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With all the attention given the Kobe Bryant incident and the naming of the alleged victim on the Internet, there has been a media blitz as to whether a rape victim's name should be published in the papers.
In many instances, the newspapers have declared that they would not name rape victims out of courtesy to the victim. In case the Florida news media might be planning to do so in the future, I want to remind them that there is a Victim Protection Act that prohibits them from doing so. The Victim Protection Act was passed into law in 1995 due to the efforts of then-state representative and now state Sen. Mike Fasano. Mike worked diligently to protect the rights of rape victims and made sure that the Victim Protection Act (Florida Statute 794.03) was put into effect in 1995.
This statute states: "It is unlawful to publish or broadcast information identifying sexual offense victims - no person shall print, publish or broadcast, or cause to allow to be printed, published or broadcast, in any instrument of mass communication the name, address or other identifying fact or information of the victim of any sexual offense within this chapter. Such identifying information is confidential and exempt from the provisions of S. 119.07. Any offense under this section shall constitute a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable with a 60-day maximum imprisonment and a $500 maximum fine."
Victims of sexual assault fear public identification and possible retaliation from the rapist and his friends. Statistics have proven that rape victims are not reporting this crime due to the stigma of a rape. They fear that if their identity is made public, their right of privacy will be invaded. Sexual assault victims may be harassed, intimidated and psychologically harmed by the disclosure of their identity. Until we, as a society, come to the realization that the rapist is the criminal, publicly releasing a rape victim's name is further victimization. With the recent scandals involving pedophile priests, males are not exempt from the crime of rape.
I hope you think twice the next time you consider buying a supermarket tabloid, newspaper or going on an Internet Web site that exploits a rape victim. The next rape victim's name might be yours or that of a family member.
Re: Universities at a loss, June 29.
A recent Times editorial painted an alarming picture of the ongoing funding crisis at Florida's public colleges and universities and the dire consequences we may face as a result. According to the Times, these consequences may include "university presidents being drawn to the only responsible course of action left to them: freeze future enrollment."
Ironically, the funding crisis is more acute for higher education because during the next 10 years, the number of 18-22 year-olds will increase dramatically, further taxing an already overburdened system. The environment has changed in other significant ways, as well. Nearly 40 percent of all current college students are ages 25 and older - 80 percent of whom work full-time. However, most colleges and universities are structured primarily to serve younger students.
These changes in the higher education landscape argue for fresh ideas about how higher education might be structured and funded. Given these facts, it is curious that the Times attempted to portray University of Phoenix, an institution recognized nationally for innovation and quality, in a negative light.
The Times erred when it indicated that under a new Florida law, University of Phoenix students will receive state-funded financial aid through the Access to Better Learning and Education program irrespective of their financial need. To the contrary, thousands of working adult Floridians attending University of Phoenix are not eligible to receive ABLE grants.
Private institutions like University of Phoenix fill a crucial void in the state's higher education environment. Were it not for these institutions, the financial responsibility of educating many more thousands of our citizens would fall squarely on already overburdened taxpayers.
Our for-profit status makes us accountable not only to the larger society, but also directly to our students and their employers. Simply stated, if we fail to offer quality education, we will cease to exist. This direct accountability keeps us growing and innovative, contributing skilled workers to Florida's economy, providing jobs and paying taxes that ultimately help to support public colleges and universities.
University of Phoenix is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and by specialized accrediting bodies in nursing and counseling. It has also met the licensing requirements in 28 states.
University of Phoenix and other private, for-profit accredited institutions, like ours, meet a vital need and complement the current higher educational system. We encourage the Times, and others, to celebrate and encourage innovative approaches that increase quality higher education options available to all of Florida's citizens.
Re: Unwelcome neighbors: Intrusion of poles dismays residents, Aug. 12.
The Tampa Electric officials who approved the placing of the 125-foot utility poles on Kirby Street should be forced to live there. I'm sure where they live they wouldn't dream of allowing such a thing to happen. Can it be that they feel that people in middle-income areas have no rights?
If they wanted to destroy a neighborhood why didn't they just go in with bulldozers. Those officials should be made to remove those eyesores and pay for it out of their salaries - which they obviously don't deserve.
Re: Tampa Electric poles.
I attended a committee for the Hillsborough Planning Organization named "Livable Roadways." In an effort to beautify the roadways, we offered ideas to consolidate overhead utilities, but our suggestions always went unheeded. Tampa Electric would attend the meetings and tell us they had to provide power in the cheapest way possible. That's like saying, "I know this huge pole in your front yard will make it impossible for you to sell your home and we've ruined your neighborhood by installing a bunch of 125-foot-tall poles, but at least your electric bill will be a few pennies lower each month."
I realized that in Tampa, utilities come first and citizens come second. I dropped out of the committee and moved to St. Petersburg. Citizens of Tampa, you'll always be second class in the eyes of progress.
Re: St. Petersburg's voter advocates, Aug. 10.
The Times editorial focus on more downtown parkland would be laudable if not for its obsession with tearing up one irreplaceable waterfront asset and green space (Albert Whitted Airport) to replace it with another. Why not take some of its editorial energy and promote parks in other parts of downtown that could benefit from some more green space. My wife, who is from Eastern Europe, marvels at the open downtown vistas and the activity and visual variety offered by the waterfront - boats, docks, the Pier and, yes, even airplanes and runways. However, she does not understand, nor do I, why a city as beautiful as St. Petersburg does not have more public squares and small green spaces in its downtown area. Arguably, St. Petersburg perhaps could use more parkland, but let's put green spaces where they are really needed and somewhat closer to those who could put them to good use.
Re: St. Petersburg's voter advocates.
It is hard to understand why the Times supports tearing down Albert Whitted Airport, which by the city's own study has a total economic impact of $21-million annually and is responsible for 300 jobs. You never mention the costs involved in tearing down the airport, cleaning up the contaminated land, building a park and maintaining a park which would produce no revenue for the city.
Why can't the Times support the Preservation Society's plan, which combines the best of both sides? The group's plan calls for a park on the north side along the south yacht basin, restaurant, shops, aviation museum on the northwest and west sides with a link to the city's proposed conference center on the Bayfront Center property. The plan also moves the east/west runway further east to allow higher clearance over USF. This plan would free up space on the southwest corner for possible use by the cruise port.
This is a great compromise plan that provides something for everyone and keeps our historic airport intact. But first the voters must vote to keep the airport and not be fooled by your rhetoric.
I have lived in St. Petersburg for 10 years, having selected it over everywhere else in Florida for many reasons other than Albert Whitted Airport.
It has a hobbled location for its small size and with ill and dangerous placement. Merely 15 minutes away is a large, expandable, suitable, adaptable general aviation airport which could serve all our needs.
We could maximize our land usage for the greatest benefit of all if Albert Whitted was closed. The city resources for it could be easily redirected to St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport. Let's be smart.
It appears that the Pinellas County Department of Justice and Consumer Services has done a disservice to some of the county's residents. Mark Kiser, who billed himself as a licensed contractor, allegedly defrauded several Pinellas County property owners out of $1.1-million by failing to complete construction jobs for which he received advanced payment. Many of these homeowners were forced to find other resources to complete the work Kiser was supposedly paid to perform.
The Times reported (Terrific contractor? Better check it out, Aug. 9) that the Department of Justice and Consumer Services received 24 complaints against Kiser from May to August of 2002. Did the department initiate an investigation after a few complaints or did it begin the process after the alleged defrauder had pocketed the $1.1-million. What exactly did the department do? Could it have done more?
Perhaps, early on, the investigators could have uncovered the lack of credentials held by Kiser by contacting the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board. Surely, a more heightened investigation could have been initiated. Questioning Kiser would have led them to the fact that he was not a certified agent of licensed contractor Duane D. Hill, as he purported. Perhaps his operations could have been shut down at this time.
Maybe John Wood, chief investigator for the Department of Justice and Consumer Services, can enlighten consumers as to how this fraud could have reached such a magnitude and how his department can institute preventive measures in the near future.
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