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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 1997)
News Digest miiciitoiimiT»(i'i|yo'*>''l^i'N^iliwiW»inwntiiiiflnmnnrfflnnTinniffMMt "Ti >^w.ni»»-rinir iiirrMiiiiWiiww^iiiwwiiWMiii wi w Groups won’t support Paula Jones Women's organizations ignore harassment claims against Clinton WASHINGTON (AP) — Judith Lichtman, president of the Women’s Legal Defense Fund, didn’t hesitate when Anita Hill accused conservative Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. “We all believe her story,” Lichtman said then, speaking for a handful of prominent women’s groups. TTie Fund for a Feminist Majority stood with Hill, too, demanding an immediate Senate hearing. So did the National Commission for Working Women, the National Women’s Politi cal Caucus and the head of the Na tional Abortion Rights Action League. Five years later, none of these prominent, politically active women’s groups offer a supportive word for Paula Jones. Their collective silence is an intriguing political subplot to her charges that President Clinton sexu ally harassed her in a Little Rock, Ark. hotel roan in 1991. A few months after that, Hill’s ac cusations about Thomas rocked Wash ington and stirred a remarkable na tional debate about sexual conduct. “It’s the height of hypocrisy on the part of the women’s groups,” JosepI Cammarata, a Jones lawyer, said Sun day on ABC’s “This Week.” “They rallied to the cause of Anita Hill, but in our case, never a whim per.” Today, the Supreme Court will heai arguments about whether Clinton should have to answer Jones’ allega tions at a civil trial. The court will not consider the merits of her assertions that Clinton propositioned and fondled her. The issue before the justices is whether presidents should be immune from civil lawsuits while in office. Jones’ lawyers want the case to pro ceed immediately, or, in the alterna tive, for the justices to order pretrial depositions and other activity so the trial can open soon after Clinton’s term ends in 2001. The Supreme Court arguments re vive a case that has received little at tention since Jones made her allega tions in 1994. It also is a reminder, after weeks of media focus on the ethi cal problems of Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, of the many legal and ethical questions hanging over the Democratic president. At a minimum, the hearing guar antees a highly embarrassing spectacle for Clinton as the White House tries to engineer a week of favorable pub licity leading up to the Jan. 20 inau gural festivities. And if Clinton’s lawyers lose be fore the high court - a decision is likelj to come in four or five months - th< president could be required to answe; questions under oath about allege< indiscretions during his tenure as Ar kansas governor. « It’s the height of hypocrisy on the part of the women’s groups. They rallied to the cause of Anita Hill, but in our case, never a whimper.” Joseph Cammahata Jones’lawyer “It’s not going to cause me any dif ficulties because I’m going to do my job,” Clinton said Friday to a ques tion about the case’s ramifications. Clinton aides bristle at questions about Jones and grumble about the timing. At a time of endless inaugu ral planning meetings, among those visiting the White House this week was Robert Bennett, a $475-an-hour lawyer representing Clinton. “The, quote-unquote,' legitimacy’ of that stay will depend, of course, on what happens in a court of law,” White House press secretary Mike r McCurry said last week. : Clinton and McCurry had little • choice but to answer questions asked l at public forums. In striking contrast - has been the silence of women’s groups that rushed to Hill’s defense and predicted that public debate over the Thomas nomination would embolden more women to come for ward with complaints of sexual ha rassment. There has been a heightened sen sitivity and consciousness about the sexual harassment problem and the way in which women are viewed in society, Kate Michelman, president of the National Abortion Rights Action League, said after Hill came forward. But Michelman, Lichtman and several other women’s group leaders involved in the high-profile effort to block Thomas’ confirmation did not respond this week to requests for in terviews about the Jones case. Nor have any of them objected as male Clinton supporters portrayed Jones as money hungry “trailer park trash.” “One result of this case already is hat it has exposed the galloping hy pocrisy of the left in America,” said Craig Shirley, a Republican activist and an organizer of the conservative conference where Jones first publicly detailed her allegations in 1994. “I don’t think these groups would be missing in action if some woman had made the same allegation about a Republican president,” Shirley said. Speaking privately, activists in sev eral liberal women’s groups that joined in the anti-Thomas effort acknowledge internal anguish over how to respond to Jones’ allegations. Several said her appearance at the 1994 Conservative Political Action Committee gives them cover — enough evidence to raise the question of whether her alle gations were motivated by politics. Some Clinton allies also point to the political aspirations of a Jones at torney, Gil Davis, who in addition to arguing her case before the Supeme Court is a GOP candidate for Virginia attorney general. “In hindsight, maybe it would have been better if she had chosen a differ ent forum,” Shirley said. “But no one seemed to have a problem with Anita Hill being supported by all these lib eral groups. In any case, it was not entirely unsuccessful — Paula Jones is getting her day in court.” ICANCUN Parties! Meals! Activites! PER PERSON Parties! Meals! Mexico trip! ■ ;;V;.. ':-. ’ .. ': ' ' • ' ' :.j ■ " •• ’ Two female cadets leave Citadel CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Two female Citadel cadets who said they endured freshman hazing that included having their clothes set afire won’t return to the military college. “The school’s promises to me and my family that knob life would be rough but safe were critical to me,” Jeanie Mentavlos Of Charlotte, N.C., said in a statement released by her at torney. “Because The Citadel broke its promise, I cannot return.” While a federal judge had offered to take steps to assure the women’s safety “it is apparent to me ... that while I might be physically safe on campus, I would not be welcome,” Kim Messer of Clover said in a simi lar statement. The FBI and state police were in vestigating allegations that, among other things, male cadets set the clothes of the women cm fire, sexually harassed them and put cleanser in their mouths. Authorities were also looking into whether death threats were made against one woman. Mentavlos’ brother, Michael, a se nior cadet who helped bring the alle gations to the attention of authorities, also announced Sunday he will com plete his degree requirements else where. Two other female cadets who en rolled last summer, and who have not made any hazing allegations, returned to campus. The women were among the first four admitted to the college after the school dropped its all-male admissions policy, following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that a similar all-male policy at Virginia Military Institute was unconstitutional. Citadel spokesman Terry Leedom said the school would have no com ment on the departure of the women until Monday. A federal judge met privately with the families of the two female cadets Thursday and said he was prepared to provide “reasonable measures” to pro tect the women’s safety. He did not say what those measures were, but the U.S. Justice Department had asked the judge to send U.S. mar shals to campus. A Spring Break alternative ... UvL # March 22-27,1997 LeaderShape Nebraska LeaderShape Nebraska is an intensive six-day program exposing students to various aspects and issues relating to leadership development. This is a dynamic, interactive program that affords participants the opportunity to explore personal characteristics, expand their leadership knowledge, meet and work with peers, as well as talk to current leaders of the University and surrounding community. Informational Meeting: Nebraska City Union January 15,1997 11:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. Room will be posted. Pick up Applications by January 24 @ 200 Nebraska Union, 300 Nebraska East Union, 333 N. 14th St. or 106 Canfield Administration Building. 1 For more information call 1 Student Involvement @ 472-2454 NebiSskan Jy Editor: DougKouma 472-2588 Managing - Editor: Paula Lavigne Assoc. Nows < Editors: Joshua Gillin Chad Lorenz Night Editor Anne Hjersman Opinion Editor: Anthony Nguyen AP Wire Editor: John Fulwider Copy Desk Chief: Julie Soljczyk Sports Editor: Trevor Parks A&E Editor: Jeff Randall Photo Director: Scott Bruhn Web Editors: Michelle Collins Amy Hopfensperger FAX NUMBER: 472-1761 The Daily Nebraskan (USPS144-080) is published by the UNL Publications Board. Nebraska Union 34.1400 R St.. Lincoln. NE 68588-0448. Monday through Friday during the academic year, weekly during summer sessions. Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the Daily Ne braskan by calling 472-2588. The public has access to the PubHcations Board. Subscription price is $55 for one year. Postmaster: Send adcfcess changes to the Daily Nebraskan. Nebraska Union 34. 1400 R St.. Lincoln. NE 68588-0448. i Second-class postage paid at Lincoln. Neb. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 1907 DAILY NEBRASKAN