Our view: Troubling questions persist in wake of UMD probe

Bill J.
Duluth, MN     11/06/2009 10:35 AM

In the first place,UMD has never fired anyone for sexual harassment.They have moved them toa different dept,but never fired them. Second place,why has poltical correctness gotten so far out of hand.The offended ladies should have had the intestinal fortitude to confront Ron.Not go whining to Admin.because your feelings were hurt.That is life,your feelings get hurt,you move on.Don't stop to cry.Why must everyone else be responsible for my feelings?The ladies got their way,he was punished,move on.let the man have his life back.

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geo m.
11/06/2009 10:14 AM

Sounds like there're going to hound this guy til he resigns. The DNT keeps it at the head of the news.

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Tony R.
11/06/2009 10:11 AM

This is another DFL Duluth Double Standard! Job termination is the only answer. This situation makes Charlie on Two and a Half look like a Saint! This alumnus will not make anymore donations until this ridiculous situation is properly handled! No more $$$$.

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deb L.
11/06/2009 10:04 AM

I commend the DNT for keeping up the coverage on this topic. Raymond injured himself by making actions that were completely inappropriate conduct as a professor. His status as a physical instructor is being used as a scapegoat for what he did. If your math professor came over and started trying to kiss you and telling you how sexy looked, would you hesitate to call it harassment? There is a certain amount of "looking" required when assessing a proper work-out form, but his actions still remain uncalled for regardless. If a newspaper has a voice to reach others and solve a problem and doesn't, then who will? All of the other women who have remained silent? Call me a feminist, TR P. One of those strong types, you know? And go ahead and guess that I'm a female writing this because I sound so "bitchy" or "angry," and tell me to lighten up. But don't suggest that you could understand what it feels like to be made unsafe in, what it supposed to be, a safe learning environment with a comment like that. And, by the way, you'll notice full "above-the-fold" coverage on the Fort Hood shootings, casey g. That is if you pick up the newspaper...

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Michelle W.
11/06/2009 10:01 AM

WOW!!! Just read the report, quite disturbing. I have a hard time believing that ALL these women 'made up' these accusations. Glad my girls aren't anywhere near this man. PS a compliment is: "gee, you look nice today" NOT "you look hot/sexy"

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Kim P.
Duluth, MN     11/06/2009 9:57 AM

Wake up. What he was (still is?) doing is WRONG. For decades this type of behavior has been brushed under the rug - if it was ever brought forward. I hope a lawsuit does come of this. It is serious.

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Amy R.
11/06/2009 9:50 AM

"It's just Rod being Rod" is not an excuse for his behavior. It is the acceptance by too many people that he is a guys' guy that has allowed this pattern of harassment continue for far too long. Shame on UMD.

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Saywhat S.
Duluth, MN     11/06/2009 9:40 AM

Yeah...ignore sexual harassment and it will go away. Nobody gets hurt, the victim just forgets about it. We all know that's a crock. Or at least SOME of us do. If you read the comments by TR P you wonder how many OTHER males haven't evolved. Thank goodness most have, and it occurs to me that if he isn't a friend of Mr. Raymond he must have some type of admiration for the sleazy types.

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Bob W.
Waterville, ME     11/06/2009 9:34 AM

b k - The only person who dragged Raymond's name through the mud was Raymond. David F - Then don't read it.

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casey g.
11/06/2009 9:18 AM

I'm sick of hearing about this stuff. From the few times I've even encountered Rod he's been a nice guy. Being a male, I was a bit surprised when he even complimented me on a particular exercise I was doing, but that's his personality. I understand his comments being wrong. There's no question to me that the things he was saying were inappropriate. However, he is a bubbly guy that is friendly with these people. He acts like a peer rather than an instructor, and that is what's wrong. He has been disciplined and ran through the mud for a week now. Let this stuff rest. I notice the Online DNT has little about the shootings in Texas. Really shouldn't be a slow news day.

FROM THE MODERATOR: The attack at Fort Hood was the first, front-and-center item on the DNT homepage at the start of the day, and we have more than one story related to the incident on our Web site. We also covered it a significant amount Thursday.

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