(L-R) Actresses Kate Upton, Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann attend The Cinema Society & Bobbi Brown with InStyle screening of "The Other Woman" at The Paley Center for Media on April 24, 2014 in New York City. ; Credit: Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Larry and KPCC film critics Lael Loewenstein and Wade Major review this week’s releases, including The Other Woman, Brick Mansions, The Quiet Ones and more. TGI-Filmweek!

The Other Woman
 

Brick Mansions

The Quiet Ones

Guests:

Lael Loewenstein, film critic for KPCC and Variety

Wade Major, film critic for KPCC and producer and host for IGN’s DigiGods.com

Visit of the Pope John Paul II to Santiago de Compostela, 9th November 1982, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain. ; Credit: Gianni Ferrari/Getty Images

Pope Francis will grant sainthood to Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II this Sunday. The double canonization is a first for the Roman Catholic Church, and the historic event is expected to bring more than three million people to the Vatican. But the twin canonization has also caused controversy.

Pope John XXII reigned from 1958 until his death in 1963 and was known for his efforts to modernize the church. Pope John Paul II, who led the church for more than 25 years and passed away in 2005, is being declared a saint just nine years after his death and some critics think that's too soon. Furthermore, they question his handling of the sex abuse crisis that swept the church during the twilight of his reign.

Is it too hasty to canonize Pope John Paul II?

Guest:

Jason Berry, GlobalPost religion writer who has been writing about the double coronation for GlobalPost. He is the author of “Render unto Rome: The Secret Life of Money in the Catholic Church” (Broadway Books, 2012).

A girl watches a video on youtube on a computer on February 27, 2013 in Chisseaux near Tours, central France. ; Credit: ALAIN JOCARD/AFP/Getty Images

In March, the Walt Disney Co. Offered to buy the Culver City-based Maker Studios for $500 million in cash. Depending on the company's performance, it could get an additional $450 million more from the Mouse House.

So what is Maker, you might ask? The 5-year-old company is a multichanncel network (MCN), meaning a producer and distributor of online video on YouTube. It's responsible for 55,000 YouTube channels with more than 380 million subscribers and 5.5 billion monthly views--hands down the most popular MCN out there.

One problem though: Maker’s not exactly profitable. With the acquisition, Disney is following in the footsteps of a couple big purchases by other companies. In 2013, DreamWorks,  threw down $33 million for AwesomenessTV, a competitor to Maker. Last month, Warner Bros. pumped $18 million into the Machinima network, despite the fact that the niche network has been losing viewers.

Media conglomerates aren't the only ones wanting a piece of the pie. AT&T has rolled out plans to create a new MCN.

Is the Maker Studios deal worth close to $1 billion, one of Disney's biggest acquisitions in recent years? What does it give Disney over its competitors? Are we likely to see more of these blockbuster deals in the future?

Guest:

Peter Csathy, CEO of Manatt Digital Media Ventures, a division of Manatt Digital Media, a business consultant and venture capital firm focusing on tech, entertainment and media. His blog is called Digital Media Update.

'John Wayne: The Life and Legend' by Scott Eyman

John Wayne was one of Hollywood’s most famous and most successful actors, but he was more than that.

He became a symbol of America itself. He epitomized the Western film, which for many people epitomized America.

He identified with conservative political causes from the early 1930s to his death in 1979, making him a hero to one generation of Americans and a villain to another. But unlike fellow actor Ronald Reagan, Wayne had no interest in politics as a career.

Like many stars, he altered his life story, claiming to have become an actor almost by accident when in fact he had studied drama and aspired to act for most of his youth.

He married three times, all to Latina women, and conducted a lengthy affair with Marlene Dietrich, as unlikely a romantic partner as one could imagine for the Duke.

Wayne projected dignity, integrity, and strength in all his films, even when his characters were flawed, and whatever character he played was always prepared to confront injustice in his own way.

More than 30 years after his death, he remains the standard by which male stars are judged and an actor whose morally unambiguous films continue to attract sizeable audiences.

Guest:

Scott Eyman, author of  “John Wayne: The Life and Legend” (Simon & Schuster, 2014) and “Print the Legend: The Life and Times of John Ford (Simon & Schuster, 2012)

California rancher Nathan Carver's herd of beef cattle feed on hay at his ranch, which has been family owned for five generations, on the outskirts of Delano, in California's Central Valley, on February 3, 2014.; Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

California Assemblyman Kevin Mullin’s Assembly Bill 1437 is going where the FDA hasn’t -- the bill would prohibit the sale of livestock and poultry product that has been administered non-therapeutic antibiotics.

Critics of antibiotic use have spoken out against the FDA’s lax policies on antibiotics in agriculture, saying that it’s inappropriate the 70 percent of antibiotics are fed to livestock and poultry, frequently to healthy animals. 

Stanford University infectious disease specialist Dr. David Relman says that overuse of antibiotics is contributing to the spread of “superbugs,” making people less able to defend themselves against new strains of resistant diseases.

But those opposed to the bill say that rising costs and lack of public demand for antibiotic-free food present barriers to eliminating antibiotics in animal feed. They point to doctors over-prescribing antibiotics as the key problem when it comes to human disease.

Should antibiotic fed livestock and poultry product be banned in California? Will this be effective at a state level, or does the FDA need to intervene? How will consumers be affected?

Guests:

Avinash Kar, health attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council

Tom Talbot, DVM, veterinarian and past president of the California Cattlemen’s Association

Motorists make their way out of downtown Los Angeles headed east on the Interstate 10 freeway on August 30, 2013.; Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

Madrid-based insurance provider Mapfre has been making inroads on California's auto insurance market.

This month, its chief executives met with California Insurance Commissioner, Dave Jones, as reported by the Los Angeles Business Journal. The company wants to offer car insurance to Spanish-speaking drivers generally and wants to market to undocumented immigrants who are legally licensed to drive.

The major questions are how large is the market demand and what are the economics of insuring drivers living illegally in California.

Guests:

James Rufus Koren, Staff Reporter, Los Angeles Business Journal

Pete Moraga, Spokesman, Insurance Information Network of California

Susan Kushlin poses with a concealed-carry handbag that her company, Gun Girls, Inc., created for women that enjoy guns on October 21, 2013 in Boca Raton, Florida.; Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Georgia attracted national attention last week when it signed a law expanding areas that a concealed weapon may be carried.

Permit-holders can now bring firearms into churches, bars, and government buildings without security checkpoints. Schools can also appoint staff members to carry guns.

The law is one of the most permissive in the nation, and has attracted criticism from people who think the sweeping regulations will spark violence.

Georgia state Rep. Rick Jasperse (R.-Jasper), who introduced the bill, argues that limiting the ability to carry a weapon puts people in danger by “empowering the bad guys.”

Georgia lawmakers are not alone in their efforts to loosen gun restrictions. At it’s annual meeting last week, the National Rifle Association began to consider plans for expanding on the rights of gun owners.

With concealed weapons legalized in all 50 states, the NRA wants to ensure that permits for one state apply when the carrier travels across the U.S. Advocates want Congress to require that state permits be recognized in other states, even when the local requirements for obtaining a permit may be stricter.

Critics of the measure worry that more lenient regulations might eclipse more stringent requirements when permit holders travel from state to state. While some states recognize others’ permits, at least 10 won’t accept another state’s permits, or make a decision based on which particular state the concealed carry permit was issued in.

Where should people be allowed to bring their guns? What will the impact of looser regulations be at the state and national level? How would a program that allows nationwide concealed weapons work? What are the potential risks and benefits? What’s next for gun law in the U.S.?

Guests:

John Lott, author of “More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws” (University of Chicago Press, Third Edition, 2010. He is the founder and president of the Crime Prevention Research Center, a research and education organization dedicated to studying the relationship between laws regulating the ownership or use of guns, crime, and public safety

Adam Winkler, law professor at UCLA and author of "Gun Fight: The Battle Over the Right to Bear Arms in America" (W. W. Norton & Company, 2011)

Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling attends the NBA playoff game between the Clippers and the Golden State Warriors, April 21, 2014 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said April 26 that the NBA is investigating Sterling for alleged racist comments; Credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

The NBA is launching an investigation into L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling after an audio recording of derogatory comments made towards blacks circulated on Saturday.

The tape features a man, allegedly Sterling, arguing with his girlfriend about posting a picture of herself with Magic Johnson on Instagram and asking her not to bring black people to Clippers games.

Backlash from the comments has been fierce, with fans, players, and NBA officials criticizing Sterling. Clippers players enacted a silent protest of their own during game four of the playoffs, wearing their warm-up gear inside out to avoid revealing the Clippers logo.

Clippers sponsors have already begun to pull ads and dissociate from the club. Clippers coach Doc Rivers, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James have all spoken out against Sterling and the comments.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called the remarks “truly offensive and disturbing” -- the league will conduct rapid assessment of the tapes’ authenticity and will take action based on the results.

If the voice on the recording is verified, it could result in heavy fines and suspension for Sterling.

How should players and fans react? What’s the best course of action in dealing with Sterling? Can an owner be forced to sell their team -- should they be? How will the Clippers separate themselves from Sterling’s comments and finish out their season?

Guests:

Geoffrey Rapp, Co-Editor, The Sports Law Blog; Harold A. Anderson Professor of Law and Values, The University of Toledo

Cars sitting in the parking lot are reflected in the windows of used car retailer CarMax June 19, 2008 in Naperville, Illinois.; Credit: Yana Paskova/Getty Images

MARLEY JAY, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - Used car dealership chain CarMax said Monday that it is ending its sponsorship of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers in the wake of racist comments attributed to team owner Donald Sterling.

A second sponsor, insurer State Farm, said it "will be taking a pause in our relationship with the organization." For now, it will continue to run its Born to Assist ad campaign, which stars Clippers point guard Chris Paul. Sterling is alleged to have made the comments in a recorded conversation with a woman.

Portions of that conversation were released over the weekend by TMZ and Deadspin, leading to a national outcry.

"CarMax finds the statements attributed to the Clippers' owner completely unacceptable," Richmond, Va.-based CarMax Inc. said Monday in an emailed statement.

"While we have been a proud Clippers sponsor for 9 years and support the team, fans and community, these statements necessitate that CarMax end its sponsorship."

State Farm also described the remarks as offensive and said it will monitor the situation as the facts are sorted out.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

How will sponsors proceed in their relationships with the Clippers franchise? Is an association or sponsorship a reflection of support of the team, or of the owner? Can the two be separated?

Guests:

Andrew Zimbalist, Author, “The Sabremetric Revolution: Assessing The Growth of Analytics in Baseball”; Robert A. Woods Professor of Economics at Smith College, a frequent sports industry consultant and media commentator

Manish Tripathi, business professor at the Emory Sports Marketing Analytics at Emory University

Los Angeles Clippers fans react to a score against the Memphis Grizzlies in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2012 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. ; Credit: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Following the dissemination of Donald Sterling’s alleged racist comments, companies are withdrawing sponsorship deals with the Clippers, and players protested by turning their shirts inside-out during warm-ups, obscuring the Clippers logos. But how will fans react and make a statement?

As an owner, Donald Sterling benefits from all NBA revenue, not just Clippers' ticket sales. Is there any logical way for fans who wish to send a message to Sterling to boycott the owner? Can they do so without turning their back on Clippers players? 

The Clippers will play the Golden State Warriors in Los Angeles tomorrow night in game 5 of the tied playoff series. In a press conference today, Clippers coach Doc Rivers said that however fans react, he hopes it will be "as one." 

If you are a Clippers fan, would you still attend a game in light of these alleged comments? Los Angeles basketball fans, do you think some action by fans is necessary--and what might it look like?

Guests:
Michael Peterson, sports desk editor at The Stanford Daily. He’s sophomore at Stanford studying computer science and a self-declared Clippers fan. His piece, called “A moral dilemma for Clippers fans” came out this morning in the school paper. 

Howard Wasserman, Writes for The Sports Law Blog; Law Professor, Florida International University; specializing in freedom of speech

Adam Silver the NBA Commissioner talks to the media before the start of the Oklahoma City Thunder game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum on April 26, 2014 in Memphis.; Credit: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Since tapes of comments allegedly made by Donald Sterling were released on Saturday, a frenzy of criticism has been focused on the owner of the Clippers.

Backlash from NBA owners, current and former players, and even President Obama have taken the issue beyond the court. The NBA is still investigating the legitimacy of the audio recordings, but today league Commissioner Adam Silver took severe action to punish Sterling for his offensive comments. 

During a press conference in Manhattan, Silver announced he was banning Sterling for life from any association with the Clippers or the NBA, and fined him $2.5 million, the maximum allowed under the NBA Constitution.

RELATED: NBA bans Clippers owner Donald Sterling, fines him $2.5M

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti also discussed the tapes publicly this morning, as did the National Basketball Player’s Association, advised by Sacramento Mayor and former NBA player Kevin Johnson.

What action could the NBA take against Sterling? How will the team and the league proceed? What can players and fans expect at tonight’s Clippers vs. Warriors game at Staples Center?

Guests:

Eric Macramalla, legal analyst at TSN Sports, a sports network in Canada, and host of the radio show “Offside,” covering the business and legal side of sports.

Geoffrey Rapp, Co-Editor, The Sports Law Blog; Harold A. Anderson Professor of Law and Values, The University of Toledo

Erika Aguilar, KPCC Reporter at Staples Center

Brian Watt, KPCC Reporter at City Hall

Roland Lazenby, NBA writer and writer of the book “Michael Jordan: The Life” (Little, Brown, and Company, 2014)

Kevin Ding, Lakers Lead Writer for Bleacher Report

In this Oct. 17, 2010 file photo, Los Angeles Clippers team owner Donald Sterling watches his team play in Los Angeles.; Credit: Mark J. Terrill/AP

Adam Silver, the new NBA commissioner, handed down a stiff punishment for Donald Sterling, the billionaire owner of the Clippers who was recorded making racist comments--banning the 80-year-old from having any association with the NBA or the Clippers and forcing him to sell the team.

NBA players and team owners applauded Silver's decision. While Sterling cannot contest the lifetime ban, he could sue the league for forcing a sale, a prospect that could turn potential buyers away.

Those reportedly interested in the L.A. team include real estate developer Rick Caruso, entertainment mogul David Geffen, Magic Johnson, Larry Ellison and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Does it make sense for Sterling to sue? If Sterling agrees to a sale, how would the Clippers be valuated? How much could the team be worth?

Guests:

David Wharton, sports writer at the Los Angeles Times, who co-wrote the story on Sterling’s options after the NBA ban in today’s paper 

Warren Zola, Sports business and law expert, Boston College's Carroll School of Management; Executive Editor, The Sports Law Blog.

A woman is seen on February 18, 2011 in Montreal, Quebec watching an advertisment of the Canadian fashion brand Jacob, that doesn’t Photoshop the top model shape in order to promote the body. The model instead, is seen in its natural state.; Credit: AFP/AFP/Getty Images

It's no secret that advertisers and magazine producers use Photoshop extensively to make their models look thinner, sleeker and blemish free. But should Congress get involved when the use of digitally altered images goes too far? A group of legislators, backed by the Eating Disorder Coalition, says yes.

Legislation was recently introduced into Congress, which calls for the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the use of altered images in commercial ads. If passed, the Truth in Advertising Act of 2014, would require the FTC to develop what's called a "regulatory framework" for ads that make significant changes to a model's image through digital retouching such as Photoshop.

Unrealistic images of women in advertising often get blamed for an increase in eating disorders and body image problems among young girls exposed to this type of media.

Supporters argue that glossy magazines and print ads featuring unrealistically thin and beautiful women can cause problems for young girls' self esteem and should be regulated to offer a more realistic image.

The bill introduced to Congress wouldn't ban advertisers from altering an image too much, so would the bill have any impact? Should the FTC be regulating the 'overuse' of Photoshop? Should advertisers be held responsible for promoting an unhealthy body image to young girls?

Guests:

Melissa Wardy, Executive Director of the Brave Girls Alliance, a collaboration of businesses and nonprofits focused on supporting girls' empowerment.

Gordon Borrell, CEO of Borrell Associates, a research and consulting firm specializing in advertising.

A barista makes a "cat'achino" at the pop-up shop "Cat Cafe" on April 24, 2014 in New York City. The cafe, which has been created Purina One cat food, serves complimentary coffee and bakery items, and has a variety cats roaming throughout the space that visitors can adopt. ; Credit: Andrew Burton/Getty Images

Recent scares about the spread of hepatitis A have resulted in thousands of preventative shots and a debate about how to prevent the spread of disease in food service.

Up to 17,000 people are sickened with hepatitis A every year, according to the CDC. The virus is spread when someone ingests fecal material from someone with the infection -- it’s highly contagious, and although it usually results in a few weeks of illness, it can be fatal.

Hepatitis A is of particular issue in food service, where someone with the illness might spread it rapidly through every piece of food they touch.

The CDC has, until now, not recommended that food workers be vaccinated against hep A because outbreaks are so rare, but the infection pool has changed over the years as children began to receive vaccines for the infection at age one.

The result of changes to the vaccine is an unprotected group of adults in their 20s, 30s, and 40s -- notably an age range likely to work and eat in restaurants.

Many medical specialists argue that mandatory vaccines for food workers would stop outbreaks and is worth the investment. Critics argue that it would violate the rights of employees to mandate a vaccine, and would come at a cost to the restaurant -- the shots cost up to $200 per person.

Should vaccines for contagious, preventable illnesses be mandatory for food workers? Is it a violation of their privacy or rights? How should restaurants prevent the spread of hepatitis A?

Guests:

Dorit Reiss, Professor of Law at University of California Hastings College of Law

Catherine Adams Hutt, consultant to the National Restaurant Association, president of RdR Solutions, a food regulatory consulting firm

Hyun-Jin Ryu #99 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on April 27, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.; Credit: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

A month into the baseball season, Dodgers fans that want to watch games on television are still out of luck.

The impasse between Time Warner Cable and DirecTV over SportsNet LA has still not been broken, and the losers in this battle are the roughly 70% of Los Angeles households that have been barred from watching Dodgers games.

SportsNet LA is owned by the Dodgers, but Time Warner Cable is the distributor. DirecTV thinks Time Warner wants too much money for SportsNet LA, and would consider carrying it a la carte. Time Warner rejected the offer.

KPCC's business reporter Ben Bergman has been talking to both DirecTV and Time Warner. Larry checks in with him on the latest development.

Guest:

Ben Bergman, business reporter at KPCC

POMPANO BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 13: A Comcast sign is seen at one of their centers on February 13, 2014 in Pompano Beach, Florida. Today, Comcast announced a $45-billion offer for Time Warner Cable. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images); Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Cable giant Comcast could take over cable TV and high-speed internet in hundreds of thousands more homes in Southern California and across the country.

In a $19.5 billion deal reached between Comcast Corp. and Charter Communications on Monday, Charter would swap subscribers with Comcast as early as next year.

Charter customers in Comcast-dominated markets, including several Southern California cities, would become Comcast customers if the deal goes through. In return, Charter would take over service in states like Ohio and Indiana.

The swap is part of a plan to ease Comcast’s efforts to acquire Time Warner Inc. By shedding at least three million customers, Comcast hopes to convince the federal government to allow the merger with Time Warner, a $45 billion takeover that has faced criticism.

The swap with Charter will reduce the combined company’s national market share to less than 30 percent, making the deal more attractive to the feds.

What will the impact be on consumers? Is reducing the number of customers this way a fair approach to a big merger? Would a Comcast/Time Warner combination be an unfair cable monopoly in Southern California and beyond?

Guest:

Edmund Lee, Media Reporter for Bloomberg News

Drew Doughty #8 and Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrate a 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks in Game Six of the First Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center on April 28, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.; Credit: Harry How/Getty Images

When the Los Angeles Kings face off against the San Jose Sharks tonight, they’ll be looking to become the fourth team in NHL history to win a best-of-seven series after losing three games.

If the Kings pull off a win at tonight’s 7:00 p.m. game, they’ll move on to face the Anaheim Ducks—who advanced to the second round of the Playoffs after eliminating the Dallas Stars.

The Ducks beat the Kings last time they faced off—earlier this month—clinching the top seed in the Western Conference.

What are the Kings’ chances in the Shark Tank tonight? And what might a Kings-Ducks series look like? We’re joined by Kings’ play-by-play announcer Bob Miller to discuss SoCal’s big week in hockey.

Guest:

Bob Miller, television play-by-play voice of the Los Angeles Kings

Head coach Mike D'Antoni of the Los Angeles Lakers watches as his team takes on the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on January 20, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. ; Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni resigned last night after less than two seasons.

He's the fourth head coach of the team in less than three years. D'Antoni took over the team from Mike Brown, who was fired at the start of the 2012-13 season. This  season, the injury-plagued Lakers had the franchise's second-worst winning percentage, finishing 27-55.

"Given the circumstances, I don't know that anybody could have done a better job than Mike did the past two seasons," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said.

"On behalf of the Lakers, we thank Mike for the work ethic, professionalism and positive attitude that he brought to the team every day. We wish him the best of luck."

Others were less polite. "Happy days are here again!" Magic Johnson tweeted. "Mike D'Antoni resigns as the Lakers coach. I couldn't be happier!"

By resigning, D’Antoni walked away from a contract worth $4 million. He might get some of the money as severance.

Who’s likely to replace D’Antoni? Who would you want to see coaching the Lakers next season?

Guest:

Jeff Zillgitt, NBA reporter for USA TODAY sports . He tweets at @JeffZillgitt

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler gives testimony before the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee hearing on 'Review of the President's FY2015 funding request and budget justification for the FCC on March 27, 2014 in Washington.; Credit: KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images

Should broadband internet providers be regulated like the highway system or the electric grid? That's what many supporters of net neutrality want, ever since a federal appeals court struck down in January the Federal Communications Commission's Open Internet rules.

Supporters of the idea, including former FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, argue that the internet has replaced traditional phone service as the primary mode of communications in the country, which justifies a FCC reclassification of high-speed internet service as a "common carrier"--a public utility-like entity that should be placed under stricter regulation.

Opponents of the proposal include the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, the cable industry's main lobbying group.

At its annual conference in Los Angeles this week, NCTA's chief executive blasted the idea, saying that the best way to ensure growth, innovation, and the spread of broadband access is to leave the industry alone.

Guests:

Craig Aaron, Executive Director and President of Free Press, a nonpartisan organization advocating for universal and affordable internet access and diverse media ownership

Jeffrey Eisenach, Director of the Center for Internet, Communications, and Technology Policy at the American Enterprise Institute

U.S Vice President Joe Biden (R) listens as Madeleine Smith, a graduate of Harvard University who was raped while attending college, speaks during an event at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building April 29, 2014 in Washington, DC.; Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Mounting victim outrage and reports of mishandled sexual assault cases prompted President Obama to appoint a special task force to take a deeper look at college campuses.

After a ninety day look at fifty schools of various sizes, their findings prompted the White House to lay out detailed guidelines for universities. Announced this week, the guidelines include  rules governing victim confidentiality, plans to develop better prevention strategies, and guidelines for handling allegations.

The White House has also called for greater transparency and has launched a website for colleges to report sexual assault incidents, Notalone.gov. There, students can also find out how to file a complaint of a sexual assault incident, find resources for seeking help, and check a map to see if enforcement actions have been taken on their campus.

Some college officials and attorneys are now worried that the rights of those accused may be infringed upon. Title IX investigations that don’t necessarily lead to criminal justice proceedings are often conducted behind closed doors, and the details of the incident are often murky and sometimes involve alcohol and vague recollections. Some are worried that accused students may not have access to fair hearings.

Advocates of accusers claim that, historically, colleges have failed to address claims when the circumstances are murky, at the detriment of the victims and often to the advantage of the accused. They claim that the obligation of schools is to protect the survivors and welcome the guidelines presented by the Obama Administration as a good first step.

Do the guidelines announced by the White House fairly address the concerns of both victims advocates and the accused? Will greater transparency infringe on the rights of those accused of misconduct who are never criminally charged?

Guests:

 
Mark Hathaway, private defense attorney in Los Angeles whose practice includes students and others accused of sexual misconduct.

Fatima Goss Graves, Vice President for Education and Employment at the National Women’s Law Center