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==Controversy==
==Controversy==
<!--Specific care _must_ be taken to ensure this page complies with BLP; check your changes for any points of view, undue weight given to controversy, or poorly sourced material.-->

==Education and media career==
Marsden attended [[Simon Fraser University]], where she graduated in [[1997]] with a [[Academic degree|degree]] in [[biology]] and a minor in [[French language|French]]. Subsequent education includes a diploma in [[broadcast journalism]] from the [[British Columbia Institute of Technology]] ([[2000]])<ref name=BCIT> Robin Brunet, "Then & now: BC Business magazine celebrates 30 years in publishing and looks back to ask: whatever happened to whats'isname and whats'ername," B.C. Business Magazine, November, 2002, v.30(11) N'02 pg 62 (CBCA-ACC-NO: 5510096)</ref> and a program for conservative journalists offered at the National Journalism Center ([[2003]]). She returned to SFU in 1998 and enrolled in a post-baccalaureate program in [[criminology]].<ref name=returnSFU>2 June 1999, The Toronto Star</ref><ref name=cv2020> [http://www.netitor.com/photos/confs/cosida/genrel/auto_pdf/RachelMarsden.pdf Rachel Marsden's c.v. (circumstances of production unclear)]</ref>

[[Image:O'Reilly_Rachel_Marsden.jpg|left|thumb|Rachel Marsden, right, with [[Bill O'Reilly (commentator)|Bill O'Reilly]] on ''[[The O'Reilly Factor]]''.]]

Marsden was involved in various capacities in local radio and TV. One version of her c.v. claims that she was a production assistant and assistant to [[Connie Chung]] at [[ABC News]]' ''[[20/20]]'' in [[New York]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20020201234634/www.angelfire.com/bc/rmarsden/whois.html web.archive.org]</ref> ABC, however, has denied that Marsden was a paid employee, but she may have been an intern.<ref name=hutchinsonNP> Brian Hutchinson, "Canada's 'Republican Babe of the Week': Rachel Marsden is a sharpshooting political pundit with a sex-kitten image who made headlines in the past over a controversial sexual harassment complaint", National Post, 9 August 2003, A21, discussed by [http://thestar.blogs.com/azerb/2005/05/postit_notes.html Antonia Zerbisias, May 2005].</ref>

Marsden has often courted controversy, and some have suggested that she has modelled her personal style after American media personality [[Ann Coulter]], whom she has described as "a friend." In recent years, Marsden has been a guest on ''[[The O'Reilly Factor]]'' on [[Fox News Channel|Fox News]], where she has offered a Canadian point of view, and on CNBC's [[Dennis Miller]] program.<ref name=FoxPart> [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1086039 'Rachel Marsden', IMDb] </ref> For two months in the summer of [[2005]], she had a twice-weekly column in the ''[[National Post]]''. Soon after, she began a regular column in the ''[[Toronto Sun]]''. Her writing has also appeared in [[The New York Post]],<ref name=nyp>Marsden, Rachel, "[http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/69609.htm Canada's cry: 'Why us?']", [[The New York Post|New York Post]], June 6, 2006.</ref> [[David Horowitz (conservative writer)|David Horowitz]]'s [[Front Page Magazine]], [[United Press International]], as well as the online newspapers ''[[Canada Free Press]]'', [[NewsMax.com]], and [http://www.politicalusa.com PoliticalUSA].

==Harassment controversies==
===Liam Donnelly===
''Main article: [[Uncensored:Simon Fraser University 1997 harassment controversy|Marsden-Donnelly harassment case]]''

Marsden first came to national attention as a student at [[Simon Fraser University]] in [[1997]] when her accusations against swim coach [[Liam Donnelly]] of a [[date rape]] became public.<ref name=dateofrape> Victor Dwyer, 'A campus divided: disturbing new allegations rock Simon Fraser' Maclean’s v. 110, no. 30 (July 28, 1997): pp. 42-3 (archived [http://bucketsdata.wordpress.com/1997/07/28/macleans-july-28-1997-a-campus-divided here]).</ref>

Marsden and Donnelly laid complaints against each another with the SFU harassment office in 1995. On the advice of his lawyer, however, Donnelly withdrew his own complaint and refused to attend the university sexual harassment tribunal's hearing. The panel found him guilty in October, 1996, and he was fired on May 23, [[1997]].<ref name=firstReport> 'University defends firing of coach who skipped hearing,' The Kitchener-Waterloo Record, June 6, 1997, pg. A12 (archived [http://bucketsdata.wordpress.com/1997/06/06/kitchener-record-june-6-1997-university-defends-firing-coach-who-skipped-hearing/ here]</ref> Marsden was given $12,000 to compensate her for the impact on her life.<ref name=payment>SFU news, "Independent arbitration board established to review controversial Donnelly dismissal," June 19, 1997 ([http://www.sfu.ca/mediapr/sfnews/1997/June19/donnelly.html here])</ref>

Donnelly appealed the ruling and went public with his side of the story. He denied any romantic relationship with Marsden and asserted that she had in fact been harassing him. He claimed that Marsden showered him with unsolicited gifts, including provocative pictures of herself<ref name=photosexplained>Robert Matas, "SFU report details sex allegations Panel based ruling supporting student's claim of harassment on balance of probability," Globe and Mail, 17 July 1997, A4: Marsden insisted that Donnelly had selected the photos from her portfolio. </ref> and a subscription to ''[[Playboy (magazine)|Playboy]]''.<ref name=Finley>David Finley, ''Liam Donnelly's Conviction by Prejudice: Lessons for Harassment Policy,'' [http://oldfraser.lexi.net/publications/pps/25/section_06.html section 6]: she had explained this action as having been done "with the hope that he would be able to take out his sexual frustrations on the magazines instead of on real women." </ref> She also had sent him emails with explicit offers of sex.<ref name=emailforapology> Robin Brunet, 'The ''barracuda'' speaks,' British Columbia Report, November 10, 1997, v.9(11) N 10'97, pg 36-37 (archived [http://bucketsdata.wordpress.com/1997/11/10/bc-report-nov-10-1997-marsden-explains-that-she-and-donnelly-were-betrayed-by-sfu here]): 'She added that she had sent the steamy e-mails in “a desperate attempt to entice [Mr. Donnelly] into meeting with me so I could obtain accountability and an apology from him for the abuse, harassment and rape I suffered at his hands.”'; cf. also CTV Television, Inc., W5, November 18, 1997 22:01:50 - 22:15:50 Eastern Time (archived [http://bucketsdata.wordpress.com/1997/11/18/ctv-w5-nov-18-1997-he-says-she-says/ here]).</ref> (These came a month after Marsden claimed Donnelly had raped her.)

SFU reversed its decision, rehired Donnelly, and paid his legal fees of $60,000.<ref name=amountraised>Robert Matas, "University improves payout to coach SFU decision among several reversals after review of harassment investigations," The Globe and Mail, 2 May 1998, A5.</ref> The University issued a statement that Donnelly's original firing had been based solely on Marsden's testimony, but cast doubt on her veracity. <ref name=mediatorsreport>[http://www.sfu.ca/mediapr/Releases/News/1997/July97/mediator_recommend.html The Mediator's Report]: "the findings of the harassment panel were based on Ms. Marsden's credibility. Inconsistencies between her statements before the panel and her response to Mr. Donnelly's harassment complaint cast doubt on her credibility." </ref>

The case attracted much media attention. The legitimacy of the university's investigative procedures and the conclusions drawn by the panel were cast into doubt. An internal SFU review discovered that the university's harassment policy coordinator, Patricia O'Hagan, had a personal relationship with Marsden and had shown her drafts of the initial report.<ref name=OHagan>"SFU reaches settlement with fired swim coach," The Globe and Mail, 25 July 1997, A7</ref>

As a result of the case, SFU radically revised its policies for dealing with harassment.<ref name=SFUharassment>'A difficult search for a delicate balance,' Maclean’s v. 110, no. 26 (July 1, 1997): p. 102.</ref> Eleven harassment cases were reopened and their decisions reversed. University president [[John Stubbs (educator)|John Stubbs]] first took medical leave<ref name=Stubbsmedical>"Embattled SFU president asks for medical leave," Canadian Press Newswire, July 29, 1997, section Jl 29'97</ref> and then resigned in the wake of the scandal.<ref name=Stubbsresigns>Ian Bailey, "Simon Fraser president quits over handling of sex cases," Canadian Press Newswire, December 12, 1997, section D 12'97 </ref>

===Patricia O'Hagan===
Marsden's complaint to the SFU harassment office had been handled by that office's director, Patricia O'Hagan, who later claimed Marsden showered her with unwanted attention. However, during the university's examination of its own procedures, SFU's administrator had faulted O'Hagan for her conduct with Marsden (see above). In October 1997, O'Hagan, who at that point had left the university's employ, complained to the Vancouver Sun that over the preceding 12 months, Marsden had sent her gifts and telephoned her some 400 times.<ref name=OHagancalls>Marina Jiminez, “Former SFU official was victim of obsessive behavior, she says,” Vancouver Sun, Oct. 22, 1997, A1 (archived [http://bucketsdata.wordpress.com/1997/10/22/vancouver-sun-oct-22-1997-o’hagan-says-marsden-sent-gifts-and-called-her-up-to-400-times/ here])</ref>

===Neil Boyd===
In 1998, Marsden returned to SFU to study criminology. In May 1999, she was warned by the university to avoid locations where Neil Boyd, a criminology professor at SFU, might be found. Four months earlier, Boyd went to the police with copies of e-mail and voice mail from Marsden. He complained she had been asking Boyd, who was married, for dates. The university also asked Marsden to remove comments about Liam Donnelly (see above) from her website.<ref name=boydohagan>Shelley Solmes, "Marsden warned away from SFU teachers," Vancouver Sun, June 1, 1999, A1; "Leave faculty alone, university tells woman — Student in major harassment case returns to class," The Toronto Star, 2 June 1999 (archived [http://bucketsdata.wordpress.com/1999/06/02/toronto-star-2-june-1999-marsden-returns-to-sfu/ here])</ref> After the initial warnings, no further action was taken against Marsden.

===Michael Morgan===
In November, 2002, Marsden was arrested and charged with criminal harassment of [[Vancouver]] radio personality Michael Morgan.<ref name=arrest>Rod Mickleburgh, “B.C. woman faces charge of harassment: ex-SFU student who accused swim coach now suspected of stalking businessman,” Globe & Mail, Nov 22, 2002.</ref> They had been romantically involved in 2001 and 2002, but after their break-up, Morgan complained to the police about harassment by Marsden, including "vindictive and threatening" messages on his answering machine. During the investigation, it was learned Marsden surreptitiously set up Morgan's email to automatically forward to her copies of his incoming email.<ref name=statementoffacts>Citation: R. v. Marsden (2004 BCPC 0369; File No: 140482-1, Vancouver) [http://www.provincialcourt.bc.ca/judgments/pc/2004/03/p04_0369.htm available here] </ref> In [[2004]], she pled guilty [http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/TechNews/TechAtHome/2005/01/31/915660-sun.html] to criminal [[harassment]] and was given a [[conditional discharge]] that included one year of [[probation]]. She completed the sentence and has no [[criminal record]].

==Marsden's media profile ==
In 2005, Marsden was featured on "Sticks and Stones," a documentary on [[CBC Television]]'s ''[[The Fifth Estate]]'' about increasing political polarization in the [[media of the United States]], especially in shows such as ''The O'Reilly Factor'' and Fox News. After Marsden asserted her right to criticize the personal lives of public figures on her radio show, reporter [[Bob McKeown]] challenged her about the controversies involving allegations of harassment against [[Liam Donnelly]] and Michael Morgan (see above). Marsden insisted that her personal life was "not relevant to what I do" and declined to comment further.

The conservative dailies ''National Post'' and the ''Toronto Sun'' have hired her. The ''[[Western Standard]]'' has been highly critical of her;<ref name=WestStand> Kevin Steel, "The Strange Allure of Ms. Marsden: How does a serial stalker, convict and fraud artist end up Canada's hottest young conservative pundit? Quite easily, actually," July 11, 2005, p. 50-51 [http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/files/marsden_story.pdf pdf here]</ref> the ''[[Canada Free Press]]'' has been more sympathetic, its editor, [[Judi McLeod]], describing her personal controversies as "trouble with bogus boyfriends." Conservative media in the U.S. have been accepting of Marsden, and she is one of the few Canadian pundits to have exposure in American neo-conservative publications and TV.

Marsden was involved in the [[Simon Fraser University 1997 harassment controversy]]. Her role in the Simon Fraser case was the central theme in a report on the incident written by a Simon Fraser professor and published by [[The Fraser Institute]].<ref>{{cite web
Marsden was involved in the [[Simon Fraser University 1997 harassment controversy]]. Her role in the Simon Fraser case was the central theme in a report on the incident written by a Simon Fraser professor and published by [[The Fraser Institute]].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.fraserinstitute.org/commerce.web/publication_details.aspx?pubID=2527
| url = http://www.fraserinstitute.org/commerce.web/publication_details.aspx?pubID=2527

Revision as of 09:34, 3 March 2008

Rachel Marsden
Born (1974-12-02) December 2, 1974 (age 49)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Occupation(s)columnist, political commentator
Websiterachelmarsden.com

Rachel Marsden (born 1974[1]) is a Canadian conservative political columnist and television commentator based in New York City.

Education and early life

Rachel Marsden earned a bachelors degree in science by Simon Fraser University, and a degree in broadcast journalism by the British Columbia Institute of Technology.[1] Growing up in Vancouver, British Columbia, Marsden was inspired by Canadian radio personality Jack Webster.[2] She swam in national competitions, setting records within British Columbia.[2]

Career

Marsden first broke into print journalism in the early 2000s, writing for conservative web sites and The Washington Times. She was a regular National Post columnist for several months in 2005 before joining the Toronto Sun as a weekly opinion columnist, a position held until November 2007. In 2006, she moved from Toronto to New York. She has written several columns criticizing the concept of anthropogenic global warming.[2]

Marsden was a frequent guest on Dennis Miller Live when she was spotted to become the Canadian pundit for The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel. Marsden was employed by the Fox News Channel from 2004[3] to May 2007.[4] She was promoted to panelist on Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld, a late-night talk show. A producer on Red Eye praised Marsden, saying that "she has very passionate opinions...she's articulate, intelligent, and we get a lot of favorable mail about her".[2]

In October 2007, she was a panelist on CNN's The Situation Room.[5]

Her political commentary has been reprinted by other journals, including the New York Post and NewsMax Media.[3]

Controversy

Marsden was involved in the Simon Fraser University 1997 harassment controversy. Her role in the Simon Fraser case was the central theme in a report on the incident written by a Simon Fraser professor and published by The Fraser Institute.[6]

Marsden was given a conditional discharge with one year of probation in 2004 for criminal harassment of her boyfriend following a breakup.[7][8][9][10]

On May 30, 2007, Marsden was dismissed from Red Eye for what the New York Post reported as "erratic behaviour"[11] and escorted out of the Fox studio by security guards. She commented that her departure was due to a change in the show's format, and that being escorted out is standard procedure.[12]

In September 2007, on her blog Marsden wrote about and posted a picture of a counterterrorism officer for the Ontario Provincial Police with whom she had a two-year affair, claiming that he had leaked secret anti-terrorism documents to her, leading to an investigation of the officer[13]. In response, the officer laid charges of harassment,[14] but these were dropped;[15][16][17] an internal inquiry resulted in no charges against the officer.[15][17]

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Agent. "Biography for Rachel Marsden". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  2. ^ a b c d Rebecca Traister (2007-03-29). "Fox's Ann Coulter 2.0". Salon.com. Retrieved 2008-01-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ a b "About Rachel Marsden". Rachel Marsden. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  4. ^ "Eye-opener". New York Post. 2007-05-31. Retrieved 2008-01-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Stewart Bell (2007-12-19). "Ont. anti-terror officer investigated on leak allegations". National Post. Retrieved 2008-01-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ David Finley (1999-08-01). "Liam Donnelly's Conviction by Prejudice: Lessons for Harassment Policy". The Fraser Institute. Retrieved 2008-01-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Vancouver woman charged with harassment". CBC News. 2002-11-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Regina v. Rachel Marsden, Reasons for Sentence of the Honourable Judge W. J. Kitchen". British Columbia Provincial Court (Criminal Division). 2004-10-12. Retrieved 2006-12-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Hall, Neal (2004-10-13). "Rachel Marsden pleads guilty, gets probation". Vancouver Sun. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  10. ^ Berry, Steve (2004-10-13). "'Immature' Marsden guilty of harassing former lover". The Province. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  11. ^ Goddard, John, "Cop claims harassment by the 'Babe for Bush'", Toronto Star, December 21, 2007
  12. ^ Canadian Press, "Toronto columnist Marsden ousted from Fox News", Toronto Star, May 31, 2007
  13. ^ National Post, Dec. 19. 2007
  14. ^ Felix Gillette (2008-01-04). "Rachel Marsden". New York Observer. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ a b John Goddard (2008-01-05). "No harassment charges against pundit Marsden". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2008-01-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ Stewart Bell (2008-01-04). "Police won't charge Marsden with stalking ex-lover". Canada Free Press. Retrieved 2008-01-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ a b "Harassment complaint laid against columnist". The Daily News. 2007-12-22. Retrieved 2008-01-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

To comply with the GFDL the records of certain previous contributors to this article can be found at Talk:Rachel Marsden/GFDL History

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