Rod Raymond – Part II

mk Nov 05, 2012 35 Comments

Duluth News Tribune: “UMD investigates two new complaints against Raymond”

Duluth News Tribune: “Ex-UMD official: He advised firing Raymond, was demoted”

Old PDD Post: “Regarding Rod Raymond“

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35 Comments

BadCat!

about 12 years ago 

I know Rod is a "much loved local business-man," but he obviously has issues when it comes to dealing with women. Does UMD really want to be associated with a guy who doesn't know how boundaries work??

pats

about 12 years ago 

This seems to be an issue that UMD isn't able to handle internally.  Perhaps, for the good of the school, the community and the people involved, they should bring in an independent investigator to find out what really has been going on and to determine if there is anything to the accusations.  As it stands right now, it seems unfair to all concerned that there are still conflicting stories.

Herzog

about 12 years ago 

"Records also show that UMD agreed to pay a student and her attorney $30,000 in April after the Minnesota Department of Human Rights found probable cause that she was sexually harassed in 2009 by Rod Raymond."

This would bug the shit out of me if I was a hard-working, tuition-paying student trying to eke out a living in this cold cruel world, and paying way too much anyway for the corporate white collar scam-op they refer to as 'higher education.'

B.I.N.G.O.

about 12 years ago 

Oh Gawwwd. It's like Last Place on Earth again. Will this story ever go away. Is Rod running for President too!

BadCat!

about 12 years ago 

I think the American Skeevy Male party was looking for a nomine...

mk

about 12 years ago 

It is like the Last Place on Earth tragedy all over again. Is it safe to say that the story won't quit until Mr. Raymond has realized the error of his ways? Does he get a pass because of his successful businessman status in the community? Does anyone really think that this is the end of the complaints that could be coming down the road? (I'm not sure what the statute of limitations are on something of this nature.) 

Should these new allegations find probable cause within Chancellor Black's office, does Rod finally get fired? I bet he quits, first. Wait ... no ... then he has less room to file another lawsuit.

Dorkus

about 12 years ago 

Raymond has enough money. If he wants to be skeevy, let him do it on his own dime.

That's what I would do if I were in his shoes. The only reason people are making a stink about his behavior is because he does it in an educational institution. 

He could just as easily go after any girl that hangs out at any one of his many establishments with the line: "Hey, I own this place. Come back to my place and I'll show you my two-fisted Fat Capitalist."

BadCat!

about 12 years ago 

I really hope Rod isn't dumb enough to do this to his staff as well. If he's harassing his staff as well, I hope they report his ass to the police!

Herzog

about 12 years ago 

Kind Citizens of Duluth,

I am prepared to offer Mr. Raymond a full case of Blatz Beer (minus one, tested to ensure freshness) if he offers up the full list of ladies shagged within the confines of Red Star alone.   This list does not have to include those shaggings which originated out of his other establishments.  If he does this by 9 p.m. of the Apocalypse 2012, he will win one full case of Blatz Beer.

digit3

about 12 years ago 

For several years there has been a no schtoinking employees policy at their establishment. Apparently in the old days it was easy pickins and some fear crept in post-UMD scandals. 

I'm kinda surprised that he is still in town much less opening up new businesses to further water down their clientele. A smart businessman would enter new markets.

EdFreak

about 12 years ago 

The no schtoinking policy was allegedly put in play due to his hound dogging. It became less of an occurrence but did not disappear completely. More than one employee approached management with concern of being creeped out or preyed upon. Nothing ever came of it though, just swept under the rug.

BadCat!

about 12 years ago 

Fucking sad. Rod has a problem and he needs to get that shit fixed already.

Ramos

about 12 years ago 

The Night the Lights Went Out
A Duluth romance

The lights went out at eleven o'clock. Melinda jumped up from the couch with a small cry, then laughed at herself. She was nineteen years old, for goodness sakes—-much too old to be afraid of the dark! The power had gone out, that was all. Perhaps the winter wind howling outside had blown down some wires.

With the TV not working, and no light to read by, Melinda decided that she might as well go to bed. She felt her way down the pitch-black hallway to her bedroom. As she pushed open the door, a draft rushed past her. She shivered. Was the window open? She stopped, listening. She heard a faint noise. It sounded like...somebody breathing.

A match flared. Melinda gasped as she saw a face floating in the darkness. It was a man's face, strong, confident, and trapezoidal, with little chipmunk pouches bulging out around the jawline. He smiled.

"Hello, baby," he purred. "My name is...Rod." He paused expectantly, as if waiting for her to tear off her clothes. When this didn't happen, he said, "How would you like to run a triathlon, honey? I compete, you know."

"I don't think I should," Melinda quavered, both hands on her throat.

"We're both adults," Rod purred, arching an eyebrow seductively. "There's nothing to be afraid of. Would you like to hear me strum my guitar?"

Melinda felt her resistance weakening. "Well..."

"I'm friends with the mayor," Rod said. He wiggled his tongue invitingly.

"You are?" Melinda began to relax. She trusted the mayor's judgment. And Rod really was quite a fine chunk of manhood. 

"I certainly am," he purred.
 
That was all the encouragement Melinda needed. Consumed with desire, she fell helplessly into his arms.

Claire

about 12 years ago 

Yep, Rod has a problem, sad that top University officials --like Kathryn Martin -- enabled him for so many years. Someone who is a friend to him should tell him to get help. Seriously.

EdFreak

about 12 years ago 

Before he gets help, he needs to be seriously disciplined. Not this slap on the wrist bullshit. Read the original PDD and DNT comment threads; several individuals confirmed his inappropriate behavior (not to mention arrogance, i.e. making himself the victim). It's not a secret that he chases women half his age and that he uses his celebrity and "charm" as ammo.

Ramos nailed it.

Paul Lundgren

about 12 years ago 

There are very few single men who wouldn't use whatever celebrity or charm they have at their disposal in the pursuit of younger women or women in general. 

The issue here is the allegation that Mr. Raymond has pursued students at the university which employs him. If you feel those allegations are founded and wish a harsher penalty on Mr. Raymond, it would be best to focus your comments in that direction. Suggesting he's a heel outside of that context isn't really necessary and earns him sympathy points from the average dude on the make.

If there are complaints that Mr. Raymond has acted inappropriately with subordinates in any of his entrepreneurial enterprises, any party involved in that should take appropriate action. Gossiping about it on a blog is not appropriate action.

Carla

about 12 years ago 

Oh, Paul, for crying out loud. Even though I am over here lost in permanently out-of-it dykehood, I still know some men -- lots of them in fact -- who are mature and value a real relationship more than they do a "score."

I do agree with you though that some kind of organized response to misconduct is a good thing.

I have lots more to say but won't.

bluenewt

about 12 years ago 

Using your celebrity and charm to find willing bed partners is one thing. Using your power over students or subordinates to get sex is another thing entirely.

BadCat!

about 12 years ago 

Exactly! If you want to bone some random woman you met at the gym, we don't care. But if you're boning your students and staff, that is a *huge* problem! Rod - grow the fuck up already!

emmadogs

about 12 years ago 

Paul--no.  This is not Mad Men era stuff.  Raymond is apparently, a heel, and deserves to be called out as such.  It is  not cute, or coy, or a man lile him to be doing this.  I waited tables with bosses like him.  I was an undergraduate teaching assistant with men like him.  Calling him out is entirely appropriate.  It is very appropriate to use this forum to call him out.  

Paul, this isn't little babies whining.  He needs to stop, and to be fired.  he is a greater  menace than LPOE, and i haven't seen you taking umbrage about RAmos's points.

emmadogs

about 12 years ago 

And p.s., there aren't many men who would use their celebrity to pick up young women, and if we call them on it, we'll elicit sympathy for them? No. Actually, we would call them delusional, at best, and disgusting, at worst. No sympathy.  

I'm 48 yrs old, not using my anything to pick up the young uns.  Hope you are not either.

Paul Lundgren

about 12 years ago 

Maybe I should have made my point as succinctly as Bluenewt did, because that's about all I was getting at.

As far as using "celebrity" to "score" goes, the point I was shooting for is that when attempting to persuade someone to either get to know you better, enter a relationship or just have a one-night stand, about the only thing you can do is show a little of your personality. I don't think there's anything manipulative about using celebrity if you're some level of a celebrity and/or showing your charisma if you have some.

But that pertains to situations outside of hitting on students and employees. I hope I've made that abundantly clear.

So, yes, write all you want about situations that are on the record regarding Rod Raymond allegedly abusing his power. Call him out.

I just think it weakens the case to use examples that are irrelevant to the abuse of power issue.

digit3

about 12 years ago 

Word on the street is that it is all getting ready to blow up big time against RR with an action against his empire....

Herzog

about 12 years ago 

Don't cross the Shitline.

edgeways

about 12 years ago 

Raymond's attorney,Lindsay Jones, writes in The Statesman "to remember the importance of allowing for due process, and to be open minded and patient, until both sides of the full story have an opportunity to be heard, so that the conflicting accounts can be fairly weighed and measured."

Fair enough.

But, he also "goes there" and compares Raymond's treatment to the Duluth lynchings in 1920. That is pretty damn tone deaf at best.

BadCat!

about 12 years ago 

Really?? WOW... Stay classy Rod.

pgtica

about 12 years ago 

This whole situation is out of control!  As a new member of this community.  I was in shock to read of this story.  Now he (or his attorney) is comparing his situation to the lynchings in Duluth.  First, this is in no way the same.  He seems to be a man of much status, social capital, and wealth.  He has not been negatively impacted because of his race!  There is no comparison of the two.  As a person of color I am offended that anyone would use that historical event to frame a client's case.  Now if you compared it to Bill Clinton, maybe?

hbh1

about 12 years ago 

We can only hope it's the last time a privileged white guy accused of something compares himself to Duluth's lynching victims. I wouldn't hold my breath though.  

Take a hint guys: if you aren't at risk of death, you haven't been lynched.

Herzog

about 12 years ago 

This must be like when the later period Lennon, in a fit of LSD fueled egomania, phones his publicist to inform the world the next morning he was the second coming of Christ (separate incident from the earlier Lennon who simply compared himself to Jesus in terms of sales).   Maybe Rod, was high on LSD, and was like, 'this is just like the Duluth lynchings!  You know what Bob, run that shit, just like I said it now.'  

The folks who know me as a renowned bullshitter, know I am capable of following Rod's complex line of logic here.  Because when you weave an intricate tapestry of bullshit to segue from your last foray, and you're trying to follow up all the magnificent ends, the story gets pretty complicated.  That's all that happened here.  It's just the end game of having lots and lots of sex with galaxies of women, aside from the ones at Red Star.  You start to weave a beautiful sarong of bullshit. It happens.

-Berv

about 12 years ago 

Ha! "Galaxies of women." Best line since "binders full of women."

Grandpa Ken

about 12 years ago 

This is a guy who has never, ever taken responsibility for his actions.  He immediately attempts to deflect the blame.  He's blames "rogue" employees at UMD for bias, yet juries of peers AND the MDHR have found him guilty of sexual harassment.  Additionally, he's stolen your tax dollars and used them to benefit his businesses (Additional UMD charge).  How are UMD administrators responsible for this?  "Horatio Alger" my ass, how about more like Roman Polanski with your bankroll.

CLeTa

about 12 years ago 

Kudos to Chris Godsey addressing it tactfully in the Transistor this week.

BadCat!

about 12 years ago 

Nice!

mk

about 12 years ago 

::: Standing Ovation ::: to Chris Godsey.  For so many, many reasons. 

I've often felt that males, in general (dangerous, I know), have this bro-code wherein they know their buddies are behaving badly but it's not their job to tell them as such. It takes character to step up and address it. 

Thanks for writing that and for such a keen grasp of the word "doucheyness." 

Bravo.

cosmojr

about 11 years ago 

What's really at issue here is UMD and how it has handled this. Very poor to say the least. Kathryn Martin failed the students and taxpayers. Too much money and benefits in the system it appears to me, or power maybe.

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