hard for me
67
00:03:31,254 --> 00:03:33,298
coming forward,
which was like...
68
00:03:33,298 --> 00:03:35,341
- Yeah.
- I had a part in it.
69
00:03:35,341 --> 00:03:37,302
And there was a lot of judgment
that came my way
70
00:03:37,302 --> 00:03:40,054
and still comes my way,
you know.
71
00:03:40,054 --> 00:03:41,431
- Yes.
72
00:03:41,431 --> 00:03:44,851
Because that's
the nature of it--the shame.
73
00:03:44,851 --> 00:03:47,729
A lot of these guys, they know
exactly what they're doing,
74
00:03:47,729 --> 00:03:50,356
and they want to make you
feel like, you know,
75
00:03:50,356 --> 00:03:52,192
"Oh, I was a willing party,"
76
00:03:52,192 --> 00:03:53,735
you know,
you know how you said that,
77
00:03:53,735 --> 00:03:57,447
but the whole goal was for it
to get to that point.
78
00:03:57,447 --> 00:04:00,617
And oftentimes
that's why you do see people
79
00:04:00,617 --> 00:04:03,077
that are serial offenders.
80
00:04:03,077 --> 00:04:07,916
Your average child sex offender
has about nine victims.
81
00:04:07,916 --> 00:04:10,376
But, you know, what's really
interesting is that many times
82
00:04:10,376 --> 00:04:12,712
it's not just the survivor
that's been groomed.
83
00:04:12,712 --> 00:04:15,131
It's also
those around the survivor--
84
00:04:15,131 --> 00:04:16,758
the family, the caregivers,
85
00:04:16,758 --> 00:04:20,762
the other people entrusted
to that youth, to that child.
86
00:04:20,762 --> 00:04:23,681
There's a lot more education
that needs to be around it,
87
00:04:23,681 --> 00:04:26,935
and so, you know, it's really
pulling everyone together
88
00:04:26,935 --> 00:04:28,937
in on this conversation.
- Yeah.
89
00:04:28,937 --> 00:04:35,860
♪ ♪
90
00:04:51,417 --> 00:04:54,546
I don't know when his wife
91
00:04:54,546 --> 00:04:56,673
found the messages.
92
00:04:56,673 --> 00:04:59,968
All I know is,
by the time the year ended,
93
00:04:59,968 --> 00:05:02,554
she presented...
94
00:05:02,554 --> 00:05:05,890
him with this book
95
00:05:05,890 --> 00:05:08,518
of all of the messages
96
00:05:08,518 --> 00:05:11,229
that he and I had exchanged
97
00:05:11,229 --> 00:05:13,731
all through high school,
98
00:05:13,731 --> 00:05:18,236
and she threw it at him
and left.
99
00:05:18,236 --> 00:05:21,197
♪ ♪
100
00:05:21,197 --> 00:05:23,324
After he got a divorce,
101
00:05:23,324 --> 00:05:26,786
he was still teaching
high school.
102
00:05:26,786 --> 00:05:29,497
There was a point
where he came home
103
00:05:29,497 --> 00:05:33,209
to the apartment
that we shared and said,
104
00:05:33,209 --> 00:05:36,671
"I've been fired for having
what the principal called
105
00:05:36,671 --> 00:05:39,591
"an inappropriate email
relationship with a student.
106
00:05:39,591 --> 00:05:42,719
"Nothing was happening.
It's a big misunderstanding."
107
00:05:42,719 --> 00:05:46,097
And I believed him.
108
00:05:48,057 --> 00:05:51,686
I didn't think that
he would be dumb enough
109
00:05:51,686 --> 00:05:54,188
to get involved
with another student.
110
00:05:54,188 --> 00:05:57,942
I still felt
like I was special...
111
00:05:57,942 --> 00:06:01,070
and I believed
that it was the exception
112
00:06:01,070 --> 00:06:03,364
because I knew
somewhere deep down
113
00:06:03,364 --> 00:06:06,659
that it was not okay,
that I was not okay.
114
00:06:06,659 --> 00:06:13,583
♪ ♪
115
00:06:17,003 --> 00:06:20,131
There were many moments
in college where...
116
00:06:20,131 --> 00:06:22,592
the crack started to appear.
117
00:06:24,385 --> 00:06:26,304
Once I moved to L. A.
118
00:06:26,304 --> 00:06:28,264
and we were
no longer together,
119
00:06:28,264 --> 00:06:29,849
I started really seeing
120
00:06:29,849 --> 00:06:32,769
that this thing
might not have been okay.
121
00:06:34,187 --> 00:06:37,065
The real turning point was...
122
00:06:37,065 --> 00:06:39,150
a friend of mine
123
00:06:39,150 --> 00:06:41,903
from Little Elm...
124
00:06:41,903 --> 00:06:43,780
called me.
125
00:06:45,490 --> 00:06:47,367
As we were talking,
126
00:06:47,367 --> 00:06:49,911
I made the decision
to be honest
127
00:06:49,911 --> 00:06:53,956
about my relationship with him
for the first time.
128
00:06:53,956 --> 00:06:56,084
And so I said to them,
129
00:06:56,084 --> 00:06:58,961
"I want to tell you something
that I've never told anybody,
130
00:06:58,961 --> 00:07:02,048
"and it has to do with him.
131
00:07:02,048 --> 00:07:04,425
"I was in...
132
00:07:04,425 --> 00:07:07,720
"a relationship with him,
133
00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:10,765
"and it started
when I was in high school.
134
00:07:10,765 --> 00:07:13,393
It started when I was 16."
135
00:07:14,894 --> 00:07:17,522
And they said, "Me too."
136
00:07:17,522 --> 00:07:22,527
♪ ♪
137
00:07:22,527 --> 00:07:24,862
And...
[sighs]
138
00:07:24,862 --> 00:07:31,744
♪ ♪
139
00:07:35,873 --> 00:07:37,750
[inhales sharply]
140
00:07:39,836 --> 00:07:42,004
Sorry.
141
00:07:42,004 --> 00:07:44,006
[sighs]
142
00:07:44,006 --> 00:07:46,759
♪ ♪
143
00:07:46,759 --> 00:07:48,511
I think that was
the first time
144
00:07:48,511 --> 00:07:52,432
that I was able to actually
see myself...
145
00:07:54,016 --> 00:07:56,060
As a kid.
146
00:07:56,060 --> 00:07:59,939
[videotape rewinding]
147
00:07:59,939 --> 00:08:01,482
[indistinct chatter]
148
00:08:01,482 --> 00:08:03,901
Everything
came into question.
149
00:08:03,901 --> 00:08:07,238
[tape rewinding]
150
00:08:07,238 --> 00:08:09,157
And suddenly I realized, like,
151
00:08:09,157 --> 00:08:11,284
"He wasn't just doing this
to me.
152
00:08:11,284 --> 00:08:13,661
"He was doing this to me,
153
00:08:13,661 --> 00:08:17,039
and he was doing this
to someone else."
154
00:08:17,039 --> 00:08:19,375
And then I remembered
that when we were together,
155
00:08:19,375 --> 00:08:20,835
he was fired,
156
00:08:20,835 --> 00:08:23,504
which then I was like,
"Jesus Christ, Cheryl."
157
00:08:23,504 --> 00:08:27,508
And it was like
I suddenly became an adult.
158
00:08:27,508 --> 00:08:29,802
♪ ♪
159
00:08:29,802 --> 00:08:31,763
He's gotten just to go on
with his life,
160
00:08:31,763 --> 00:08:34,599
and I have had to do
the hard work
161
00:08:34,599 --> 00:08:37,101
of rewriting myself.
162
00:08:38,686 --> 00:08:41,814
I mean, that was
my entire adolescence.
163
00:08:41,814 --> 00:08:43,858
In those years,
those were my formative years,
164
00:08:43,858 --> 00:08:45,276
and they're gone.
165
00:08:45,276 --> 00:08:47,528
I'll never get them back.
166
00:08:47,528 --> 00:08:49,614
[sniffles]
167
00:09:10,551 --> 00:09:13,846
- Remember how we were looking
for, like, recent cases?
168
00:09:13,846 --> 00:09:15,139
- Uh-huh.
169
00:09:15,139 --> 00:09:16,390
- This young woman, Heaven,
170
00:09:16,390 --> 00:09:19,811
back in 2016...
171
00:09:19,811 --> 00:09:22,146
she came forward
about her teacher.
172
00:09:22,146 --> 00:09:24,107
This news clip says
that the state
173
00:09:24,107 --> 00:09:26,400
is filing criminal charges
against him
174
00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:29,112
but the case has been pushed
and pushed and pushed.
175
00:09:29,112 --> 00:09:31,572
- Another delay in the case
of a former teacher
176
00:09:31,572 --> 00:09:33,950
accused of having sex
with an underage student.
177
00:09:33,950 --> 00:09:36,661
Jason Meyers was arrested
more than five years ago,
178
00:09:36,661 --> 00:09:39,288
but he has not faced
a jury yet.
179
00:09:39,288 --> 00:09:41,666
- The entire world
has to blow up
180
00:09:41,666 --> 00:09:43,876
if a person comes forward
to talk about it.
181
00:09:43,876 --> 00:09:45,378
- Mm-hmm.
- Do you know what I'm saying?
182
00:09:45,378 --> 00:09:46,671
Like, it's crazy.
183
00:09:46,671 --> 00:09:49,215
- Yeah, but the crazy thing
about this story
184
00:09:49,215 --> 00:09:52,760
is that her teacher,
this guy Jason Meyers--
185
00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:54,637
multiple people have alleged
186
00:09:54,637 --> 00:09:56,472
that Jason Meyers
has done this.
187
00:09:56,472 --> 00:09:58,015
- Yeah, I mean, I'm curious,
188
00:09:58,015 --> 00:10:00,893
like, why the trial's
being held up.
189
00:10:00,893 --> 00:10:03,062
- Mm-hmm.
- It's now set for July.
190
00:10:03,062 --> 00:10:05,690
- Yeah.
- Is it gonna happen?
191
00:10:05,690 --> 00:10:07,191
- I don't know.
192
00:10:07,191 --> 00:10:10,236
I mean, we should try
and get in contact with her.
193
00:10:18,452 --> 00:10:20,329
- [chuckles]
Hi, can you hear me?
194
00:10:20,329 --> 00:10:22,290
- Yeah, I can.
195
00:10:22,290 --> 00:10:24,375
Crazy meeting this way.
- I know.
196
00:10:24,375 --> 00:10:26,169
How are you feeling?
197
00:10:28,546 --> 00:10:29,839
- A little overwhelmed.
198
00:10:29,839 --> 00:10:32,717
[both laugh]
199
00:10:32,717 --> 00:10:34,552
It's one of those days.
200
00:10:34,552 --> 00:10:38,139
- I'm very interested to hear
about your experience
201
00:10:38,139 --> 00:10:40,308
moving through
the legal system.
202
00:10:40,308 --> 00:10:43,686
What made you decide
to press charges,
203
00:10:43,686 --> 00:10:47,273
or, like, what made
you decide to do this?
204
00:10:47,273 --> 00:10:51,027
- Yeah, I didn't really have
205
00:10:51,027 --> 00:10:52,778
much of an option.
206
00:10:52,778 --> 00:10:54,739
Since I was 17,
207
00:10:54,739 --> 00:10:57,325
I'm pretty sure my parents
made that decision.
208
00:10:57,325 --> 00:10:59,493
I just remember
209
00:10:59,493 --> 00:11:01,913
being called in
to talk with the police
210
00:11:01,913 --> 00:11:04,290
and then finding out, like,
the next day
211
00:11:04,290 --> 00:11:06,334
that he had been arrested
that night.
212
00:11:06,334 --> 00:11:09,462
- Was there a point
where it transferred
213
00:11:09,462 --> 00:11:11,547
from being maybe
your parents' choice
214
00:11:11,547 --> 00:11:13,716
to your choice?
215
00:11:13,716 --> 00:11:15,760
- Definitely.
216
00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:19,889
I felt like I had lost a lot,
217
00:11:19,889 --> 00:11:22,308
like I'd lost...
218
00:11:22,308 --> 00:11:25,436
a normal experience
in high school.
219
00:11:25,436 --> 00:11:27,855
I'd lost a lot of my friends,
220
00:11:27,855 --> 00:11:31,442
and hearing
the defense attorneys
221
00:11:31,442 --> 00:11:33,527
talk about me on the news
222
00:11:33,527 --> 00:11:34,987
like I was making it all up
223
00:11:34,987 --> 00:11:39,283
or pursuing this
for the wrong reasons,
224
00:11:39,283 --> 00:11:41,535
I was just like, "No.
225
00:11:41,535 --> 00:11:44,205
"You're not gonna be the only
one to have a say
226
00:11:44,205 --> 00:11:45,498
"in how this goes.
227
00:11:45,498 --> 00:11:47,792
"And you're not gonna be
the one to dictate,
228
00:11:47,792 --> 00:11:50,461
"like, how I get closure
from this,
229
00:11:50,461 --> 00:11:53,464
how I'm able to move on
from it."
230
00:11:53,464 --> 00:11:54,840
And if I dropped the charges,
231
00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:57,843
I thought that he might
go back to teaching.
232
00:11:57,843 --> 00:12:00,304
At one point, I was like,
"Okay, I'm in this.
233
00:12:00,304 --> 00:12:02,390
"Like, it's been my life
234
00:12:02,390 --> 00:12:06,978
and I'm just gonna take it
as far as I can."
235
00:12:06,978 --> 00:12:09,188
It's kind of where I am now,
I guess.
236
00:12:09,188 --> 00:12:12,775
- I have
so many similar things.
237
00:12:12,775 --> 00:12:14,360
- Yeah. Yeah.
- Yeah.
238
00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:16,529
- Let's find a time to meet,
239
00:12:16,529 --> 00:12:19,448
and let's do it,
if that works for you.
240
00:12:19,448 --> 00:12:21,325
- Okay. Yeah, I'd love to.
- Okay.
241
00:12:21,325 --> 00:12:23,744
I can't wait to meet
you face-to-face.
242
00:12:23,744 --> 00:12:26,706
[dramatic music]
243
00:12:26,706 --> 00:12:31,168
♪ ♪
244
00:12:31,168 --> 00:12:32,920
[vehicle doors opening]
- All right, Golda.
245
00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:35,756
♪ ♪
246
00:12:35,756 --> 00:12:38,009
- Good boy.
247
00:12:38,009 --> 00:12:39,719
- You got him?
- Yeah.
248
00:12:39,719 --> 00:12:40,845
- All right.
249
00:12:40,845 --> 00:12:44,765
♪ ♪
250
00:12:44,765 --> 00:12:47,893
- Factory part two.
- Yeah.
251
00:12:47,893 --> 00:12:49,979
- [clicks tongue]
252
00:12:49,979 --> 00:12:52,356
- I feel like
I'm out of options.
253
00:12:52,356 --> 00:12:55,818
I feel like...
254
00:12:55,818 --> 00:13:00,114
I don't know
how to make people listen...
255
00:13:00,114 --> 00:13:02,742
and this is...
256
00:13:02,742 --> 00:13:06,037
scary and vulnerable...
257
00:13:06,037 --> 00:13:08,706
and I'm happy to do it.
258
00:13:08,706 --> 00:13:10,166
- Watch your step.
259
00:13:10,166 --> 00:13:12,209
[clicks tongue]
260
00:13:12,209 --> 00:13:14,462
- When I was 17,
261
00:13:14,462 --> 00:13:17,715
I was abused
by my English teacher,
262
00:13:17,715 --> 00:13:20,468
Jason Meyers.
263
00:13:20,468 --> 00:13:24,055
Criminal charges were filed
against Jason Meyers
264
00:13:24,055 --> 00:13:25,931
in 2016.
265
00:13:25,931 --> 00:13:28,351
We have not gone to trial,
266
00:13:28,351 --> 00:13:31,645
and really
the defense strategy has been
267
00:13:31,645 --> 00:13:33,898
to kick the can down the road
268
00:13:33,898 --> 00:13:36,484
until I give up...
269
00:13:36,484 --> 00:13:38,110
because if I don't show...
270
00:13:40,279 --> 00:13:42,198
The state doesn't have a case.
271
00:13:42,198 --> 00:13:44,450
♪ ♪
272
00:13:44,450 --> 00:13:47,912
Lived in Miami my whole life
before going to college.
273
00:13:47,912 --> 00:13:50,498
I grew up in Cutler Bay.
274
00:13:50,498 --> 00:13:54,752
It's a working-class town
in Miami.
275
00:13:54,752 --> 00:13:56,170
Growing up, it felt magical.
276
00:13:56,170 --> 00:13:58,047
There was always things
to find outside,
277
00:13:58,047 --> 00:14:00,633
things to explore.
278
00:14:00,633 --> 00:14:04,637
For a while,
it really was this paradise.
279
00:14:04,637 --> 00:14:08,516
I have such great memories
with my family
280
00:14:08,516 --> 00:14:10,768
and my abuela, in particular.
281
00:14:13,062 --> 00:14:14,897
[sighs]
282
00:14:14,897 --> 00:14:17,108
So this one
283
00:14:17,108 --> 00:14:20,903
and this one...
284
00:14:20,903 --> 00:14:23,155
are of my abuela.
285
00:14:23,155 --> 00:14:24,615
She...
286
00:14:24,615 --> 00:14:27,076
So her and my grandfather
287
00:14:27,076 --> 00:14:30,663
came to Miami from Cuba
288
00:14:30,663 --> 00:14:34,125
when they were, like, 13 or 14.
289
00:14:34,125 --> 00:14:37,253
She passed away
when I was eight,
290
00:14:37,253 --> 00:14:40,214
and I think up
until that point in my life,
291
00:14:40,214 --> 00:14:43,592
she was the person I spent
most of my time with.
292
00:14:43,592 --> 00:14:46,929
We would listen to music,
and we'd be cooking all day.
293
00:14:46,929 --> 00:14:49,640
And so it would just be her
and I singing and dancing
294
00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:52,935
around her one-bedroom home.
295
00:14:54,562 --> 00:14:57,189
I miss her.
296
00:14:57,189 --> 00:15:00,818
After my grandmother
passed away...
297
00:15:00,818 --> 00:15:02,945
I grew really close to my dad.
298
00:15:04,321 --> 00:15:08,576
Growing up,
my dad always told me...
299
00:15:08,576 --> 00:15:11,579
the right thing to do
isn't always easy,
300
00:15:11,579 --> 00:15:13,998
but it's always right.
301
00:15:13,998 --> 00:15:16,417
And I feel like this
is one of those things.
302
00:15:16,417 --> 00:15:19,044
♪ ♪
303
00:15:19,044 --> 00:15:22,715
Through the criminal case
and that investigation,
304
00:15:22,715 --> 00:15:27,178
I learned that this wasn't,
like, one bad actor.
305
00:15:27,178 --> 00:15:31,348
It wasn't two or three.
306
00:15:31,348 --> 00:15:35,519
It was a very systemic issue.
307
00:15:35,519 --> 00:15:37,730
♪ ♪
308
00:15:37,730 --> 00:15:41,275
I want accountability.
309
00:15:41,275 --> 00:15:44,069
I felt like if I sued
the school board,
310
00:15:44,069 --> 00:15:47,489
it would cause good trouble...
311
00:15:47,489 --> 00:15:49,867
in that we'd go to trial,
312
00:15:49,867 --> 00:15:53,829
and we'd put it all out there
for people to see.
313
00:15:53,829 --> 00:15:57,917
And the people that have
contributed to this
314
00:15:57,917 --> 00:15:59,919
won't have anywhere to hide.
315
00:16:19,438 --> 00:16:22,274
[indistinct chatter, laughter]
316
00:16:28,656 --> 00:16:30,991
- When I'm prepping
to go to trial,
317
00:16:30,991 --> 00:16:33,410
I have to travel
from Seattle to Miami
318
00:16:33,410 --> 00:16:36,330
for the criminal court case.
319
00:16:36,330 --> 00:16:39,458
That's been, like,
pre-decided by the judge.
320
00:16:41,418 --> 00:16:43,796
It's disruptive in my life.
321
00:16:43,796 --> 00:16:46,173
I have to schedule time off.
322
00:16:46,173 --> 00:16:48,550
I have to onboard
new members on my team.
323
00:16:48,550 --> 00:16:50,010
And everyone's like,
324
00:16:50,010 --> 00:16:51,762
"Okay, whatever you need,
we got you."
325
00:16:51,762 --> 00:16:56,267
We prep, it doesn't happen,
and, like, it just restarts.
326
00:16:56,267 --> 00:16:59,186
[dramatic music]
327
00:16:59,186 --> 00:17:03,107
♪ ♪
328
00:17:03,107 --> 00:17:05,484
Palmetto is in Pinecrest.
329
00:17:05,484 --> 00:17:08,904
Pinecrest
is a very wealthy town
330
00:17:08,904 --> 00:17:10,781
in Miami.
331
00:17:10,781 --> 00:17:13,617
Million-dollar homes,
332
00:17:13,617 --> 00:17:16,620
everyone drives a Mercedes
kind of a thing,
333
00:17:16,620 --> 00:17:20,416
and the schools
I was originally zoned for
334
00:17:20,416 --> 00:17:23,252
were lower-grade school.
335
00:17:23,252 --> 00:17:26,880
So my mom had me
transferred through a program
336
00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:29,925
that was running at the time
into Miami Palmetto Senior.
337
00:17:32,219 --> 00:17:35,889
This is Pinecrest Gardens.
338
00:17:35,889 --> 00:17:38,642
We used to have...
[turn signal clicking]
339
00:17:38,642 --> 00:17:40,436
The poetry nights here.
340
00:17:42,563 --> 00:17:44,315
I feel like there were
definitely times
341
00:17:44,315 --> 00:17:48,861
where we had
just a packed audience.
342
00:17:48,861 --> 00:17:51,238
♪ ♪
343
00:17:51,238 --> 00:17:54,199
When I first started
at Palmetto,
344
00:17:54,199 --> 00:17:55,868
when I was a freshman,
345
00:17:55,868 --> 00:17:59,163
he was teaching
ninth-grade English class.
346
00:17:59,163 --> 00:18:01,206
His wife also taught
at the school,
347
00:18:01,206 --> 00:18:04,251
and she was my ninth-grade
English teacher.
348
00:18:04,251 --> 00:18:06,712
♪ ♪
349
00:18:06,712 --> 00:18:09,256
And so I started going
to poetry nights.
350
00:18:09,256 --> 00:18:12,801
He, Mr. Meyers, would organize
the poetry nights.
351
00:18:12,801 --> 00:18:18,807
♪ ♪
352
00:18:18,807 --> 00:18:23,187
I was the most vulnerable here
that I'd, like, ever been.
353
00:18:23,187 --> 00:18:25,981
I felt safe here.
I would read my poetry here.
354
00:18:25,981 --> 00:18:30,027
And knowing now
355
00:18:30,027 --> 00:18:32,780
that during that time,
he was listening to my words
356
00:18:32,780 --> 00:18:37,660
and thinking about how
something about me
357
00:18:37,660 --> 00:18:41,246
made him feel
like he could target me....
358
00:18:42,790 --> 00:18:44,875
He was listening
with a different ear
359
00:18:44,875 --> 00:18:46,835
than everyone else was.
360
00:18:46,835 --> 00:18:49,546
♪ ♪
361
00:18:49,546 --> 00:18:52,966
You know, and this is where
he asked me to be in his class,
362
00:18:52,966 --> 00:18:56,178
and that's, like,
a really sick memory
363
00:18:56,178 --> 00:18:57,721
of mine now.
364
00:18:57,721 --> 00:19:00,516
♪ ♪
365
00:19:00,516 --> 00:19:02,643
So, yeah,
it just feels different.
366
00:19:10,025 --> 00:19:12,111
[voice breaking]
It's so hard to come back home.
367
00:19:14,029 --> 00:19:20,911
♪ ♪
368
00:19:22,496 --> 00:19:26,500
I had been reading and singing
at these poetry nights.
369
00:19:26,500 --> 00:19:29,461
The end of my junior year,
370
00:19:29,461 --> 00:19:32,464
he comes up to me,
and he says,
371
00:19:32,464 --> 00:19:34,091
"You know, I would really like
for you to be
372
00:19:34,091 --> 00:19:36,677
in my creative-writing class."
373
00:19:36,677 --> 00:19:41,473
And I was like, "Oh, awesome,
because I love to do this,
374
00:19:41,473 --> 00:19:43,517
"and, like, everyone complains
375
00:19:43,517 --> 00:19:45,185
"that he's
such a strict teacher,
376
00:19:45,185 --> 00:19:46,770
but he wants me
to be in his class.
377
00:19:46,770 --> 00:19:49,148
He thinks I'm a good writer."
378
00:19:49,148 --> 00:19:51,275
So I was excited,
but I told him,
379
00:19:51,275 --> 00:19:54,528
"We've already turned in our
paperwork for which electives,
380
00:19:54,528 --> 00:19:56,530
"so I don't know that I'll be
able to be put in your class.
381
00:19:56,530 --> 00:19:58,282
I didn't write
creative writing down."
382
00:19:58,282 --> 00:20:01,118
♪ ♪
383
00:20:01,118 --> 00:20:03,662
And so he emailed
my counselor,
384
00:20:03,662 --> 00:20:06,540
asking that I be switched
into his class.
385
00:20:06,540 --> 00:20:08,751
And within a few days,
386
00:20:08,751 --> 00:20:11,170
I was switched into
his creative-writing class
387
00:20:11,170 --> 00:20:14,423
and his AP literature class.
388
00:20:16,216 --> 00:20:17,926
I thought...
389
00:20:17,926 --> 00:20:20,137
nobody knew who he really was.
390
00:20:20,137 --> 00:20:23,223
Everyone that was talking
about how mean
391
00:20:23,223 --> 00:20:25,267
or, you know, strict he was,
392
00:20:25,267 --> 00:20:27,644
I was, like, "You really just
have to give him a chance
393
00:20:27,644 --> 00:20:29,104
because he does care."
394
00:20:30,856 --> 00:20:33,275
And so I didn't really pay
attention
395
00:20:33,275 --> 00:20:36,028
to the criticisms
that I'd heard.
396
00:20:38,197 --> 00:20:41,450
I wish I could go back
397
00:20:41,450 --> 00:20:43,327
and tell her to run.
398
00:20:43,327 --> 00:20:47,080
♪ ♪
399
00:20:53,170 --> 00:20:55,839
- Once I started
this documentary
400
00:20:55,839 --> 00:20:58,592
and I remembered
that the teacher
401
00:20:58,592 --> 00:21:00,886
was fired in Utah,
402
00:21:00,886 --> 00:21:05,307
what I realized is,
abusers who aren't stopped
403
00:21:05,307 --> 00:21:08,477
continue to abuse.
404
00:21:08,477 --> 00:21:10,687
I figured out
who the person was,
405
00:21:10,687 --> 00:21:11,939
and I reached out to her,
406
00:21:11,939 --> 00:21:16,068
and, sure enough,
he was actually engaging
407
00:21:16,068 --> 00:21:20,864
in a similar grooming pattern
via email that he was with me.
408
00:21:20,864 --> 00:21:23,909
In fact, the emails
were almost identical.
409
00:21:25,953 --> 00:21:28,622
"Dear Utah, okay,
first of all,
410
00:21:28,622 --> 00:21:29,832
"you have every right
in the world
411
00:21:29,832 --> 00:21:31,708
to vent about blank to me."
412
00:21:31,708 --> 00:21:35,295
- "Okay, first of all"...
- "Okay, first of all"...
413
00:21:35,295 --> 00:21:37,881
- "Why are you so scared
to write me?"
414
00:21:37,881 --> 00:21:39,550
Remember?
- Mm-hmm.
415
00:21:39,550 --> 00:21:41,009
Exactly the same.
416
00:21:56,525 --> 00:21:59,444
"Okay, sweetie, I'm excited
to see you tomorrow.
417
00:21:59,444 --> 00:22:01,989
"I hope you're happy and that
your weekend was great.
418
00:22:01,989 --> 00:22:03,615
Take care, dear."
419
00:22:05,367 --> 00:22:08,745
These almost identical words
to her
420
00:22:08,745 --> 00:22:10,998
really solidified that this
421
00:22:10,998 --> 00:22:13,458
was not something
that I was a part of,
422
00:22:13,458 --> 00:22:15,919
it was something
that was done to me.
423
00:22:15,919 --> 00:22:20,591
One of his tactics is to...
424
00:22:20,591 --> 00:22:23,468
coach her with her boyfriend
425
00:22:23,468 --> 00:22:27,639
so that he can teach her
how to be a lover for him.
426
00:22:40,277 --> 00:22:43,697
"And if the girl likes it that
way, she's that much sexier.
427
00:22:43,697 --> 00:22:46,408
"Of course, you poor dear,
you only get it
428
00:22:46,408 --> 00:22:49,620
"for a couple of minutes
because no guy can last long
429
00:22:49,620 --> 00:22:52,164
when he's really
loving something."
430
00:22:52,164 --> 00:22:54,374
♪ ♪
431
00:22:54,374 --> 00:22:58,170
- "See you at school tomorrow."
- "See you at school."
432
00:22:58,170 --> 00:23:02,424
♪ ♪
433
00:23:02,424 --> 00:23:05,677
I think the sad part
about this is that...
434
00:23:05,677 --> 00:23:08,639
this all could have been
stopped at Little Elm, but...
435
00:23:11,725 --> 00:23:13,143
It wasn't.
436
00:23:15,145 --> 00:23:18,815
There was a system
that allowed this to happen.
437
00:23:18,815 --> 00:23:21,777
There was a system
that didn't stop the teacher
438
00:23:21,777 --> 00:23:24,613
from leaving Little Elm
439
00:23:24,613 --> 00:23:26,865
and going to another school.
440
00:23:26,865 --> 00:23:28,909
At every point
he could have been stopped,
441
00:23:28,909 --> 00:23:31,161
someone made the decision
to do the easier thing,
442
00:23:31,161 --> 00:23:32,913
which was to pass it on.
443
00:23:32,913 --> 00:23:34,456
And that's the problem--
444
00:23:34,456 --> 00:23:36,667
the system lacks the courage
445
00:23:36,667 --> 00:23:40,170
to hold these people
accountable.
446
00:23:40,170 --> 00:23:41,588
To me,
447
00:23:41,588 --> 00:23:45,592
that seemed
like the first place to start
448
00:23:45,592 --> 00:23:50,305
in trying to understand
how this happens.
449
00:24:09,282 --> 00:24:11,827
[dramatic music]
450
00:24:11,827 --> 00:24:13,120
[computer chimes]
451
00:24:13,120 --> 00:24:15,080
- "It was an English teacher
at mine.
452
00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:16,623
"He was the 'cool teacher'
453
00:24:16,623 --> 00:24:18,625
"that kids hung out with
at lunch.
454
00:24:18,625 --> 00:24:20,836
"Turns out he was dating
a student.
455
00:24:20,836 --> 00:24:22,879
He 'quit.'"
456
00:24:22,879 --> 00:24:24,464
[computer chimes]
457
00:24:24,464 --> 00:24:25,882
- "He was caught
in his classroom
458
00:24:25,882 --> 00:24:27,676
"during school hours
raping a girl.
459
00:24:27,676 --> 00:24:29,469
"She was 15.
460
00:24:29,469 --> 00:24:31,430
"He left
at the end of the year
461
00:24:31,430 --> 00:24:33,098
with no consequences."
462
00:24:33,098 --> 00:24:34,891
[computer chimes]
463
00:24:34,891 --> 00:24:36,560
- "It took getting kids drunk
464
00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:39,938
"and then kissing
a 16-year-old to get fired.
465
00:24:39,938 --> 00:24:44,359
Just quietly fired,
no police, nothing."
466
00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:48,155
[upbeat music]
467
00:24:48,155 --> 00:24:49,990
- When Cheryl
and I started this,
468
00:24:49,990 --> 00:24:53,326
we didn't know
how deep this went.
469
00:24:53,326 --> 00:24:57,372
If somebody
had reported her teacher
470
00:24:57,372 --> 00:24:59,875
in her high school,
471
00:24:59,875 --> 00:25:02,127
he wouldn't have gone on
472
00:25:02,127 --> 00:25:05,714
to then groom another girl
in a different state.
473
00:25:05,714 --> 00:25:08,216
Couple Google searches later,
474
00:25:08,216 --> 00:25:11,053
Cheryl and I found
crazy amounts of information
475
00:25:11,053 --> 00:25:14,264
on "passing the trash."
476
00:25:14,264 --> 00:25:17,601
"Passing the trash"
is a practice
477
00:25:17,601 --> 00:25:21,938
done by school administrations
where predatory teachers
478
00:25:21,938 --> 00:25:25,942
are able to wiggle
out of the justice system.
479
00:25:25,942 --> 00:25:30,238
The school administrations
simply allow them to resign.
480
00:25:30,238 --> 00:25:31,990
They get a free pass,
and they do it again
481
00:25:31,990 --> 00:25:34,868
when they go
to the next school.
482
00:25:34,868 --> 00:25:37,412
It's similar to what happens
in the Catholic Church,
483
00:25:37,412 --> 00:25:40,540
where priests are passed
from diocese to diocese.
484
00:25:40,540 --> 00:25:42,501
And the statistic
485
00:25:42,501 --> 00:25:45,295
is that a teacher
will be passed three times
486
00:25:45,295 --> 00:25:48,298
before they're reported
and arrested.
487
00:25:50,092 --> 00:25:52,886
When we were looking
into the Heaven Rubin case,
488
00:25:52,886 --> 00:25:54,346
we started watching
489
00:25:54,346 --> 00:25:56,973
all of these news clips
of Jason Meyers,
490
00:25:56,973 --> 00:25:59,017
and a lot of the coverage
of his arrest
491
00:25:59,017 --> 00:26:01,186
focused on
the community reaction.
492
00:26:01,186 --> 00:26:04,064
- The community concerned
and trying to get the word out
493
00:26:04,064 --> 00:26:06,149
about the alarming allegations
tonight.
494
00:26:06,149 --> 00:26:08,610
- Everyone here
at Palmetto High is shocked.
495
00:26:08,610 --> 00:26:10,529
We are told by student
after student
496
00:26:10,529 --> 00:26:12,572
that Jason Meyers
was not only popular,
497
00:26:12,572 --> 00:26:14,449
but he was
a really good teacher, at that.
498
00:26:14,449 --> 00:26:16,576
His arrest
stunned parents, too.
499
00:26:18,078 --> 00:26:20,372
- Hi, Terri.
500
00:26:20,372 --> 00:26:22,499
- Hi Cheryl.
501
00:26:22,499 --> 00:26:24,751
- Terri, do you know
502
00:26:24,751 --> 00:26:27,462
about the case
with Heaven Rubin?
503
00:26:27,462 --> 00:26:29,548
- Yes.
504
00:26:29,548 --> 00:26:33,009
You know,
I read so many of these,
505
00:26:33,009 --> 00:26:36,096
and they're all basically
the same,
506
00:26:36,096 --> 00:26:40,225
where a teacher has been
allowed to perpetrate
507
00:26:40,225 --> 00:26:43,228
against students
for a number of years.
508
00:26:43,228 --> 00:26:46,523
It goes unchecked.
It goes unreported.
509
00:26:46,523 --> 00:26:50,068
More victims
and more victims...
510
00:26:50,068 --> 00:26:52,445
and this is the problem.
511
00:26:52,445 --> 00:26:55,657
"Passing the trash"
is something I've known about
512
00:26:55,657 --> 00:26:59,661
and tried to prevent
since 1995.
513
00:26:59,661 --> 00:27:02,747
It is essentially
the aiding and abetting
514
00:27:02,747 --> 00:27:05,375
of a child sexual predator.
515
00:27:05,375 --> 00:27:08,587
[dramatic music]
516
00:27:08,587 --> 00:27:11,548
- Jason Meyers
was at Krop High School,
517
00:27:11,548 --> 00:27:13,717
oh, about nine years.
518
00:27:13,717 --> 00:27:15,510
He was highly acclaimed.
519
00:27:15,510 --> 00:27:17,053
He was in charge
520
00:27:17,053 --> 00:27:20,432
of the Literature Club.
521
00:27:20,432 --> 00:27:23,101
And they went on, you know,
a number of field trips
522
00:27:23,101 --> 00:27:26,563
to various places
like New York and Washington,
523
00:27:26,563 --> 00:27:31,651
apparently where he was able
to be a chaperone.
524
00:27:31,651 --> 00:27:33,904
- You know, it's very common
525
00:27:33,904 --> 00:27:37,866
for perpetrators
to be vanguards of the school,
526
00:27:37,866 --> 00:27:41,703
to be award-winning teachers
or coaches.
527
00:27:41,703 --> 00:27:44,873
But the only ones
who know the monster
528
00:27:44,873 --> 00:27:48,084
are the victims themselves.
529
00:27:48,084 --> 00:27:49,753
- At the time
that I met Heaven,
530
00:27:49,753 --> 00:27:51,421
I was actually representing
531
00:27:51,421 --> 00:27:53,798
a former classmate of hers
532
00:27:53,798 --> 00:27:55,967
who was also groomed
and sexually abused
533
00:27:55,967 --> 00:27:58,094
by Jason Meyers.
534
00:27:58,094 --> 00:28:01,264
Prior to his conduct
with Heaven,
535
00:28:01,264 --> 00:28:04,684
Jason Meyers was hired
to teach at Krop High School,
536
00:28:04,684 --> 00:28:07,437
and based upon
the investigation that was done
537
00:28:07,437 --> 00:28:09,397
and that I built upon,
538
00:28:09,397 --> 00:28:12,442
he started preying
upon girls early.
539
00:28:12,442 --> 00:28:14,736
♪ ♪
540
00:28:14,736 --> 00:28:18,114
- There was an email
that was sent to the principal
541
00:28:18,114 --> 00:28:20,200
that something was going on.
542
00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:24,621
♪ ♪
543
00:28:24,621 --> 00:28:27,082
- And this man who wrote
the email
544
00:28:27,082 --> 00:28:28,333
said he had heard a rumor
545
00:28:28,333 --> 00:28:30,126
that there were teachers
in the school
546
00:28:30,126 --> 00:28:32,504
competing to see
who could have sex
547
00:28:32,504 --> 00:28:35,674
with the most girls
before they graduated.
548
00:28:35,674 --> 00:28:37,926
The school board
was put on notice
549
00:28:37,926 --> 00:28:40,387
in September, 2008.
550
00:28:40,387 --> 00:28:44,474
And then in 2010,
a friend of another victim
551
00:28:44,474 --> 00:28:46,935
went
to the assistant principal
552
00:28:46,935 --> 00:28:51,231
and said, "Sir, my teacher,
Mr. Meyers,
553
00:28:51,231 --> 00:28:54,651
he had sex with my classmate
on the school trip."
554
00:28:54,651 --> 00:28:58,989
The only person they interview
is Jason Meyers.
555
00:28:58,989 --> 00:29:03,660
- In every state, there are
mandated reporting laws
556
00:29:03,660 --> 00:29:06,413
pertaining to child abuse
and neglect.
557
00:29:06,413 --> 00:29:08,331
- So, if there's
a suspected case,
558
00:29:08,331 --> 00:29:10,542
that would need to be reported
559
00:29:10,542 --> 00:29:13,503
under the sort of mandatory
reporting laws?
560
00:29:13,503 --> 00:29:15,880
- Correct, but they're not
doing that.
561
00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:18,967
95% of cases
562
00:29:18,967 --> 00:29:21,219
of educator sexual misconduct
563
00:29:21,219 --> 00:29:23,596
are not getting reported
to law enforcement
564
00:29:23,596 --> 00:29:25,557
as they should.
565
00:29:25,557 --> 00:29:28,518
That means that administrators
566
00:29:28,518 --> 00:29:32,689
and the perpetrators
are negotiating a way out.
567
00:29:32,689 --> 00:29:35,400
♪ ♪
568
00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:36,985
- The question remains,
569
00:29:36,985 --> 00:29:41,614
why was he allowed
to transfer to Palmetto
570
00:29:41,614 --> 00:29:44,492
and then continue
having sexual relations
571
00:29:44,492 --> 00:29:47,120
with girls at Palmetto?
572
00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:49,456
Meyers
was allowed to transfer.
573
00:29:49,456 --> 00:29:52,042
Superintendent
Alberto Carvallo
574
00:29:52,042 --> 00:29:55,920
himself did not supposedly make
the declaration
575
00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:57,797
that he was able to transfer,
576
00:29:57,797 --> 00:30:00,341
but that department
that handles,
577
00:30:00,341 --> 00:30:02,343
you know, school district
personnel transfers
578
00:30:02,343 --> 00:30:05,513
had recommended
that his transfer be approved
579
00:30:05,513 --> 00:30:07,974
Alberto Carvallo
plays the part well,
580
00:30:07,974 --> 00:30:09,851
but it's all about money.
581
00:30:09,851 --> 00:30:11,394
You know, we have
a school system
582
00:30:11,394 --> 00:30:14,189
where bad things don't happen.
583
00:30:14,189 --> 00:30:15,940
That way they can get,
584
00:30:15,940 --> 00:30:19,569
you know, more money
from the state or the feds.
585
00:30:19,569 --> 00:30:22,072
- For those have worked
within the school district,
586
00:30:22,072 --> 00:30:24,324
we call it a mafia,
587
00:30:24,324 --> 00:30:27,077
Miami-Dade County
Public Schools--
588
00:30:27,077 --> 00:30:29,537
they don't like a snitch.
589
00:30:29,537 --> 00:30:31,122
"Stay silent.
590
00:30:31,122 --> 00:30:33,708
You want to keep your job,
look the other way."
591
00:30:33,708 --> 00:30:35,794
- It's a failure on the part
of the district,
592
00:30:35,794 --> 00:30:37,962
from the superintendent
to the school board
593
00:30:37,962 --> 00:30:41,216
to the principals involved.
594
00:30:41,216 --> 00:30:43,176
- Jason Meyers was now
595
00:30:43,176 --> 00:30:45,136
a creative-writing
and English teacher
596
00:30:45,136 --> 00:30:47,222
at Palmetto High School,
597
00:30:47,222 --> 00:30:49,933
which is where Heaven
went to school.
598
00:30:49,933 --> 00:30:53,269
How can you take the position
599
00:30:53,269 --> 00:30:57,273
that you have no idea
that there's a potential risk,
600
00:30:57,273 --> 00:30:59,192
when you, yourself,
the faculty,
601
00:30:59,192 --> 00:31:00,902
the administration,
are referring
602
00:31:00,902 --> 00:31:03,947
to a group of underage girls
as "Jason's girls"?
603
00:31:03,947 --> 00:31:06,407
♪ ♪
604
00:31:06,407 --> 00:31:09,744
The system is broken,
and it needs to change.
605
00:31:09,744 --> 00:31:12,539
And that was something
that Heaven and I agreed on
606
00:31:12,539 --> 00:31:14,165
from day one,
607
00:31:14,165 --> 00:31:17,252
is that, if we're going to make
a difference,
608
00:31:17,252 --> 00:31:19,546
however small, however big,
609
00:31:19,546 --> 00:31:21,297
we need to hold people
accountable,
610
00:31:21,297 --> 00:31:23,424
and that's what
we set out to do.
611
00:31:52,036 --> 00:31:54,289
- I might look like
a crazy person on my face,
612
00:31:54,289 --> 00:31:55,456
'cause I'm just looking at you
613
00:31:55,456 --> 00:31:57,959
and thinking
about how brave you are
614
00:31:57,959 --> 00:32:02,881
and also how articulate you are
about what happened to you.
615
00:32:02,881 --> 00:32:07,385
Like, there was no way
I was able to be articulate
616
00:32:07,385 --> 00:32:11,181
about what had happened to me
when I was 23 years old.
617
00:32:11,181 --> 00:32:13,474
- It's hard to come
to terms with,
618
00:32:13,474 --> 00:32:15,977
even when it's all laid out in
front of you and you're like,
619
00:32:15,977 --> 00:32:17,729
"Ohl, shit,
that's what that was."
620
00:32:17,729 --> 00:32:20,523
You're like--
You don't want it to be true.
621
00:32:20,523 --> 00:32:21,941
- Mm-hmm.
622
00:32:21,941 --> 00:32:25,153
- The first three years
of the criminal case,
623
00:32:25,153 --> 00:32:28,239
we found, like,
10 to 13 other girls.
624
00:32:28,239 --> 00:32:31,159
And every time I learned
of somebody new,
625
00:32:31,159 --> 00:32:33,953
I was immediately upset,
because I was like,
626
00:32:33,953 --> 00:32:36,998
"Well, if you would've said
something years ago,
627
00:32:36,998 --> 00:32:39,042
maybe I wouldn't have been
in this position."
628
00:32:39,042 --> 00:32:40,585
But then going
through the experience
629
00:32:40,585 --> 00:32:42,462
that I have gone through,
630
00:32:42,462 --> 00:32:45,381
like, you don't really win
either way.
631
00:32:45,381 --> 00:32:48,426
There's not a right thing to do
632
00:32:48,426 --> 00:32:50,887
because of how the system
is set up.
633
00:32:50,887 --> 00:32:53,097
- It seems like
there's more systems in place
634
00:32:53,097 --> 00:32:56,267
to protect the person
635
00:32:56,267 --> 00:32:59,687
who inflicts the pain...
636
00:32:59,687 --> 00:33:01,689
than the person
they've inflicted it on.
637
00:33:01,689 --> 00:33:04,275
- Yeah, by keeping
this a secret
638
00:33:04,275 --> 00:33:06,069
by not speaking out about it,
639
00:33:06,069 --> 00:33:08,529
like, I felt like I was letting
them get their way.
640
00:33:08,529 --> 00:33:10,531
Like, they can say whatever
they want on the news.
641
00:33:10,531 --> 00:33:13,117
They can talk about it
however they want.
642
00:33:13,117 --> 00:33:15,328
They talked about me
graduating early.
643
00:33:15,328 --> 00:33:17,747
They're like, "She can't
possibly be depressed.
644
00:33:17,747 --> 00:33:19,874
She graduated school early."
645
00:33:19,874 --> 00:33:24,212
Well, "She can hold a job,
so she must not have anxiety."
646
00:33:24,212 --> 00:33:25,880
I felt like I had
to be perfect,
647
00:33:25,880 --> 00:33:30,051
but even being perfect
was still...
648
00:33:30,051 --> 00:33:31,803
going to be leveraged
649
00:33:31,803 --> 00:33:34,472
in a way
that it would hurt me.
650
00:33:34,472 --> 00:33:36,683
This isn't something
that's talked about.
651
00:33:36,683 --> 00:33:38,726
And if it is,
you get a lot more
652
00:33:38,726 --> 00:33:42,146
of the romanticized version
of it than you do
653
00:33:42,146 --> 00:33:46,025
of the outcome
of what it feels like,
654
00:33:46,025 --> 00:33:48,361
of what the experience
of being abused is.
655
00:33:48,361 --> 00:33:49,946
Yeah.
656
00:33:49,946 --> 00:33:52,073
- I feel like there's
this thing with teenage girls,
657
00:33:52,073 --> 00:33:55,326
where teenage girls
are sort of seen as dangerous.
658
00:33:55,326 --> 00:33:57,537
And I think sometimes
it's difficult for us
659
00:33:57,537 --> 00:34:00,540
to look at teenage girls
as children...
660
00:34:00,540 --> 00:34:03,584
- Yeah.
- Because they're sexualized.
661
00:34:03,584 --> 00:34:06,296
That, for me, plays
into the romanticizing
662
00:34:06,296 --> 00:34:07,964
the student teacher
relationships,
663
00:34:07,964 --> 00:34:11,926
'cause it's like,
well, you know...
664
00:34:11,926 --> 00:34:14,762
what is taboo and sexy?
665
00:34:14,762 --> 00:34:18,641
I really want to look into that
much bigger cultural problem.
666
00:34:18,641 --> 00:34:20,518
- I love that.
667
00:34:20,518 --> 00:34:22,937
- There's so many layers
to the onion.
668
00:34:22,937 --> 00:34:25,898
[dramatic music]
669
00:34:25,898 --> 00:34:32,780
♪ ♪
670
00:34:50,882 --> 00:34:53,843
- And...
- Oh, hi. I'm Cheryl.
671
00:34:53,843 --> 00:34:57,639
[laughter]
- Cheryl is sneaking in.
672
00:34:57,639 --> 00:35:00,516
This is something that I know
in my classes we talk about.
673
00:35:00,516 --> 00:35:03,853
I think it's undeniable that
as a culture, we sexualize...
674
00:35:03,853 --> 00:35:05,688
- Absolutely.
- Teen girls.
675
00:35:05,688 --> 00:35:08,149
So what I'm wondering
676
00:35:08,149 --> 00:35:12,111
is how you see this playing out
in the world around you.
677
00:35:13,863 --> 00:35:16,783
- Being a young sexualized girl
678
00:35:16,783 --> 00:35:19,202
is a huge thing
in the media, for sure.
679
00:35:19,202 --> 00:35:21,579
I think with a lot of, like,
celebrities
680
00:35:21,579 --> 00:35:24,624
and every woman who is famous
681
00:35:24,624 --> 00:35:28,961
has to start
when they're, like, 16, 17.
682
00:35:28,961 --> 00:35:31,673
- You see young girls
being sexualized
683
00:35:31,673 --> 00:35:33,591
in the media so often,
684
00:35:33,591 --> 00:35:35,968
It made me feel like I was over
685
00:35:35,968 --> 00:35:38,471
the minute
I wasn't a teenager anymore.
686
00:35:39,972 --> 00:35:41,557
- There's always been the idea
687
00:35:41,557 --> 00:35:43,643
that a man is
the one that, like,
688
00:35:43,643 --> 00:35:46,729
expresses the sexuality
of a woman.
689
00:35:46,729 --> 00:35:48,773
And basically I think
the idea of the child
690
00:35:48,773 --> 00:35:51,901
is that you can have
control over her.
691
00:35:51,901 --> 00:35:53,736
This should not be
an okay thing
692
00:35:53,736 --> 00:35:56,989
to fantasize children
and women in this way.
693
00:35:56,989 --> 00:36:00,576
♪ ♪
694
00:36:00,576 --> 00:36:01,828
- I think the #MeToo movement
695
00:36:01,828 --> 00:36:05,373
gave us a language
that empowered us.
696
00:36:05,373 --> 00:36:07,542
This sort of new generation
of teenage girls
697
00:36:07,542 --> 00:36:09,419
and girls in their 20's
698
00:36:09,419 --> 00:36:12,547
seem to have a better sense of,
699
00:36:12,547 --> 00:36:14,674
not just who they are
700
00:36:14,674 --> 00:36:16,968
but a freedom
to be who they want to be,
701
00:36:16,968 --> 00:36:19,679
and I think that that
gives them power over people
702
00:36:19,679 --> 00:36:21,472
who want to control them.
703
00:36:21,472 --> 00:36:24,642
♪ ♪
704
00:36:27,437 --> 00:36:28,855
- Okay, so what is this?
705
00:36:28,855 --> 00:36:31,816
- That is me at my high-school
graduation party
706
00:36:31,816 --> 00:36:34,444
with my mother,
cutting my cake.
707
00:36:34,444 --> 00:36:36,988
So that's me...
708
00:36:36,988 --> 00:36:39,907
the day before I slept
with the teacher
709
00:36:39,907 --> 00:36:41,242
for the first time.
710
00:36:43,369 --> 00:36:46,622
- You're such a kid, Alisson.
- I know, I know.
711
00:36:46,622 --> 00:36:48,875
- It's crazy
how much of a kid you are.
712
00:36:48,875 --> 00:36:51,252
- I know. I was.
713
00:36:53,755 --> 00:36:54,964
- So the #MeToo movement
714
00:36:54,964 --> 00:36:57,091
has kind of, like,
started changing
715
00:36:57,091 --> 00:36:59,051
the way we think about things,
716
00:36:59,051 --> 00:37:01,471
but something
that's really important to me
717
00:37:01,471 --> 00:37:04,265
is just really getting
into the nuance
718
00:37:04,265 --> 00:37:06,392
of, like, consent.
719
00:37:06,392 --> 00:37:08,519
- Yeah, I think it's great
that these words
720
00:37:08,519 --> 00:37:10,146
are sort of starting
to be opened up
721
00:37:10,146 --> 00:37:11,773
because it's not just,
722
00:37:11,773 --> 00:37:13,649
"Oh, well you're 18.
723
00:37:13,649 --> 00:37:15,568
It's not illegal anymore."
724
00:37:15,568 --> 00:37:16,861
You know?
725
00:37:16,861 --> 00:37:18,571
I mean, it's not that simple,
726
00:37:18,571 --> 00:37:21,282
and I think when thinking
about authentic consent,
727
00:37:21,282 --> 00:37:22,992
that's where things
728
00:37:22,992 --> 00:37:25,161
like what happened
to you and I fall under.
729
00:37:25,161 --> 00:37:27,413
Like, did we say yes?
Yes.
730
00:37:27,413 --> 00:37:29,499
Were we of age?
Yes.
731
00:37:29,499 --> 00:37:32,502
But was it authentic?
No.
732
00:37:32,502 --> 00:37:34,587
And there had been
such extensive grooming
733
00:37:34,587 --> 00:37:36,839
that I didn't clock it
at the time,
734
00:37:36,839 --> 00:37:39,926
and also, you know,
because it was a secret.
735
00:37:39,926 --> 00:37:43,471
- Yeah, I mean,
and the consequences
736
00:37:43,471 --> 00:37:45,848
for us are immeasurable.
737
00:37:45,848 --> 00:37:48,309
There are things that we end up
738
00:37:48,309 --> 00:37:50,228
dealing with
for our entire lives
739
00:37:50,228 --> 00:37:53,356
and being in reaction to
for our entire lives,
740
00:37:53,356 --> 00:37:55,566
whether we've done
the work or not.
741
00:37:55,566 --> 00:37:57,401
- My 20s were a disaster.
- Mm-hmm.
742
00:37:57,401 --> 00:38:01,864
- My 20s were an utter
trauma-filled disaster,
743
00:38:01,864 --> 00:38:04,700
and I can now
very much trace back
744
00:38:04,700 --> 00:38:08,079
so much of it to that
relationship with my teacher,
745
00:38:08,079 --> 00:38:09,705
because it was
just so damaging
746
00:38:09,705 --> 00:38:12,917
in ways that I couldn't even
identify or understand, so...
747
00:38:12,917 --> 00:38:14,961
And that's what trauma does.
748
00:38:14,961 --> 00:38:16,379
That's what these kinds
of things do.
749
00:38:16,379 --> 00:38:18,172
And I lost my 20s.
750
00:38:18,172 --> 00:38:20,633
- Oh, I definitely did.
- I didn't graduate--
751
00:38:20,633 --> 00:38:22,301
I didn't get my bachelor's
until I was 33.
752
00:38:22,301 --> 00:38:24,345
- Wow.
753
00:38:24,345 --> 00:38:26,722
Well, I'll try to say this
and not cry, but...
754
00:38:26,722 --> 00:38:28,558
[both laugh]
755
00:38:28,558 --> 00:38:31,435
I had never...
756
00:38:31,435 --> 00:38:33,771
I never felt like there
was anybody in the whole world
757
00:38:33,771 --> 00:38:35,356
ever in my whole life
758
00:38:35,356 --> 00:38:37,400
that understood
what happened to me
759
00:38:37,400 --> 00:38:39,402
until I read your book.
760
00:38:39,402 --> 00:38:42,822
And then I, like,
totally felt seen, you know?
761
00:38:42,822 --> 00:38:44,490
- Yeah.
- And then I was like,
762
00:38:44,490 --> 00:38:47,118
"How often is this happening
in this exact same way
763
00:38:47,118 --> 00:38:48,619
"if it happened to me
and Alisson
764
00:38:48,619 --> 00:38:51,747
in totally different worlds?"
- Yeah.
765
00:38:51,747 --> 00:38:54,292
The first time I got one
of those messages from a reader
766
00:38:54,292 --> 00:38:57,086
saying exactly that,
I just sobbed
767
00:38:57,086 --> 00:38:59,672
because that's all
that I wanted.
768
00:38:59,672 --> 00:39:01,757
Hopefully...
769
00:39:01,757 --> 00:39:04,302
we're able to show others
770
00:39:04,302 --> 00:39:07,346
that it's not a grief
you're alone in.
771
00:39:07,346 --> 00:39:09,265
And I think
that's really important.
772
00:39:09,265 --> 00:39:11,601
- I think so, too.
773
00:39:11,601 --> 00:39:14,562
[dramatic music]
774
00:39:14,562 --> 00:39:21,694
♪ ♪
775
00:39:21,694 --> 00:39:24,196
So much of my experience
of the abuse
776
00:39:24,196 --> 00:39:26,616
in high school and in college
777
00:39:26,616 --> 00:39:28,492
involved a lot of isolation.
778
00:39:28,492 --> 00:39:30,745
♪ ♪
779
00:39:30,745 --> 00:39:33,497
And so sitting with Alisson
780
00:39:33,497 --> 00:39:36,167
just made me feel like
I wasn't alone anymore.
781
00:39:36,167 --> 00:39:40,671
♪ ♪
782
00:39:40,671 --> 00:39:43,132
When I started out
doing this documentary,
783
00:39:43,132 --> 00:39:46,802
I had hoped that he would
accept responsibility for this
784
00:39:46,802 --> 00:39:49,764
or at least acknowledge
what happened,
785
00:39:49,764 --> 00:39:50,890
but he didn't.
786
00:39:53,017 --> 00:39:56,812
That's the thing
about being a grown man
787
00:39:56,812 --> 00:39:58,856
and abusing a child,
788
00:39:58,856 --> 00:40:01,734
is the child grows,
and you stay the same.
789
00:40:01,734 --> 00:40:04,320
♪ ♪
790
00:40:04,320 --> 00:40:05,947
And that's his choice.
791
00:40:05,947 --> 00:40:07,907
He is the person
that's going to have to walk
792
00:40:07,907 --> 00:40:10,701
through the rest
of his life running
793
00:40:10,701 --> 00:40:13,996
from his actions.
794
00:40:13,996 --> 00:40:16,374
♪ ♪
795
00:40:16,374 --> 00:40:18,417
And so this for me
796
00:40:18,417 --> 00:40:21,796
is where I stop running...
797
00:40:21,796 --> 00:40:25,675
and I just stand my ground...
798
00:40:25,675 --> 00:40:30,388
and I accept the responsibility
of my own life.
799
00:40:30,388 --> 00:40:37,311
♪ ♪
800
00:40:46,195 --> 00:40:48,447
Okay, let me--
801
00:40:48,447 --> 00:40:51,867
Okay, I'm gonna read you
what Tom
802
00:40:51,867 --> 00:40:55,871
sent me, actually, first.
803
00:40:55,871 --> 00:40:58,124
- Okay.
- Okay.
804
00:40:58,124 --> 00:41:00,209
He wrote, "How you doing
old friend?"
805
00:41:00,209 --> 00:41:02,753
And I wrote
"Hi. Doing pretty good."
806
00:41:02,753 --> 00:41:04,964
He goes, "Good to know
you're well.
807
00:41:04,964 --> 00:41:07,800
It has been an honor," and...
- Okay.
808
00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:09,635
- Didn't tell me
what was going on.
809
00:41:09,635 --> 00:41:13,222
Just said that he was being
put on administrative leave.
810
00:41:13,222 --> 00:41:15,474
Anyway, the rumor
going around right now
811
00:41:15,474 --> 00:41:17,059
is that Tom was fired
for having
812
00:41:17,059 --> 00:41:19,145
some sort of
an inappropriate interaction
813
00:41:19,145 --> 00:41:21,063
or interactions with students.
814
00:41:21,063 --> 00:41:24,859
Whether he's crossed a line
or not, we don't know,
815
00:41:24,859 --> 00:41:27,695
but, obviously, like,
if this is true,
816
00:41:27,695 --> 00:41:30,114
then I feel super betrayed.
817
00:41:30,114 --> 00:41:31,532
Do you know what I mean?
- Yeah.
818
00:41:31,532 --> 00:41:35,286
- Because not that, like,
I'm best friends with Tom,
819
00:41:35,286 --> 00:41:37,997
but I did give him the benefit
of the doubt here,
820
00:41:37,997 --> 00:41:41,000
despite, like, the things
that he said to me
821
00:41:41,000 --> 00:41:42,793
that were very triggering
and hurtful.
822
00:41:42,793 --> 00:41:45,504
Do you know what I'm saying?
823
00:41:45,504 --> 00:41:49,258
Like, I knew that Tom had,
like, contributed
824
00:41:49,258 --> 00:41:52,720
to aspects of the grooming
825
00:41:52,720 --> 00:41:54,472
that I felt.
826
00:41:54,472 --> 00:41:56,057
I just didn't believe--
827
00:41:56,057 --> 00:41:57,391
or maybe
I didn't want to believe--
828
00:41:57,391 --> 00:41:59,143
that he'd ever really crossed
a line,
829
00:41:59,143 --> 00:42:01,228
because he said he didn't.
830
00:42:01,228 --> 00:42:02,480
- Right.
831
00:42:02,480 --> 00:42:09,403
♪ ♪
60366
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