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There has been a distinct rise in sexual assault allegations within the entertainment industry in recent years. The culture of the industry, the nature of entertainment contracts, and the abuse of the nondisclosure agreement are to blame for this rampant abuse of vulnerable entertainers. This Article focuses on the contractual prisons in which sexually abused entertainers find themselves when they attempt to part ways with their employers. Using prevailing equitable remedies in conjunction with the feminist contract theory of context and subjectivity can help alleviate some of the pressure on abused entertainers attempting to “breach” their contracts. While Title VII has been used in the employment law context, it has yet to be applied in the context of entertainment contracts. Using this novel approach, Title VII can put entertainment-based employers on the defensive by allowing intentional sexual torts to count as the first contract breach. One thing is for certain: something must be done to combat this culture of sexual assault within the entertainment industry.[1] [1]. “The recent revelations have proven that society must examine the persistent sexual harassment issue that has plagued women in some of the country’s most important industries. The first step to tackling the problem, though, must be addressing the contractual traps that are used to silence women and obscure the pattern of abuse. This Article uses feminist legal theory to shift the conversation, challenging how we’re characterizing ‘wrongdoing’ and ‘breaches.’ It is an important contribution to a vital national conversation.” Statement by Stacey Lantagne, Professor of Law, University of Mississippi School of Law, Oxford, Mississippi (Jan. 24, 2018).

There has been a distinct rise in sexual assault allegations within the entertainment industry in recent years. The culture of the industry, the nature of entertainment contracts, and the abuse of the nondisclosure agreement are to blame for this rampant abuse of vulnerable entertainers. This Article focuses on the contractual prisons in which sexually abused entertainers find themselves when they attempt to part ways with their employers. Using prevailing equitable remedies in conjunction with the feminist contract theory of context and subjectivity can help alleviate some of the pressure on abused entertainers attempting to “breach” their contracts. While Title VII has been used in the employment law context, it has yet to be applied in the context of entertainment contracts. Using this novel approach, Title VII can put entertainment-based employers on the defensive by allowing intentional sexual torts to count as the first contract breach. One thing is for certain: something must be done to combat this culture of sexual assault within the entertainment industry.[1] [1]. “The recent revelations have proven that society must examine the persistent sexual harassment issue that has plagued women in some of the country’s most important industries. The first step to tackling the problem, though, must be addressing the contractual traps that are used to silence women and obscure the pattern of abuse. This Article uses feminist legal theory to shift the conversation, challenging how we’re characterizing ‘wrongdoing’ and ‘breaches.’ It is an important contribution to a vital national conversation.” Statement by Stacey Lantagne, Professor of Law, University of Mississippi School of Law, Oxford, Mississippi (Jan. 24, 2018).

The protection of classified national security and other controlled information is of concern not only to the executive branch -- which determines what information is to be safeguarded, for the most part -- but also to Congress, which uses the information to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities. It has established mechanisms to safeguard controlled information in its custody, although these arrangements have varied over time between the two chambers and among panels in each. Both chambers, for instance, have created offices of security to consolidate relevant responsibilities, although these were established two decades apart. Other differences exist at the committee level. Proposals for change, some of which are controversial, usually seek to set uniform standards or heighten requirements for access. This report will be updated as conditions require., CRS Report for Congress.