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1
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[cheers and applause]
2
00:00:13,096 --> 00:00:16,226
[dramatic music]
3
00:00:16,225 --> 00:00:17,635
- You know, my senior year,
4
00:00:17,643 --> 00:00:21,193
I wanted to go to college
for acting.
5
00:00:21,188 --> 00:00:24,068
In my mind, I wanted
to start a theater company
6
00:00:24,066 --> 00:00:25,566
and, like, make films,
7
00:00:25,567 --> 00:00:27,987
and I kind of wanted
to do the whole thing.
8
00:00:27,986 --> 00:00:31,986
[cheering,
person speaking indistinctly]
9
00:00:31,990 --> 00:00:35,660
He was like, "Why don't you go
to the University of Utah?
10
00:00:35,661 --> 00:00:37,621
"Like, they have a great
acting program.
11
00:00:37,621 --> 00:00:39,751
I'm gonna be moving there."
12
00:00:39,748 --> 00:00:41,788
[students cheering]
13
00:00:41,792 --> 00:00:44,172
♪ ♪
14
00:00:44,169 --> 00:00:45,549
Look at my teeth.
15
00:00:45,545 --> 00:00:48,005
[chuckles] I got my braces off!
16
00:00:48,006 --> 00:00:49,546
So I did,
17
00:00:49,549 --> 00:00:53,429
and I moved to Utah
and went to school there.
18
00:00:53,428 --> 00:00:54,968
I should get
my own video camera
19
00:00:54,972 --> 00:00:58,102
and film stuff in Utah
like my teeth.
20
00:00:58,100 --> 00:01:02,310
And I moved into the basement
with him and his wife.
21
00:01:02,312 --> 00:01:09,242
♪ ♪
22
00:01:19,538 --> 00:01:21,748
Both my parents were
kind of worried about me
23
00:01:21,748 --> 00:01:24,788
going somewhere
out of state...
24
00:01:24,793 --> 00:01:27,133
but then when I told them
that, like,
25
00:01:27,129 --> 00:01:28,629
"I don't need to live
in the dorms,
26
00:01:28,630 --> 00:01:30,880
"I can live, you know,
in the basement
27
00:01:30,882 --> 00:01:32,972
of the theater teacher,"
28
00:01:32,968 --> 00:01:34,638
I think that made them feel
29
00:01:34,636 --> 00:01:36,926
like I would at least be around
some people that were familiar.
30
00:01:39,016 --> 00:01:41,686
He had successfully groomed me
31
00:01:41,685 --> 00:01:45,055
to the point where I didn't
have anybody anymore.
32
00:01:45,063 --> 00:01:47,733
I was isolated and alone,
33
00:01:47,733 --> 00:01:50,993
and I felt like I owed it
to him
34
00:01:50,986 --> 00:01:54,106
to at least show up and give
the relationship a try,
35
00:01:54,114 --> 00:01:57,954
and that kind of meant
without conditions.
36
00:01:57,951 --> 00:02:03,371
♪ ♪
37
00:02:03,373 --> 00:02:07,383
The basement
was cold and dark,
38
00:02:07,377 --> 00:02:09,917
and it was like a prison.
39
00:02:09,921 --> 00:02:13,631
It felt like I was
somebody's captive
40
00:02:13,634 --> 00:02:16,054
in a way.
41
00:02:16,053 --> 00:02:18,013
There was just, like, a little
kind of slit of a window
42
00:02:18,013 --> 00:02:19,393
at the very top.
43
00:02:19,389 --> 00:02:21,679
Otherwise, it was pretty dark.
44
00:02:21,683 --> 00:02:26,313
And it was right across
from his office,
45
00:02:26,313 --> 00:02:28,233
where he spent
most of his time.
46
00:02:30,108 --> 00:02:33,148
That was the first time
that I had sex.
47
00:02:33,153 --> 00:02:35,743
♪ ♪
48
00:02:35,739 --> 00:02:38,329
I didn't have any friends
who were able to say,
49
00:02:38,325 --> 00:02:40,075
"This is weird, Cheryl.
50
00:02:40,077 --> 00:02:42,577
This is weird.
This is not normal."
51
00:02:42,579 --> 00:02:44,749
♪ ♪
52
00:02:44,748 --> 00:02:47,078
I've been
a little crazy lately.
53
00:02:47,084 --> 00:02:50,594
The teacher is getting
frustrated with me a lot.
54
00:02:50,587 --> 00:02:53,297
Honestly, sometimes
I feel unwanted
55
00:02:53,298 --> 00:02:55,878
or like I couldn't go to him
for anything
56
00:02:55,884 --> 00:02:58,894
because I'd be bothering him.
57
00:02:58,887 --> 00:03:01,847
I can't see past
what my brain is telling me,
58
00:03:01,848 --> 00:03:04,638
even though I know in my heart
that he loves me.
59
00:03:04,643 --> 00:03:09,563
♪ ♪
60
00:03:13,902 --> 00:03:15,152
I had been struggling
61
00:03:15,153 --> 00:03:18,413
with how to talk about this
for a long time.
62
00:03:18,407 --> 00:03:21,077
We stayed together
until I was 22.
63
00:03:21,076 --> 00:03:23,116
And so the grooming
led to this,
64
00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:24,580
what some people would say,
65
00:03:24,579 --> 00:03:27,579
was, like, a consensual
relationship.
66
00:03:27,582 --> 00:03:31,212
And so I think that was part
of what was so hard for me
67
00:03:31,211 --> 00:03:33,261
coming forward,
which was like...
68
00:03:33,255 --> 00:03:35,295
- Yeah.
- I had a part in it.
69
00:03:35,298 --> 00:03:37,258
And there was a lot of judgment
that came my way
70
00:03:37,259 --> 00:03:40,009
and still comes my way,
you know.
71
00:03:40,011 --> 00:03:41,391
- Yes.
72
00:03:41,388 --> 00:03:44,808
Because that's
the nature of it--the shame.
73
00:03:44,808 --> 00:03:47,688
A lot of these guys, they know
exactly what they're doing,
74
00:03:47,686 --> 00:03:50,306
and they want to make you
feel like, you know,
75
00:03:50,313 --> 00:03:52,153
"Oh, I was a willing party,"
76
00:03:52,149 --> 00:03:53,689
you know,
you know how you said that,
77
00:03:53,692 --> 00:03:57,402
but the whole goal was for it
to get to that point.
78
00:03:57,404 --> 00:04:00,574
And oftentimes
that's why you do see people
79
00:04:00,574 --> 00:04:03,034
that are serial offenders.
80
00:04:03,034 --> 00:04:07,874
Your average child sex offender
has about nine victims.
81
00:04:07,873 --> 00:04:10,333
But, you know, what's really
interesting is that many times
82
00:04:10,333 --> 00:04:12,673
it's not just the survivor
that's been groomed.
83
00:04:12,669 --> 00:04:15,089
It's also
those around the survivor--
84
00:04:15,088 --> 00:04:16,718
the family, the caregivers,
85
00:04:16,715 --> 00:04:20,715
the other people entrusted
to that youth, to that child.
86
00:04:20,719 --> 00:04:23,639
There's a lot more education
that needs to be around it,
87
00:04:23,638 --> 00:04:26,888
and so, you know, it's really
pulling everyone together
88
00:04:26,892 --> 00:04:28,892
in on this conversation.
- Yeah.
89
00:04:28,894 --> 00:04:35,824
♪ ♪
90
00:04:51,374 --> 00:04:54,504
I don't know when his wife
91
00:04:54,503 --> 00:04:56,633
found the messages.
92
00:04:56,630 --> 00:04:59,930
All I know is,
by the time the year ended,
93
00:04:59,925 --> 00:05:02,505
she presented...
94
00:05:02,511 --> 00:05:05,851
him with this book
95
00:05:05,847 --> 00:05:08,477
of all of the messages
96
00:05:08,475 --> 00:05:11,185
that he and I had exchanged
97
00:05:11,186 --> 00:05:13,686
all through high school,
98
00:05:13,688 --> 00:05:18,188
and she threw it at him
and left.
99
00:05:18,193 --> 00:05:21,153
♪ ♪
100
00:05:21,154 --> 00:05:23,284
After he got a divorce,
101
00:05:23,281 --> 00:05:26,741
he was still teaching
high school.
102
00:05:26,743 --> 00:05:29,453
There was a point
where he came home
103
00:05:29,454 --> 00:05:33,174
to the apartment
that we shared and said,
104
00:05:33,166 --> 00:05:36,626
"I've been fired for having
what the principal called
105
00:05:36,628 --> 00:05:39,548
"an inappropriate email
relationship with a student.
106
00:05:39,548 --> 00:05:42,678
"Nothing was happening.
It's a big misunderstanding."
107
00:05:42,676 --> 00:05:46,046
And I believed him.
108
00:05:48,014 --> 00:05:51,644
I didn't think that
he would be dumb enough
109
00:05:51,643 --> 00:05:54,153
to get involved
with another student.
110
00:05:54,145 --> 00:05:57,895
I still felt
like I was special...
111
00:05:57,899 --> 00:06:01,029
and I believed
that it was the exception
112
00:06:01,027 --> 00:06:03,317
because I knew
somewhere deep down
113
00:06:03,321 --> 00:06:06,621
that it was not okay,
that I was not okay.
114
00:06:06,616 --> 00:06:13,536
♪ ♪
115
00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:20,090
There were many moments
in college where...
116
00:06:20,088 --> 00:06:22,548
the crack started to appear.
117
00:06:24,342 --> 00:06:26,262
Once I moved to L. A.
118
00:06:26,261 --> 00:06:28,221
and we were
no longer together,
119
00:06:28,221 --> 00:06:29,811
I started really seeing
120
00:06:29,806 --> 00:06:32,726
that this thing
might not have been okay.
121
00:06:34,144 --> 00:06:37,024
The real turning point was...
122
00:06:37,022 --> 00:06:39,112
a friend of mine
123
00:06:39,107 --> 00:06:41,857
from Little Elm...
124
00:06:41,860 --> 00:06:43,740
called me.
125
00:06:45,447 --> 00:06:47,317
As we were talking,
126
00:06:47,324 --> 00:06:49,874
I made the decision
to be honest
127
00:06:49,868 --> 00:06:53,908
about my relationship with him
for the first time.
128
00:06:53,913 --> 00:06:56,043
And so I said to them,
129
00:06:56,041 --> 00:06:58,921
"I want to tell you something
that I've never told anybody,
130
00:06:58,918 --> 00:07:02,008
"and it has to do with him.
131
00:07:02,005 --> 00:07:04,375
"I was in...
132
00:07:04,382 --> 00:07:07,682
"a relationship with him,
133
00:07:07,677 --> 00:07:10,717
"and it started
when I was in high school.
134
00:07:10,722 --> 00:07:13,352
It started when I was 16."
135
00:07:14,851 --> 00:07:17,481
And they said, "Me too."
136
00:07:17,479 --> 00:07:22,479
♪ ♪
137
00:07:22,484 --> 00:07:24,824
And...
[sighs]
138
00:07:24,819 --> 00:07:31,699
♪ ♪
139
00:07:35,830 --> 00:07:37,710
[inhales sharply]
140
00:07:39,793 --> 00:07:41,963
Sorry.
141
00:07:41,961 --> 00:07:43,961
[sighs]
142
00:07:43,963 --> 00:07:46,723
♪ ♪
143
00:07:46,716 --> 00:07:48,466
I think that was
the first time
144
00:07:48,468 --> 00:07:52,388
that I was able to actually
see myself...
145
00:07:53,973 --> 00:07:56,023
As a kid.
146
00:07:56,017 --> 00:07:59,897
[videotape rewinding]
147
00:07:59,896 --> 00:08:01,436
[indistinct chatter]
148
00:08:01,439 --> 00:08:03,859
Everything
came into question.
149
00:08:03,858 --> 00:08:07,198
[tape rewinding]
150
00:08:07,195 --> 00:08:09,105
And suddenly I realized, like,
151
00:08:09,114 --> 00:08:11,244
"He wasn't just doing this
to me.
152
00:08:11,241 --> 00:08:13,621
"He was doing this to me,
153
00:08:13,618 --> 00:08:16,998
and he was doing this
to someone else."
154
00:08:16,996 --> 00:08:19,326
And then I remembered
that when we were together,
155
00:08:19,332 --> 00:08:20,792
he was fired,
156
00:08:20,792 --> 00:08:23,462
which then I was like,
"Jesus Christ, Cheryl."
157
00:08:23,461 --> 00:08:27,471
And it was like
I suddenly became an adult.
158
00:08:27,465 --> 00:08:29,755
♪ ♪
159
00:08:29,759 --> 00:08:31,719
He's gotten just to go on
with his life,
160
00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:34,560
and I have had to do
the hard work
161
00:08:34,556 --> 00:08:37,056
of rewriting myself.
162
00:08:38,643 --> 00:08:41,773
I mean, that was
my entire adolescence.
163
00:08:41,771 --> 00:08:43,821
In those years,
those were my formative years,
164
00:08:43,815 --> 00:08:45,225
and they're gone.
165
00:08:45,233 --> 00:08:47,493
I'll never get them back.
166
00:08:47,485 --> 00:08:49,565
[sniffles]
167
00:09:10,508 --> 00:09:13,798
- Remember how we were looking
for, like, recent cases?
168
00:09:13,803 --> 00:09:15,103
- Uh-huh.
169
00:09:15,096 --> 00:09:16,346
- This young woman, Heaven,
170
00:09:16,347 --> 00:09:19,767
back in 2016...
171
00:09:19,768 --> 00:09:22,098
she came forward
about her teacher.
172
00:09:22,103 --> 00:09:24,063
This news clip says
that the state
173
00:09:24,064 --> 00:09:26,364
is filing criminal charges
against him
174
00:09:26,357 --> 00:09:29,067
but the case has been pushed
and pushed and pushed.
175
00:09:29,069 --> 00:09:31,529
- Another delay in the case
of a former teacher
176
00:09:31,529 --> 00:09:33,909
accused of having sex
with an underage student.
177
00:09:33,907 --> 00:09:36,617
Jason Meyers was arrested
more than five years ago,
178
00:09:36,618 --> 00:09:39,248
but he has not faced
a jury yet.
179
00:09:39,245 --> 00:09:41,615
- The entire world
has to blow up
180
00:09:41,623 --> 00:09:43,833
if a person comes forward
to talk about it.
181
00:09:43,833 --> 00:09:45,343
- Mm-hmm.
- Do you know what I'm saying?
182
00:09:45,335 --> 00:09:46,625
Like, it's crazy.
183
00:09:46,628 --> 00:09:49,168
- Yeah, but the crazy thing
about this story
184
00:09:49,172 --> 00:09:52,722
is that her teacher,
this guy Jason Meyers--
185
00:09:52,717 --> 00:09:54,587
multiple people have alleged
186
00:09:54,594 --> 00:09:56,434
that Jason Meyers
has done this.
187
00:09:56,429 --> 00:09:57,969
- Yeah, I mean, I'm curious,
188
00:09:57,972 --> 00:10:00,852
like, why the trial's
being held up.
189
00:10:00,850 --> 00:10:03,020
- Mm-hmm.
- It's now set for July.
190
00:10:03,019 --> 00:10:05,649
- Yeah.
- Is it gonna happen?
191
00:10:05,647 --> 00:10:07,147
- I don't know.
192
00:10:07,148 --> 00:10:10,188
I mean, we should try
and get in contact with her.
193
00:10:18,409 --> 00:10:20,289
- [chuckles]
Hi, can you hear me?
194
00:10:20,286 --> 00:10:22,246
- Yeah, I can.
195
00:10:22,247 --> 00:10:24,327
Crazy meeting this way.
- I know.
196
00:10:24,332 --> 00:10:26,132
How are you feeling?
197
00:10:28,503 --> 00:10:29,803
- A little overwhelmed.
198
00:10:29,796 --> 00:10:32,666
[both laugh]
199
00:10:32,674 --> 00:10:34,514
It's one of those days.
200
00:10:34,509 --> 00:10:38,099
- I'm very interested to hear
about your experience
201
00:10:38,096 --> 00:10:40,266
moving through
the legal system.
202
00:10:40,265 --> 00:10:43,635
What made you decide
to press charges,
203
00:10:43,643 --> 00:10:47,233
or, like, what made
you decide to do this?
204
00:10:47,230 --> 00:10:50,980
- Yeah, I didn't really have
205
00:10:50,984 --> 00:10:52,744
much of an option.
206
00:10:52,735 --> 00:10:54,695
Since I was 17,
207
00:10:54,696 --> 00:10:57,276
I'm pretty sure my parents
made that decision.
208
00:10:57,282 --> 00:10:59,452
I just remember
209
00:10:59,450 --> 00:11:01,870
being called in
to talk with the police
210
00:11:01,870 --> 00:11:04,250
and then finding out, like,
the next day
211
00:11:04,247 --> 00:11:06,287
that he had been arrested
that night.
212
00:11:06,291 --> 00:11:09,421
- Was there a point
where it transferred
213
00:11:09,419 --> 00:11:11,499
from being maybe
your parents' choice
214
00:11:11,504 --> 00:11:13,674
to your choice?
215
00:11:13,673 --> 00:11:15,723
- Definitely.
216
00:11:15,717 --> 00:11:19,847
I felt like I had lost a lot,
217
00:11:19,846 --> 00:11:22,266
like I'd lost...
218
00:11:22,265 --> 00:11:25,385
a normal experience
in high school.
219
00:11:25,393 --> 00:11:27,813
I'd lost a lot of my friends,
220
00:11:27,812 --> 00:11:31,402
and hearing
the defense attorneys
221
00:11:31,399 --> 00:11:33,479
talk about me on the news
222
00:11:33,484 --> 00:11:34,944
like I was making it all up
223
00:11:34,944 --> 00:11:39,244
or pursuing this
for the wrong reasons,
224
00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:41,490
I was just like, "No.
225
00:11:41,492 --> 00:11:44,162
"You're not gonna be the only
one to have a say
226
00:11:44,162 --> 00:11:45,462
"in how this goes.
227
00:11:45,455 --> 00:11:47,745
"And you're not gonna be
the one to dictate,
228
00:11:47,749 --> 00:11:50,419
"like, how I get closure
from this,
229
00:11:50,418 --> 00:11:53,418
how I'm able to move on
from it."
230
00:11:53,421 --> 00:11:54,801
And if I dropped the charges,
231
00:11:54,797 --> 00:11:57,797
I thought that he might
go back to teaching.
232
00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:00,260
At one point, I was like,
"Okay, I'm in this.
233
00:12:00,261 --> 00:12:02,351
"Like, it's been my life
234
00:12:02,347 --> 00:12:06,937
and I'm just gonna take it
as far as I can."
235
00:12:06,935 --> 00:12:09,145
It's kind of where I am now,
I guess.
236
00:12:09,145 --> 00:12:12,725
- I have
so many similar things.
237
00:12:12,732 --> 00:12:14,322
- Yeah. Yeah.
- Yeah.
238
00:12:14,317 --> 00:12:16,487
- Let's find a time to meet,
239
00:12:16,486 --> 00:12:19,406
and let's do it,
if that works for you.
240
00:12:19,405 --> 00:12:21,275
- Okay. Yeah, I'd love to.
- Okay.
241
00:12:21,282 --> 00:12:23,702
I can't wait to meet
you face-to-face.
242
00:12:23,701 --> 00:12:26,661
[dramatic music]
243
00:12:26,663 --> 00:12:31,133
♪ ♪
244
00:12:31,125 --> 00:12:32,875
[vehicle doors opening]
- All right, Golda.
245
00:12:32,877 --> 00:12:35,707
♪ ♪
246
00:12:35,713 --> 00:12:37,973
- Good boy.
247
00:12:37,966 --> 00:12:39,676
- You got him?
- Yeah.
248
00:12:39,676 --> 00:12:40,796
- All right.
249
00:12:40,802 --> 00:12:44,722
♪ ♪
250
00:12:44,722 --> 00:12:47,852
- Factory part two.
- Yeah.
251
00:12:47,850 --> 00:12:49,940
- [clicks tongue]
252
00:12:49,936 --> 00:12:52,306
- I feel like
I'm out of options.
253
00:12:52,313 --> 00:12:55,783
I feel like...
254
00:12:55,775 --> 00:13:00,065
I don't know
how to make people listen...
255
00:13:00,071 --> 00:13:02,701
and this is...
256
00:13:02,699 --> 00:13:05,989
scary and vulnerable...
257
00:13:05,994 --> 00:13:08,664
and I'm happy to do it.
258
00:13:08,663 --> 00:13:10,123
- Watch your step.
259
00:13:10,123 --> 00:13:12,173
[clicks tongue]
260
00:13:12,166 --> 00:13:14,416
- When I was 17,
261
00:13:14,419 --> 00:13:17,669
I was abused
by my English teacher,
262
00:13:17,672 --> 00:13:20,432
Jason Meyers.
263
00:13:20,425 --> 00:13:24,005
Criminal charges were filed
against Jason Meyers
264
00:13:24,012 --> 00:13:25,892
in 2016.
265
00:13:25,888 --> 00:13:28,308
We have not gone to trial,
266
00:13:28,308 --> 00:13:31,598
and really
the defense strategy has been
267
00:13:31,602 --> 00:13:33,862
to kick the can down the road
268
00:13:33,855 --> 00:13:36,435
until I give up...
269
00:13:36,441 --> 00:13:38,071
because if I don't show...
270
00:13:40,236 --> 00:13:42,156
The state doesn't have a case.
271
00:13:42,155 --> 00:13:44,405
♪ ♪
272
00:13:44,407 --> 00:13:47,867
Lived in Miami my whole life
before going to college.
273
00:13:47,869 --> 00:13:50,459
I grew up in Cutler Bay.
274
00:13:50,455 --> 00:13:54,705
It's a working-class town
in Miami.
275
00:13:54,709 --> 00:13:56,129
Growing up, it felt magical.
276
00:13:56,127 --> 00:13:57,997
There was always things
to find outside,
277
00:13:58,004 --> 00:14:00,594
things to explore.
278
00:14:00,590 --> 00:14:04,590
For a while,
it really was this paradise.
279
00:14:04,594 --> 00:14:08,474
I have such great memories
with my family
280
00:14:08,473 --> 00:14:10,733
and my abuela, in particular.
281
00:14:13,019 --> 00:14:14,849
[sighs]
282
00:14:14,854 --> 00:14:17,074
So this one
283
00:14:17,065 --> 00:14:20,855
and this one...
284
00:14:20,860 --> 00:14:23,110
are of my abuela.
285
00:14:23,112 --> 00:14:24,572
She...
286
00:14:24,572 --> 00:14:27,032
So her and my grandfather
287
00:14:27,033 --> 00:14:30,623
came to Miami from Cuba
288
00:14:30,620 --> 00:14:34,080
when they were, like, 13 or 14.
289
00:14:34,082 --> 00:14:37,212
She passed away
when I was eight,
290
00:14:37,210 --> 00:14:40,170
and I think up
until that point in my life,
291
00:14:40,171 --> 00:14:43,551
she was the person I spent
most of my time with.
292
00:14:43,549 --> 00:14:46,889
We would listen to music,
and we'd be cooking all day.
293
00:14:46,886 --> 00:14:49,596
And so it would just be her
and I singing and dancing
294
00:14:49,597 --> 00:14:52,887
around her one-bedroom home.
295
00:14:54,519 --> 00:14:57,149
I miss her.
296
00:14:57,146 --> 00:15:00,776
After my grandmother
passed away...
297
00:15:00,775 --> 00:15:02,895
I grew really close to my dad.
298
00:15:04,278 --> 00:15:08,528
Growing up,
my dad always told me...
299
00:15:08,533 --> 00:15:11,543
the right thing to do
isn't always easy,
300
00:15:11,536 --> 00:15:13,956
but it's always right.
301
00:15:13,955 --> 00:15:16,365
And I feel like this
is one of those things.
302
00:15:16,374 --> 00:15:19,004
♪ ♪
303
00:15:19,001 --> 00:15:22,671
Through the criminal case
and that investigation,
304
00:15:22,672 --> 00:15:27,142
I learned that this wasn't,
like, one bad actor.
305
00:15:27,135 --> 00:15:31,305
It wasn't two or three.
306
00:15:31,305 --> 00:15:35,475
It was a very systemic issue.
307
00:15:35,476 --> 00:15:37,686
♪ ♪
308
00:15:37,687 --> 00:15:41,227
I want accountability.
309
00:15:41,232 --> 00:15:44,032
I felt like if I sued
the school board,
310
00:15:44,026 --> 00:15:47,446
it would cause good trouble...
311
00:15:47,446 --> 00:15:49,816
in that we'd go to trial,
312
00:15:49,824 --> 00:15:53,794
and we'd put it all out there
for people to see.
313
00:15:53,786 --> 00:15:57,866
And the people that have
contributed to this
314
00:15:57,874 --> 00:15:59,884
won't have anywhere to hide.
315
00:16:19,395 --> 00:16:22,225
[indistinct chatter, laughter]
316
00:16:28,613 --> 00:16:30,953
- When I'm prepping
to go to trial,
317
00:16:30,948 --> 00:16:33,368
I have to travel
from Seattle to Miami
318
00:16:33,367 --> 00:16:36,287
for the criminal court case.
319
00:16:36,287 --> 00:16:39,417
That's been, like,
pre-decided by the judge.
320
00:16:41,375 --> 00:16:43,745
It's disruptive in my life.
321
00:16:43,753 --> 00:16:46,133
I have to schedule time off.
322
00:16:46,130 --> 00:16:48,510
I have to onboard
new members on my team.
323
00:16:48,507 --> 00:16:49,967
And everyone's like,
324
00:16:49,967 --> 00:16:51,717
"Okay, whatever you need,
we got you."
325
00:16:51,719 --> 00:16:56,219
We prep, it doesn't happen,
and, like, it just restarts.
326
00:16:56,224 --> 00:16:59,144
[dramatic music]
327
00:16:59,143 --> 00:17:03,063
♪ ♪
328
00:17:03,064 --> 00:17:05,444
Palmetto is in Pinecrest.
329
00:17:05,441 --> 00:17:08,861
Pinecrest
is a very wealthy town
330
00:17:08,861 --> 00:17:10,741
in Miami.
331
00:17:10,738 --> 00:17:13,568
Million-dollar homes,
332
00:17:13,574 --> 00:17:16,584
everyone drives a Mercedes
kind of a thing,
333
00:17:16,577 --> 00:17:20,367
and the schools
I was originally zoned for
334
00:17:20,373 --> 00:17:23,213
were lower-grade school.
335
00:17:23,209 --> 00:17:26,839
So my mom had me
transferred through a program
336
00:17:26,837 --> 00:17:29,877
that was running at the time
into Miami Palmetto Senior.
337
00:17:32,176 --> 00:17:35,846
This is Pinecrest Gardens.
338
00:17:35,846 --> 00:17:38,596
We used to have...
[turn signal clicking]
339
00:17:38,599 --> 00:17:40,389
The poetry nights here.
340
00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:44,270
I feel like there were
definitely times
341
00:17:44,272 --> 00:17:48,822
where we had
just a packed audience.
342
00:17:48,818 --> 00:17:51,198
♪ ♪
343
00:17:51,195 --> 00:17:54,155
When I first started
at Palmetto,
344
00:17:54,156 --> 00:17:55,826
when I was a freshman,
345
00:17:55,825 --> 00:17:59,115
he was teaching
ninth-grade English class.
346
00:17:59,120 --> 00:18:01,160
His wife also taught
at the school,
347
00:18:01,163 --> 00:18:04,213
and she was my ninth-grade
English teacher.
348
00:18:04,208 --> 00:18:06,668
♪ ♪
349
00:18:06,669 --> 00:18:09,209
And so I started going
to poetry nights.
350
00:18:09,213 --> 00:18:12,763
He, Mr. Meyers, would organize
the poetry nights.
351
00:18:12,758 --> 00:18:18,758
♪ ♪
352
00:18:18,764 --> 00:18:23,144
I was the most vulnerable here
that I'd, like, ever been.
353
00:18:23,144 --> 00:18:25,944
I felt safe here.
I would read my poetry here.
354
00:18:25,938 --> 00:18:29,978
And knowing now
355
00:18:29,984 --> 00:18:32,744
that during that time,
he was listening to my words
356
00:18:32,737 --> 00:18:37,617
and thinking about how
something about me
357
00:18:37,617 --> 00:18:41,197
made him feel
like he could target me....
358
00:18:42,747 --> 00:18:44,827
He was listening
with a different ear
359
00:18:44,832 --> 00:18:46,792
than everyone else was.
360
00:18:46,792 --> 00:18:49,502
♪ ♪
361
00:18:49,503 --> 00:18:52,923
You know, and this is where
he asked me to be in his class,
362
00:18:52,923 --> 00:18:56,143
and that's, like,
a really sick memory
363
00:18:56,135 --> 00:18:57,675
of mine now.
364
00:18:57,678 --> 00:19:00,468
♪ ♪
365
00:19:00,473 --> 00:19:02,603
So, yeah,
it just feels different.
366
00:19:09,982 --> 00:19:12,072
[voice breaking]
It's so hard to come back home.
367
00:19:13,986 --> 00:19:20,866
♪ ♪
368
00:19:22,453 --> 00:19:26,463
I had been reading and singing
at these poetry nights.
369
00:19:26,457 --> 00:19:29,417
The end of my junior year,
370
00:19:29,418 --> 00:19:32,418
he comes up to me,
and he says,
371
00:19:32,421 --> 00:19:34,051
"You know, I would really like
for you to be
372
00:19:34,048 --> 00:19:36,628
in my creative-writing class."
373
00:19:36,634 --> 00:19:41,434
And I was like, "Oh, awesome,
because I love to do this,
374
00:19:41,430 --> 00:19:43,470
"and, like, everyone complains
375
00:19:43,474 --> 00:19:45,144
"that he's
such a strict teacher,
376
00:19:45,142 --> 00:19:46,732
but he wants me
to be in his class.
377
00:19:46,727 --> 00:19:49,107
He thinks I'm a good writer."
378
00:19:49,105 --> 00:19:51,225
So I was excited,
but I told him,
379
00:19:51,232 --> 00:19:54,492
"We've already turned in our
paperwork for which electives,
380
00:19:54,485 --> 00:19:56,485
"so I don't know that I'll be
able to be put in your class.
381
00:19:56,487 --> 00:19:58,237
I didn't write
creative writing down."
382
00:19:58,239 --> 00:20:01,079
♪ ♪
383
00:20:01,075 --> 00:20:03,615
And so he emailed
my counselor,
384
00:20:03,619 --> 00:20:06,499
asking that I be switched
into his class.
385
00:20:06,497 --> 00:20:08,707
And within a few days,
386
00:20:08,708 --> 00:20:11,128
I was switched into
his creative-writing class
387
00:20:11,127 --> 00:20:14,377
and his AP literature class.
388
00:20:16,173 --> 00:20:17,883
I thought...
389
00:20:17,883 --> 00:20:20,093
nobody knew who he really was.
390
00:20:20,094 --> 00:20:23,184
Everyone that was talking
about how mean
391
00:20:23,180 --> 00:20:25,220
or, you know, strict he was,
392
00:20:25,224 --> 00:20:27,604
I was, like, "You really just
have to give him a chance
393
00:20:27,601 --> 00:20:29,061
because he does care."
394
00:20:30,813 --> 00:20:33,233
And so I didn't really pay
attention
395
00:20:33,232 --> 00:20:35,992
to the criticisms
that I'd heard.
396
00:20:38,154 --> 00:20:41,414
I wish I could go back
397
00:20:41,407 --> 00:20:43,277
and tell her to run.
398
00:20:43,284 --> 00:20:47,044
♪ ♪
399
00:20:53,127 --> 00:20:55,797
- Once I started
this documentary
400
00:20:55,796 --> 00:20:58,546
and I remembered
that the teacher
401
00:20:58,549 --> 00:21:00,839
was fired in Utah,
402
00:21:00,843 --> 00:21:05,263
what I realized is,
abusers who aren't stopped
403
00:21:05,264 --> 00:21:08,434
continue to abuse.
404
00:21:08,434 --> 00:21:10,644
I figured out
who the person was,
405
00:21:10,644 --> 00:21:11,904
and I reached out to her,
406
00:21:11,896 --> 00:21:16,026
and, sure enough,
he was actually engaging
407
00:21:16,025 --> 00:21:20,815
in a similar grooming pattern
via email that he was with me.
408
00:21:20,821 --> 00:21:23,871
In fact, the emails
were almost identical.
409
00:21:25,910 --> 00:21:28,580
"Dear Utah, okay,
first of all,
410
00:21:28,579 --> 00:21:29,789
"you have every right
in the world
411
00:21:29,789 --> 00:21:31,669
to vent about blank to me."
412
00:21:31,665 --> 00:21:35,245
- "Okay, first of all"...
- "Okay, first of all"...
413
00:21:35,252 --> 00:21:37,842
- "Why are you so scared
to write me?"
414
00:21:37,838 --> 00:21:39,508
Remember?
- Mm-hmm.
415
00:21:39,507 --> 00:21:40,967
Exactly the same.
416
00:21:56,482 --> 00:21:59,402
"Okay, sweetie, I'm excited
to see you tomorrow.
417
00:21:59,401 --> 00:22:01,951
"I hope you're happy and that
your weekend was great.
418
00:22:01,946 --> 00:22:03,566
Take care, dear."
419
00:22:05,324 --> 00:22:08,704
These almost identical words
to her
420
00:22:08,702 --> 00:22:10,962
really solidified that this
421
00:22:10,955 --> 00:22:13,415
was not something
that I was a part of,
422
00:22:13,415 --> 00:22:15,875
it was something
that was done to me.
423
00:22:15,876 --> 00:22:20,546
One of his tactics is to...
424
00:22:20,548 --> 00:22:23,428
coach her with her boyfriend
425
00:22:23,425 --> 00:22:27,595
so that he can teach her
how to be a lover for him.
426
00:22:40,234 --> 00:22:43,654
"And if the girl likes it that
way, she's that much sexier.
427
00:22:43,654 --> 00:22:46,374
"Of course, you poor dear,
you only get it
428
00:22:46,365 --> 00:22:49,575
"for a couple of minutes
because no guy can last long
429
00:22:49,577 --> 00:22:52,117
when he's really
loving something."
430
00:22:52,121 --> 00:22:54,331
♪ ♪
431
00:22:54,331 --> 00:22:58,131
- "See you at school tomorrow."
- "See you at school."
432
00:22:58,127 --> 00:23:02,377
♪ ♪
433
00:23:02,381 --> 00:23:05,631
I think the sad part
about this is that...
434
00:23:05,634 --> 00:23:08,604
this all could have been
stopped at Little Elm, but...
435
00:23:11,682 --> 00:23:13,102
It wasn't.
436
00:23:15,102 --> 00:23:18,772
There was a system
that allowed this to happen.
437
00:23:18,772 --> 00:23:21,732
There was a system
that didn't stop the teacher
438
00:23:21,734 --> 00:23:24,574
from leaving Little Elm
439
00:23:24,570 --> 00:23:26,820
and going to another school.
440
00:23:26,822 --> 00:23:28,872
At every point
he could have been stopped,
441
00:23:28,866 --> 00:23:31,116
someone made the decision
to do the easier thing,
442
00:23:31,118 --> 00:23:32,868
which was to pass it on.
443
00:23:32,870 --> 00:23:34,410
And that's the problem--
444
00:23:34,413 --> 00:23:36,623
the system lacks the courage
445
00:23:36,624 --> 00:23:40,134
to hold these people
accountable.
446
00:23:40,127 --> 00:23:41,547
To me,
447
00:23:41,545 --> 00:23:45,545
that seemed
like the first place to start
448
00:23:45,549 --> 00:23:50,259
in trying to understand
how this happens.
449
00:24:09,239 --> 00:24:11,779
[dramatic music]
450
00:24:11,784 --> 00:24:13,084
[computer chimes]
451
00:24:13,077 --> 00:24:15,037
- "It was an English teacher
at mine.
452
00:24:15,037 --> 00:24:16,577
"He was the 'cool teacher'
453
00:24:16,580 --> 00:24:18,580
"that kids hung out with
at lunch.
454
00:24:18,582 --> 00:24:20,792
"Turns out he was dating
a student.
455
00:24:20,793 --> 00:24:22,843
He 'quit.'"
456
00:24:22,836 --> 00:24:24,416
[computer chimes]
457
00:24:24,421 --> 00:24:25,841
- "He was caught
in his classroom
458
00:24:25,839 --> 00:24:27,629
"during school hours
raping a girl.
459
00:24:27,633 --> 00:24:29,433
"She was 15.
460
00:24:29,426 --> 00:24:31,386
"He left
at the end of the year
461
00:24:31,387 --> 00:24:33,057
with no consequences."
462
00:24:33,055 --> 00:24:34,845
[computer chimes]
463
00:24:34,848 --> 00:24:36,518
- "It took getting kids drunk
464
00:24:36,517 --> 00:24:39,897
"and then kissing
a 16-year-old to get fired.
465
00:24:39,895 --> 00:24:44,315
Just quietly fired,
no police, nothing."
466
00:24:44,316 --> 00:24:48,106
[upbeat music]
467
00:24:48,112 --> 00:24:49,952
- When Cheryl
and I started this,
468
00:24:49,947 --> 00:24:53,277
we didn't know
how deep this went.
469
00:24:53,283 --> 00:24:57,333
If somebody
had reported her teacher
470
00:24:57,329 --> 00:24:59,829
in her high school,
471
00:24:59,832 --> 00:25:02,082
he wouldn't have gone on
472
00:25:02,084 --> 00:25:05,674
to then groom another girl
in a different state.
473
00:25:05,671 --> 00:25:08,171
Couple Google searches later,
474
00:25:08,173 --> 00:25:11,013
Cheryl and I found
crazy amounts of information
475
00:25:11,010 --> 00:25:14,220
on "passing the trash."
476
00:25:14,221 --> 00:25:17,561
"Passing the trash"
is a practice
477
00:25:17,558 --> 00:25:21,898
done by school administrations
where predatory teachers
478
00:25:21,895 --> 00:25:25,895
are able to wiggle
out of the justice system.
479
00:25:25,899 --> 00:25:30,199
The school administrations
simply allow them to resign.
480
00:25:30,195 --> 00:25:31,945
They get a free pass,
and they do it again
481
00:25:31,947 --> 00:25:34,827
when they go
to the next school.
482
00:25:34,825 --> 00:25:37,365
It's similar to what happens
in the Catholic Church,
483
00:25:37,369 --> 00:25:40,499
where priests are passed
from diocese to diocese.
484
00:25:40,497 --> 00:25:42,457
And the statistic
485
00:25:42,458 --> 00:25:45,248
is that a teacher
will be passed three times
486
00:25:45,252 --> 00:25:48,262
before they're reported
and arrested.
487
00:25:50,049 --> 00:25:52,839
When we were looking
into the Heaven Rubin case,
488
00:25:52,843 --> 00:25:54,303
we started watching
489
00:25:54,303 --> 00:25:56,933
all of these news clips
of Jason Meyers,
490
00:25:56,930 --> 00:25:58,970
and a lot of the coverage
of his arrest
491
00:25:58,974 --> 00:26:01,144
focused on
the community reaction.
492
00:26:01,143 --> 00:26:04,023
- The community concerned
and trying to get the word out
493
00:26:04,021 --> 00:26:06,111
about the alarming allegations
tonight.
494
00:26:06,106 --> 00:26:08,566
- Everyone here
at Palmetto High is shocked.
495
00:26:08,567 --> 00:26:10,487
We are told by student
after student
496
00:26:10,486 --> 00:26:12,526
that Jason Meyers
was not only popular,
497
00:26:12,529 --> 00:26:14,409
but he was
a really good teacher, at that.
498
00:26:14,406 --> 00:26:16,526
His arrest
stunned parents, too.
499
00:26:18,035 --> 00:26:20,325
- Hi, Terri.
500
00:26:20,329 --> 00:26:22,459
- Hi Cheryl.
501
00:26:22,456 --> 00:26:24,706
- Terri, do you know
502
00:26:24,708 --> 00:26:27,418
about the case
with Heaven Rubin?
503
00:26:27,419 --> 00:26:29,509
- Yes.
504
00:26:29,505 --> 00:26:32,965
You know,
I read so many of these,
505
00:26:32,966 --> 00:26:36,046
and they're all basically
the same,
506
00:26:36,053 --> 00:26:40,183
where a teacher has been
allowed to perpetrate
507
00:26:40,182 --> 00:26:43,192
against students
for a number of years.
508
00:26:43,185 --> 00:26:46,475
It goes unchecked.
It goes unreported.
509
00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:50,030
More victims
and more victims...
510
00:26:50,025 --> 00:26:52,395
and this is the problem.
511
00:26:52,402 --> 00:26:55,612
"Passing the trash"
is something I've known about
512
00:26:55,614 --> 00:26:59,624
and tried to prevent
since 1995.
513
00:26:59,618 --> 00:27:02,698
It is essentially
the aiding and abetting
514
00:27:02,704 --> 00:27:05,334
of a child sexual predator.
515
00:27:05,332 --> 00:27:08,542
[dramatic music]
516
00:27:08,544 --> 00:27:11,514
- Jason Meyers
was at Krop High School,
517
00:27:11,505 --> 00:27:13,665
oh, about nine years.
518
00:27:13,674 --> 00:27:15,474
He was highly acclaimed.
519
00:27:15,467 --> 00:27:17,007
He was in charge
520
00:27:17,010 --> 00:27:20,390
of the Literature Club.
521
00:27:20,389 --> 00:27:23,059
And they went on, you know,
a number of field trips
522
00:27:23,058 --> 00:27:26,518
to various places
like New York and Washington,
523
00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:31,610
apparently where he was able
to be a chaperone.
524
00:27:31,608 --> 00:27:33,858
- You know, it's very common
525
00:27:33,861 --> 00:27:37,821
for perpetrators
to be vanguards of the school,
526
00:27:37,823 --> 00:27:41,663
to be award-winning teachers
or coaches.
527
00:27:41,660 --> 00:27:44,830
But the only ones
who know the monster
528
00:27:44,830 --> 00:27:48,040
are the victims themselves.
529
00:27:48,041 --> 00:27:49,711
- At the time
that I met Heaven,
530
00:27:49,710 --> 00:27:51,380
I was actually representing
531
00:27:51,378 --> 00:27:53,758
a former classmate of hers
532
00:27:53,755 --> 00:27:55,915
who was also groomed
and sexually abused
533
00:27:55,924 --> 00:27:58,054
by Jason Meyers.
534
00:27:58,051 --> 00:28:01,221
Prior to his conduct
with Heaven,
535
00:28:01,221 --> 00:28:04,641
Jason Meyers was hired
to teach at Krop High School,
536
00:28:04,641 --> 00:28:07,391
and based upon
the investigation that was done
537
00:28:07,394 --> 00:28:09,354
and that I built upon,
538
00:28:09,354 --> 00:28:12,404
he started preying
upon girls early.
539
00:28:12,399 --> 00:28:14,689
♪ ♪
540
00:28:14,693 --> 00:28:18,073
- There was an email
that was sent to the principal
541
00:28:18,071 --> 00:28:20,161
that something was going on.
542
00:28:20,157 --> 00:28:24,577
♪ ♪
543
00:28:24,578 --> 00:28:27,038
- And this man who wrote
the email
544
00:28:27,039 --> 00:28:28,289
said he had heard a rumor
545
00:28:28,290 --> 00:28:30,080
that there were teachers
in the school
546
00:28:30,083 --> 00:28:32,463
competing to see
who could have sex
547
00:28:32,461 --> 00:28:35,631
with the most girls
before they graduated.
548
00:28:35,631 --> 00:28:37,881
The school board
was put on notice
549
00:28:37,883 --> 00:28:40,343
in September, 2008.
550
00:28:40,344 --> 00:28:44,434
And then in 2010,
a friend of another victim
551
00:28:44,431 --> 00:28:46,891
went
to the assistant principal
552
00:28:46,892 --> 00:28:51,192
and said, "Sir, my teacher,
Mr. Meyers,
553
00:28:51,188 --> 00:28:54,608
he had sex with my classmate
on the school trip."
554
00:28:54,608 --> 00:28:58,948
The only person they interview
is Jason Meyers.
555
00:28:58,946 --> 00:29:03,616
- In every state, there are
mandated reporting laws
556
00:29:03,617 --> 00:29:06,367
pertaining to child abuse
and neglect.
557
00:29:06,370 --> 00:29:08,290
- So, if there's
a suspected case,
558
00:29:08,288 --> 00:29:10,498
that would need to be reported
559
00:29:10,499 --> 00:29:13,459
under the sort of mandatory
reporting laws?
560
00:29:13,460 --> 00:29:15,840
- Correct, but they're not
doing that.
561
00:29:15,837 --> 00:29:18,917
95% of cases
562
00:29:18,924 --> 00:29:21,184
of educator sexual misconduct
563
00:29:21,176 --> 00:29:23,546
are not getting reported
to law enforcement
564
00:29:23,553 --> 00:29:25,513
as they should.
565
00:29:25,514 --> 00:29:28,484
That means that administrators
566
00:29:28,475 --> 00:29:32,645
and the perpetrators
are negotiating a way out.
567
00:29:32,646 --> 00:29:35,356
♪ ♪
568
00:29:35,357 --> 00:29:36,937
- The question remains,
569
00:29:36,942 --> 00:29:41,572
why was he allowed
to transfer to Palmetto
570
00:29:41,571 --> 00:29:44,451
and then continue
having sexual relations
571
00:29:44,449 --> 00:29:47,079
with girls at Palmetto?
572
00:29:47,077 --> 00:29:49,407
Meyers
was allowed to transfer.
573
00:29:49,413 --> 00:29:52,003
Superintendent
Alberto Carvallo
574
00:29:51,999 --> 00:29:55,879
himself did not supposedly make
the declaration
575
00:29:55,877 --> 00:29:57,747
that he was able to transfer,
576
00:29:57,754 --> 00:30:00,304
but that department
that handles,
577
00:30:00,298 --> 00:30:02,298
you know, school district
personnel transfers
578
00:30:02,300 --> 00:30:05,470
had recommended
that his transfer be approved
579
00:30:05,470 --> 00:30:07,930
Alberto Carvallo
plays the part well,
580
00:30:07,931 --> 00:30:09,811
but it's all about money.
581
00:30:09,808 --> 00:30:11,348
You know, we have
a school system
582
00:30:11,351 --> 00:30:14,151
where bad things don't happen.
583
00:30:14,146 --> 00:30:15,896
That way they can get,
584
00:30:15,897 --> 00:30:19,527
you know, more money
from the state or the feds.
585
00:30:19,526 --> 00:30:22,026
- For those have worked
within the school district,
586
00:30:22,029 --> 00:30:24,279
we call it a mafia,
587
00:30:24,281 --> 00:30:27,031
Miami-Dade County
Public Schools--
588
00:30:27,034 --> 00:30:29,494
they don't like a snitch.
589
00:30:29,494 --> 00:30:31,084
"Stay silent.
590
00:30:31,079 --> 00:30:33,669
You want to keep your job,
look the other way."
591
00:30:33,665 --> 00:30:35,745
- It's a failure on the part
of the district,
592
00:30:35,751 --> 00:30:37,921
from the superintendent
to the school board
593
00:30:37,919 --> 00:30:41,169
to the principals involved.
594
00:30:41,173 --> 00:30:43,133
- Jason Meyers was now
595
00:30:43,133 --> 00:30:45,093
a creative-writing
and English teacher
596
00:30:45,093 --> 00:30:47,183
at Palmetto High School,
597
00:30:47,179 --> 00:30:49,889
which is where Heaven
went to school.
598
00:30:49,890 --> 00:30:53,230
How can you take the position
599
00:30:53,226 --> 00:30:57,226
that you have no idea
that there's a potential risk,
600
00:30:57,230 --> 00:30:59,150
when you, yourself,
the faculty,
601
00:30:59,149 --> 00:31:00,859
the administration,
are referring
602
00:31:00,859 --> 00:31:03,899
to a group of underage girls
as "Jason's girls"?
603
00:31:03,904 --> 00:31:06,364
♪ ♪
604
00:31:06,364 --> 00:31:09,704
The system is broken,
and it needs to change.
605
00:31:09,701 --> 00:31:12,501
And that was something
that Heaven and I agreed on
606
00:31:12,496 --> 00:31:14,116
from day one,
607
00:31:14,122 --> 00:31:17,212
is that, if we're going to make
a difference,
608
00:31:17,209 --> 00:31:19,499
however small, however big,
609
00:31:19,503 --> 00:31:21,253
we need to hold people
accountable,
610
00:31:21,254 --> 00:31:23,384
and that's what
we set out to do.
611
00:31:51,993 --> 00:31:54,253
- I might look like
a crazy person on my face,
612
00:31:54,246 --> 00:31:55,406
'cause I'm just looking at you
613
00:31:55,413 --> 00:31:57,923
and thinking
about how brave you are
614
00:31:57,916 --> 00:32:02,836
and also how articulate you are
about what happened to you.
615
00:32:02,838 --> 00:32:07,338
Like, there was no way
I was able to be articulate
616
00:32:07,342 --> 00:32:11,142
about what had happened to me
when I was 23 years old.
617
00:32:11,138 --> 00:32:13,428
- It's hard to come
to terms with,
618
00:32:13,431 --> 00:32:15,931
even when it's all laid out in
front of you and you're like,
619
00:32:15,934 --> 00:32:17,694
"Ohl, shit,
that's what that was."
620
00:32:17,686 --> 00:32:20,476
You're like--
You don't want it to be true.
621
00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:21,900
- Mm-hmm.
622
00:32:21,898 --> 00:32:25,108
- The first three years
of the criminal case,
623
00:32:25,110 --> 00:32:28,200
we found, like,
10 to 13 other girls.
624
00:32:28,196 --> 00:32:31,116
And every time I learned
of somebody new,
625
00:32:31,116 --> 00:32:33,906
I was immediately upset,
because I was like,
626
00:32:33,910 --> 00:32:36,960
"Well, if you would've said
something years ago,
627
00:32:36,955 --> 00:32:38,995
maybe I wouldn't have been
in this position."
628
00:32:38,999 --> 00:32:40,539
But then going
through the experience
629
00:32:40,542 --> 00:32:42,422
that I have gone through,
630
00:32:42,419 --> 00:32:45,339
like, you don't really win
either way.
631
00:32:45,338 --> 00:32:48,378
There's not a right thing to do
632
00:32:48,383 --> 00:32:50,843
because of how the system
is set up.
633
00:32:50,844 --> 00:32:53,054
- It seems like
there's more systems in place
634
00:32:53,054 --> 00:32:56,224
to protect the person
635
00:32:56,224 --> 00:32:59,644
who inflicts the pain...
636
00:32:59,644 --> 00:33:01,654
than the person
they've inflicted it on.
637
00:33:01,646 --> 00:33:04,226
- Yeah, by keeping
this a secret
638
00:33:04,232 --> 00:33:06,032
by not speaking out about it,
639
00:33:06,026 --> 00:33:08,486
like, I felt like I was letting
them get their way.
640
00:33:08,486 --> 00:33:10,486
Like, they can say whatever
they want on the news.
641
00:33:10,488 --> 00:33:13,068
They can talk about it
however they want.
642
00:33:13,074 --> 00:33:15,294
They talked about me
graduating early.
643
00:33:15,285 --> 00:33:17,695
They're like, "She can't
possibly be depressed.
644
00:33:17,704 --> 00:33:19,834
She graduated school early."
645
00:33:19,831 --> 00:33:24,171
Well, "She can hold a job,
so she must not have anxiety."
646
00:33:24,169 --> 00:33:25,839
I felt like I had
to be perfect,
647
00:33:25,837 --> 00:33:30,007
but even being perfect
was still...
648
00:33:30,008 --> 00:33:31,758
going to be leveraged
649
00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:34,430
in a way
that it would hurt me.
650
00:33:34,429 --> 00:33:36,639
This isn't something
that's talked about.
651
00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:38,680
And if it is,
you get a lot more
652
00:33:38,683 --> 00:33:42,103
of the romanticized version
of it than you do
653
00:33:42,103 --> 00:33:45,983
of the outcome
of what it feels like,
654
00:33:45,982 --> 00:33:48,322
of what the experience
of being abused is.
655
00:33:48,318 --> 00:33:49,898
Yeah.
656
00:33:49,903 --> 00:33:52,033
- I feel like there's
this thing with teenage girls,
657
00:33:52,030 --> 00:33:55,280
where teenage girls
are sort of seen as dangerous.
658
00:33:55,283 --> 00:33:57,493
And I think sometimes
it's difficult for us
659
00:33:57,494 --> 00:34:00,504
to look at teenage girls
as children...
660
00:34:00,497 --> 00:34:03,537
- Yeah.
- Because they're sexualized.
661
00:34:03,541 --> 00:34:06,251
That, for me, plays
into the romanticizing
662
00:34:06,253 --> 00:34:07,923
the student teacher
relationships,
663
00:34:07,921 --> 00:34:11,881
'cause it's like,
well, you know...
664
00:34:11,883 --> 00:34:14,723
what is taboo and sexy?
665
00:34:14,719 --> 00:34:18,599
I really want to look into that
much bigger cultural problem.
666
00:34:18,598 --> 00:34:20,478
- I love that.
667
00:34:20,475 --> 00:34:22,885
- There's so many layers
to the onion.
668
00:34:22,894 --> 00:34:25,864
[dramatic music]
669
00:34:25,855 --> 00:34:32,735
♪ ♪
670
00:34:50,839 --> 00:34:53,799
- And...
- Oh, hi. I'm Cheryl.
671
00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:57,600
[laughter]
- Cheryl is sneaking in.
672
00:34:57,596 --> 00:35:00,466
This is something that I know
in my classes we talk about.
673
00:35:00,473 --> 00:35:03,813
I think it's undeniable that
as a culture, we sexualize...
674
00:35:03,810 --> 00:35:05,650
- Absolutely.
- Teen girls.
675
00:35:05,645 --> 00:35:08,105
So what I'm wondering
676
00:35:08,106 --> 00:35:12,066
is how you see this playing out
in the world around you.
677
00:35:13,820 --> 00:35:16,740
- Being a young sexualized girl
678
00:35:16,740 --> 00:35:19,160
is a huge thing
in the media, for sure.
679
00:35:19,159 --> 00:35:21,539
I think with a lot of, like,
celebrities
680
00:35:21,536 --> 00:35:24,576
and every woman who is famous
681
00:35:24,581 --> 00:35:28,921
has to start
when they're, like, 16, 17.
682
00:35:28,918 --> 00:35:31,628
- You see young girls
being sexualized
683
00:35:31,630 --> 00:35:33,550
in the media so often,
684
00:35:33,548 --> 00:35:35,928
It made me feel like I was over
685
00:35:35,925 --> 00:35:38,425
the minute
I wasn't a teenager anymore.
686
00:35:39,929 --> 00:35:41,509
- There's always been the idea
687
00:35:41,514 --> 00:35:43,604
that a man is
the one that, like,
688
00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:46,690
expresses the sexuality
of a woman.
689
00:35:46,686 --> 00:35:48,726
And basically I think
the idea of the child
690
00:35:48,730 --> 00:35:51,860
is that you can have
control over her.
691
00:35:51,858 --> 00:35:53,688
This should not be
an okay thing
692
00:35:53,693 --> 00:35:56,953
to fantasize children
and women in this way.
693
00:35:56,946 --> 00:36:00,526
♪ ♪
694
00:36:00,533 --> 00:36:01,793
- I think the #MeToo movement
695
00:36:01,785 --> 00:36:05,325
gave us a language
that empowered us.
696
00:36:05,330 --> 00:36:07,500
This sort of new generation
of teenage girls
697
00:36:07,499 --> 00:36:09,379
and girls in their 20's
698
00:36:09,376 --> 00:36:12,496
seem to have a better sense of,
699
00:36:12,504 --> 00:36:14,634
not just who they are
700
00:36:14,631 --> 00:36:16,931
but a freedom
to be who they want to be,
701
00:36:16,925 --> 00:36:19,635
and I think that that
gives them power over people
702
00:36:19,636 --> 00:36:21,426
who want to control them.
703
00:36:21,429 --> 00:36:24,599
♪ ♪
704
00:36:27,394 --> 00:36:28,814
- Okay, so what is this?
705
00:36:28,812 --> 00:36:31,772
- That is me at my high-school
graduation party
706
00:36:31,773 --> 00:36:34,403
with my mother,
cutting my cake.
707
00:36:34,401 --> 00:36:36,951
So that's me...
708
00:36:36,945 --> 00:36:39,855
the day before I slept
with the teacher
709
00:36:39,864 --> 00:36:41,204
for the first time.
710
00:36:43,326 --> 00:36:46,576
- You're such a kid, Alisson.
- I know, I know.
711
00:36:46,579 --> 00:36:48,829
- It's crazy
how much of a kid you are.
712
00:36:48,832 --> 00:36:51,212
- I know. I was.
713
00:36:53,712 --> 00:36:54,922
- So the #MeToo movement
714
00:36:54,921 --> 00:36:57,051
has kind of, like,
started changing
715
00:36:57,048 --> 00:36:59,008
the way we think about things,
716
00:36:59,008 --> 00:37:01,428
but something
that's really important to me
717
00:37:01,428 --> 00:37:04,218
is just really getting
into the nuance
718
00:37:04,222 --> 00:37:06,352
of, like, consent.
719
00:37:06,349 --> 00:37:08,479
- Yeah, I think it's great
that these words
720
00:37:08,476 --> 00:37:10,096
are sort of starting
to be opened up
721
00:37:10,103 --> 00:37:11,733
because it's not just,
722
00:37:11,730 --> 00:37:13,610
"Oh, well you're 18.
723
00:37:13,606 --> 00:37:15,526
It's not illegal anymore."
724
00:37:15,525 --> 00:37:16,815
You know?
725
00:37:16,818 --> 00:37:18,528
I mean, it's not that simple,
726
00:37:18,528 --> 00:37:21,238
and I think when thinking
about authentic consent,
727
00:37:21,239 --> 00:37:22,949
that's where things
728
00:37:22,949 --> 00:37:25,119
like what happened
to you and I fall under.
729
00:37:25,118 --> 00:37:27,368
Like, did we say yes?
Yes.
730
00:37:27,370 --> 00:37:29,460
Were we of age?
Yes.
731
00:37:29,456 --> 00:37:32,456
But was it authentic?
No.
732
00:37:32,459 --> 00:37:34,539
And there had been
such extensive grooming
733
00:37:34,544 --> 00:37:36,804
that I didn't clock it
at the time,
734
00:37:36,796 --> 00:37:39,876
and also, you know,
because it was a secret.
735
00:37:39,883 --> 00:37:43,433
- Yeah, I mean,
and the consequences
736
00:37:43,428 --> 00:37:45,808
for us are immeasurable.
737
00:37:45,805 --> 00:37:48,265
There are things that we end up
738
00:37:48,266 --> 00:37:50,186
dealing with
for our entire lives
739
00:37:50,185 --> 00:37:53,305
and being in reaction to
for our entire lives,
740
00:37:53,313 --> 00:37:55,523
whether we've done
the work or not.
741
00:37:55,523 --> 00:37:57,363
- My 20s were a disaster.
- Mm-hmm.
742
00:37:57,358 --> 00:38:01,818
- My 20s were an utter
trauma-filled disaster,
743
00:38:01,821 --> 00:38:04,661
and I can now
very much trace back
744
00:38:04,657 --> 00:38:08,037
so much of it to that
relationship with my teacher,
745
00:38:08,036 --> 00:38:09,656
because it was
just so damaging
746
00:38:09,662 --> 00:38:12,872
in ways that I couldn't even
identify or understand, so...
747
00:38:12,874 --> 00:38:14,924
And that's what trauma does.
748
00:38:14,918 --> 00:38:16,338
That's what these kinds
of things do.
749
00:38:16,336 --> 00:38:18,126
And I lost my 20s.
750
00:38:18,129 --> 00:38:20,589
- Oh, I definitely did.
- I didn't graduate--
751
00:38:20,590 --> 00:38:22,260
I didn't get my bachelor's
until I was 33.
752
00:38:22,258 --> 00:38:24,298
- Wow.
753
00:38:24,302 --> 00:38:26,682
Well, I'll try to say this
and not cry, but...
754
00:38:26,679 --> 00:38:28,519
[both laugh]
755
00:38:28,515 --> 00:38:31,385
I had never...
756
00:38:31,392 --> 00:38:33,732
I never felt like there
was anybody in the whole world
757
00:38:33,728 --> 00:38:35,308
ever in my whole life
758
00:38:35,313 --> 00:38:37,363
that understood
what happened to me
759
00:38:37,357 --> 00:38:39,357
until I read your book.
760
00:38:39,359 --> 00:38:42,779
And then I, like,
totally felt seen, you know?
761
00:38:42,779 --> 00:38:44,449
- Yeah.
- And then I was like,
762
00:38:44,447 --> 00:38:47,077
"How often is this happening
in this exact same way
763
00:38:47,075 --> 00:38:48,575
"if it happened to me
and Alisson
764
00:38:48,576 --> 00:38:51,696
in totally different worlds?"
- Yeah.
765
00:38:51,704 --> 00:38:54,254
The first time I got one
of those messages from a reader
766
00:38:54,249 --> 00:38:57,039
saying exactly that,
I just sobbed
767
00:38:57,043 --> 00:38:59,633
because that's all
that I wanted.
768
00:38:59,629 --> 00:39:01,709
Hopefully...
769
00:39:01,714 --> 00:39:04,264
we're able to show others
770
00:39:04,259 --> 00:39:07,299
that it's not a grief
you're alone in.
771
00:39:07,303 --> 00:39:09,223
And I think
that's really important.
772
00:39:09,222 --> 00:39:11,562
- I think so, too.
773
00:39:11,558 --> 00:39:14,518
[dramatic music]
774
00:39:14,519 --> 00:39:21,649
♪ ♪
775
00:39:21,651 --> 00:39:24,151
So much of my experience
of the abuse
776
00:39:24,153 --> 00:39:26,573
in high school and in college
777
00:39:26,573 --> 00:39:28,453
involved a lot of isolation.
778
00:39:28,449 --> 00:39:30,699
♪ ♪
779
00:39:30,702 --> 00:39:33,452
And so sitting with Alisson
780
00:39:33,454 --> 00:39:36,124
just made me feel like
I wasn't alone anymore.
781
00:39:36,124 --> 00:39:40,634
♪ ♪
782
00:39:40,628 --> 00:39:43,088
When I started out
doing this documentary,
783
00:39:43,089 --> 00:39:46,759
I had hoped that he would
accept responsibility for this
784
00:39:46,759 --> 00:39:49,719
or at least acknowledge
what happened,
785
00:39:49,721 --> 00:39:50,851
but he didn't.
786
00:39:52,974 --> 00:39:56,774
That's the thing
about being a grown man
787
00:39:56,769 --> 00:39:58,809
and abusing a child,
788
00:39:58,813 --> 00:40:01,693
is the child grows,
and you stay the same.
789
00:40:01,691 --> 00:40:04,281
♪ ♪
790
00:40:04,277 --> 00:40:05,897
And that's his choice.
791
00:40:05,904 --> 00:40:07,864
He is the person
that's going to have to walk
792
00:40:07,864 --> 00:40:10,664
through the rest
of his life running
793
00:40:10,658 --> 00:40:13,948
from his actions.
794
00:40:13,953 --> 00:40:16,333
♪ ♪
795
00:40:16,331 --> 00:40:18,371
And so this for me
796
00:40:18,374 --> 00:40:21,754
is where I stop running...
797
00:40:21,753 --> 00:40:25,633
and I just stand my ground...
798
00:40:25,632 --> 00:40:30,352
and I accept the responsibility
of my own life.
799
00:40:30,345 --> 00:40:37,265
♪ ♪
800
00:40:46,152 --> 00:40:48,402
Okay, let me--
801
00:40:48,404 --> 00:40:51,824
Okay, I'm gonna read you
what Tom
802
00:40:51,824 --> 00:40:55,834
sent me, actually, first.
803
00:40:55,828 --> 00:40:58,078
- Okay.
- Okay.
804
00:40:58,081 --> 00:41:00,171
He wrote, "How you doing
old friend?"
805
00:41:00,166 --> 00:41:02,706
And I wrote
"Hi. Doing pretty good."
806
00:41:02,710 --> 00:41:04,920
He goes, "Good to know
you're well.
807
00:41:04,921 --> 00:41:07,761
It has been an honor," and...
- Okay.
808
00:41:07,757 --> 00:41:09,587
- Didn't tell me
what was going on.
809
00:41:09,592 --> 00:41:13,182
Just said that he was being
put on administrative leave.
810
00:41:13,179 --> 00:41:15,429
Anyway, the rumor
going around right now
811
00:41:15,431 --> 00:41:17,021
is that Tom was fired
for having
812
00:41:17,016 --> 00:41:19,096
some sort of
an inappropriate interaction
813
00:41:19,102 --> 00:41:21,022
or interactions with students.
814
00:41:21,020 --> 00:41:24,820
Whether he's crossed a line
or not, we don't know,
815
00:41:24,816 --> 00:41:27,646
but, obviously, like,
if this is true,
816
00:41:27,652 --> 00:41:30,072
then I feel super betrayed.
817
00:41:30,071 --> 00:41:31,491
Do you know what I mean?
- Yeah.
818
00:41:31,489 --> 00:41:35,239
- Because not that, like,
I'm best friends with Tom,
819
00:41:35,243 --> 00:41:37,953
but I did give him the benefit
of the doubt here,
820
00:41:37,954 --> 00:41:40,964
despite, like, the things
that he said to me
821
00:41:40,957 --> 00:41:42,747
that were very triggering
and hurtful.
822
00:41:42,750 --> 00:41:45,460
Do you know what I'm saying?
823
00:41:45,461 --> 00:41:49,221
Like, I knew that Tom had,
like, contributed
824
00:41:49,215 --> 00:41:52,675
to aspects of the grooming
825
00:41:52,677 --> 00:41:54,427
that I felt.
826
00:41:54,429 --> 00:41:56,009
I just didn't believe--
827
00:41:56,014 --> 00:41:57,354
or maybe
I didn't want to believe--
828
00:41:57,348 --> 00:41:59,098
that he'd ever really crossed
a line,
829
00:41:59,100 --> 00:42:01,190
because he said he didn't.
830
00:42:01,185 --> 00:42:02,435
- Right.
831
00:42:02,437 --> 00:42:09,357
♪ ♪
57042
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