INVESTIGATING THE PRESIDENT The Michigan Daily - Monday, September 14, 1998-- 5A .U'profs shed light on scandal Daniel Weiss the Daily Echoing reaction that has filled televi- sion screens and newspapers around the world, University professors say the sex scandal in the White House is of consid- erable importance to the nation's percep- tion of the President. History Prof. Sidney Fine, who teaches a two-term course on 20th- Century American history, said he will now have to rewrite his lectures on 4 inton for spring term. It is unprecedented in the history of the republic," Fine said, referring to the significance of the report. Sociology Prof. Andre Modigliani said the public may find the matter unsa- vory but may feel compelled to follow it because of its national importance. He noted that explicit details of the sexual encounters between the President and Monica Lewinsky appear Rhe report's introduction, in its narra- e and in its conclusion. "I think (Kenneth) Starr is a very sick man," Modigliani said. "Unlike Starr, (the public) realize they are pry- ing into a private matter," he said, adding that people think they must keep abreast of the matter because the stakes have risen so high. "Starr has turned what was a com- pletely private matter into a public issue," Modigliani said. "They got him, 9 there was nothing there." One casualty of the scandal, commu- nication studies assistant Prof. Nicholas Valentino agreed, is the public. "People are overwhelmed by the scandal;' he said, but added that "there should be more than one criterion for judging the President." Valentino said he regrets that foreign policy and domestic issues have been grshadowed by "this one; aspect" 'It's like an accident on the side of the road. People are trying their best not to stare"Valentino said. Fine said the media has become more aggressive in pursuing the private lives of public officials over the years. He cited an anecdote regarding former New York Times editor A.M. Rosenthal, who was told by a reporter of a woman meeting John E Kennedy at a questionable time of the night. And ~fashion with standards of the era, Rosenthal responded,"No story" The Starr Report and the media's zeal may deter potential candidates from running for office, Fine said. "I think the media has gone too far in looking at public lives when it doesn't affect public policy," Fine said. Students digest Starr report with mix of disgust, apathy AP PHOTO Clinton offers public apology for his affair with former White House Intern Monica Lewinsky at a prayer meeting on Friday. Campus COmuers too busy for C1inton Avramn S. Turkel For the Daily As shockwaves from the 445-page report detailing the affair between President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky rippled around the nation, University students responded yes- terday with a mix of disgust and indifference. "I think he should get the same sentence as any other American," said LSA sophomore Shavara Srabian. "If that means impeach- ment for lying, not for the affair, he should be impeached." Starr's report contains graphic portions detailing varied sexual encounters between the President and the intern, then 21, as well as Clinton lying about those meetings. "I think the report is more parti- san than factual" said Education second-year graduate student Julian Vasquez Helig. "I hear it reads more like a Danielle Steele novel." LSA first-year student Andy Wiginton felt similarly. "We live in America, and it's important for this stuff to be public, but I wouldn't want my kids to know the graphic details of anybody's sex life." Other students said the sexual con- tent of the report was necessary. "If they don't put the details in, the Democrats will say that there is not substantial evidence." said LSA first-year student Nick Harris. Even among students, Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr has come under fire for allegedly intruding into the President's personal life. "As long as his extramarital affair isn't affecting the country, and as long as his social life and profes- sional life are separate, I don't see any problem." said LSA first-year student Derek Applewhite. "If he did something against the law, though, it is our business," he said. LSA first-year student Jordan Nodel said the extraordinary length of the report was unnecessary. "It makes me question the prestige of the Oval Office," Nodel said. "Clinton's behavior is pretty irre- sponsible, but the fact that Kenneth Starr started out investigating a land deal, and ended up with a 500-page report on an affair is even more ridiculous." Many students, however, are tired of the political proceedings. "Political parties are always against each other," said LSA sophomore Sara Wright. LSA junior Gina Kim added, "I think the President has been through enough. This whole thing is only interrupting his job." LSA sophomore Jodi Tepper said it is time for the issue to be buried. "He did it, he admitted it, that's it," she said. By Erin Holmes Daily Staff Reporter Like the thousands of Americans who crowded the Internet this weekend to view the online version of Kenneth Starr's report on President Clinton's sex scandal, many University students sat in front of computer terminals yester- day afternoon searching the Web. But for many, Big Ten football scores, homework and CRISP information was more important than browsing the 445 pages of lurid details. "I haven't checked the Website," said Billy Getchius, an Engineering graduate student, whose time online did not include viewing the Starr report. "I think it has had a lot of appeal, but I probably won't ever view the whole thing." Getchius said despite the ease of accessing the report on the Internet, he doesn't think University students will be reading the text online. The report -- accessible through the U.S. House of Representatives Homepage (www.house.gov) and high- lighted on the Yahoo search page (www.yahoo.com) --- contains a table of contents with headings titled "Gifts" and "Secrecy," and explicitly detailed accounts of sexual encounters between Clinton and former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. But many students said they have no interest in viewing the site. "if I wanted to read it, I would have done it already," said Leila Matta, a Detroit resident who was using the computing site at Angell Hall yesterday. "If I had some kind of assignment to read it, I might, but I'm not interested, and I don't think the majority of people are interested. People here are involved in their own work." Matta said the Clinton investigation is "getting old" despite the cyberspace release of the report, which has spurned numerous chat room discussions. "I think this Website is more impor- tant to the older generation," Matta said. "Our generation sees sex in a dif- ferent light ... I don't think people are here for the reason of being online to read the report." Many people feared that the over- whelming response to the report's release online would bring a string of crashed servers and Internet overload. But students said campus computing sites were nearly empty this weekend. I. I r .i Ab - '" w Q ' p Want to Fly? F I Don't Panic!! If you think you're pregnant... call us-we listen, we care. PROBLEM PREGNANCY HELP 975-4357 Any time, any day, 24 hours. Fully confidential. Serving Students since 1970. The Air Force has an urgent need for pilots, engineers, & managers! No matter what your career plans, there's a way to see them soar. Join Air Force ROTC and develop leadership and management skills critical to career success. Great salary and benefits. Call Captain James Munford at 764-2403 for career info. AIR FORCE ROTC Leadership Excellence Starts Here Never underestimate the importance of peopie. 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