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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 18, 1998)
Clinton advisers wary of latest accuser WASHINGTON (AP) -Wary of a backlash if they hit too hard, White House officials are attempting to undermine the credibility of the pres ident ’s latest accuser with a quiet campaign of whisper and innuendo. Kathleen Willey is after a book deal, they say. She’s emotionally dis traught, under a lot of pressure, they suggest. Even as White House spokesman Mike McCurry denied on Tuesday that anyone was trying to smear Willey, Clinton advisers were anony mously talking about her back ground. It’s a more cautious effort than earlier campaigns to undercut Monica Lewinsky and Paula Jones, in apparent recognition that Willey, as a Democratic supporter of the presi dent, may be viewed as more credible by the public. “You have to treat her differently because she has a different reputa tion,” said Gary A. Copeland, a pro fessor at the University of Alabama and author on political consulting and negative campaigns. “One of the worst things that can happen to you is when a friend turns on you.” To varying degrees, the White House has worked to discredit other women who have made sexual allega tions concerning the president. Clinton supporters portrayed Jones, who has sued the president for sexual harassment, as money-hungry and a tool of the Republican right. The White House suggested that Lewinsky, a former intern who says she had an affair with Clinton, wore her skirts too short and spent too much time hanging around him. In Willey’s case, the spin has been more subtle since Friday’s release of a deposition in which she claimed that Clinton fondled her during a 1993 encounter just outside the Oval Office. Clinton has denied making any improper overture toward Willey during their meeting, which coinci dentally occurred the same day her husband committed suicide. In meetings on Saturday, Clinton aides debated the rewards and risks of going after Willey, and concluded that direct attacks would do more harm than good. Instead, White House aides, speaking on condition of anonymity, began talking solemnly about the financial problems that beset Willey and the emotional stress caused by the suicide of her husband. Who knows what kind of pressure she was under when she made her allegations, they said. Each day since then, the White House has turned up the pressure. On Sunday, the same day Willey appeared on CBS’ “60 Minutes,” Clinton lawyer Robert Bennett went on ABC to cryptically promise that there was unspecified information that “seriously undercuts her claims.” Anonymous sources passed word that Willey had written “consistently friendly and admiring” notes to the president after the alleged incident. On Monday, the White House released copies of her letters. Bennett questioned whether money was moti vating her and said her lawyer was “hawking a book.” McCurry insisted Tuesday that the White House was simply trying to provide factual information. “I have not heard a single person at the White House impugn anyone else’s credibility,” he said. Still, he acknowledged that the White House wanted to get out another side of the story after Willey appeared “in front of however many millions of people.” Her letters were released, he said, because “we wanted to help Americans understand the fuller con text of the story.” The release of the letters remind ed Anita Hill of the tactics that critics used against her in 1991 when she accused Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harass ment. “Your entire life is subject to being turned upside down,” she said on NBC’s “Today” show. “And that’s hard for anybody to go through.” 1990, ’98 elections similar By Jessica Fargen Assignment Reporter During the 1990 ASUN elections, a debate was held in a bar, and businesses rewarded student voting by giving dis counts on beer, fast food and music. But that’s where the differ ences between 1990 and 1998 stop. Besides being the closest Association of Students of the University of Nebraska elec tion in eight years, last Wednesday’s election mirrored the 1990 elections in several $ ways. ^ Eight years ago, VISJON gave TODAY a run for its money and cashed in. But, like COMMIT this year, VISION didn’t run the 1990 ticket. VISION defeated TODAY by five votes in a runoff elec tion for president and vice pres ident. But in the second vice presidential race, TODAY beat out VISION by 89 votes. This year, 340 votes sepa rated COMMIT’s Sara Russell and Kelly Hoffschneider from VISION’s John Wiechmann and Jill Maaske for the presidency and first vice presidency. In the race for second vice president, COMMIT’s Chris Linder lost by just 53 votes to VISION’s Eddie Brown. The similarities continue. ■ Both Brown and Scott are African Americans, and both took the second vice presidency in a split victory. ■ Wiechmann is chairman of the Government Liaison Committee, and Deb Fiddelke, who lost the president’s race in 1990, also led the GLC. ■ A recount was done this year to determine the senatorial race in the Teachers College, f and the last time a recount was done was for the runoff in 1990. ■ In the 1990 elections, the main two parties were greek with the exception of VISION’s Mohling, who was president of the Residence Hall Association. All four candi dates for the president and first vice president were in greek houses. ■ In 1990, Bryan Hill was outgoing ASUN president and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. This year’s outgoing president, Curt Ruwe, is also in Alpha Tau Omega. Even party platforms were similar. Eight years apart, they both focused on how to get stu dents more involved and decrease apathy. Candidates for the nongreek party, STAND attempted to combat student apathy by increasing voter turnout in an unusual way. STAND organized efforts, which VISION, TODAY and several administrators were skeptical about, to give stu dents discounts from Lincoln businesses for voting. Students whose thumbs glowed fluorescent green when they placed them under an ultraviolet light, proving they had voted, were rewarded with happy-hour prices at Duffy’s Tavern, 1412 O St. Another bar gave voters $2 pitchers, Amigos in the old Reunion Plaza offered cheaper chicken wings, and Project Import Records, 1418 O St., gave a 10 percent discount. And instead of the Crib or Abel Hall, Harry’s Wonder Bar, 1621 O St., was the site of an unofficial ASUN debate, where u There should always be a level of competiton like that. These people are representing these ideas to students and the regents.” Sara Russell ASUN president-elect candidates and the audience absorbed questions and liquor. Sara Russell, ASUN presi dent-elect, said it was a sad statement that it has been eight years since an election was this close. “There should always be a level of competition like that,” she said. “These people are rep resenting these ideas to stu dents and the regents. You need to make sure you are electing the people most qualified.” Voter turnout also increased in 1990 and 1998. This year it increased by about 3.5 percent, and in 1990, voter turnout increased by about 5 percent. And students who were wearing those little stickers last Wednesday that said “I VOTED ASUN” probably did not know that in 1990 those stickers had to be changed. They used to read, “I VOTED TODAY,” but ASUN realized that if they passed out those stickers on election day, they would be giving their sup port to the TODAY party. I Questions? Comments? Ask for the appropriate section editor at (402) 472-2588 or email dn@unlinfauni.edu. Fax number: (402) 472-1761 World Wide Web: www.urd.edu/DailyNeb TheDaHy Nebraskan (USPS144-080) is published by the UNL Publications Board, Nebraska Union 34, 1400 R St., Lincoln, NE 68588-0448, Monday through Friday duming the academic year; weekly during the summer sesskms.The public has access to the Publications Board. Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the Daily Nebraskan by calling (402)472-2588. Subscriptions are $55 for one year. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Daily Nebraskan, Nebraska Union 34,1400 R St, Lincoln NE 68588-0448. Periodical postage paid at Lincoln, NE. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 1998 THE DAILY NEBRASKAN Editor: Minidof Editor: AmditXi Editor: Associate News Editor: Assignment Editor: Opinion Editor: Sports Editor: A&E Editor: Copy Desk Chief: Photo Director: Design Co-Chiefe: Art Director: Online Editor: Asst Online Editor: Genera] Manager: Publications Board Chairwoman: Professional Adviser: Advertising Manager: Assistant Ad Manager: Chadded Ad Manager: Paula La vigne Chad Lorenz Erin Schulte Tted Taylor Erin Gibson Joshua Gillin David Wilson Jeff Randall Bryce Glam Ryan Soderiin Jamie Ziegler Tony Toth Matt Haney Gregg Stearns Amy Pemberton Dan Shattil Melissa Myles, (402)476-2446 Don Walton, (402)473-7301 Nick Partsch, (402)472-2589 Daniel Lam Mami Speck Parade proceeds peacefully, breaks down city tradition BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) - Defying convention in this traditional ly pro-British Protestant city, more than 10,000 Catholics marched into the cen ter of Belfast on Tuesday in the city’s first-ever St Patrick’s Day parade. Celebrants strolled peacefully to the tunes of local reggae singers and a visit ing Brazilian salsa band. But - despite written invitations - there was little participation from Protestants, whose favored patriotic color is orange and who fly the British flag. “We’re putting St Patrick’s Day on the map in Belfast,” said the parade’s organizer, Catriona Ruane, who in hopes of achieving Protestant involve ment had required marchers to avoid political-party banners and told fife and-drum bands to skip overtly anti British tunes. The parade featured children with painted faces and shamrocks on their heads, Viking-costumed warriors, and a 30-foot-long fake snake. But the Irish language banners and green, white and orange Irish flags would have been enough to dissuade many Protestants. That kind of overt Lrishness tradi tionally has been suppressed in Northern Ireland, where pro-British Protestant marches dominate life each summer. Though St. Patrick’s remains are reputedly buried in Downpatrick, 20 miles south of Belfast, St. Patrick’s Day i here has long been a muted affair - and celebrated exclusively on Cathode turf. Until this decade, even flying an Irish flag or hanging street signs in Gaedc was illegal. In Belfast, previous marches by Catholics were blocked before they reached City Hall. But the peace process has swelled Catholic confidence, even in Belfast “Traditionady, the city center has been reserved for one section of the population,” Ruane said in reference to Belfast’s dwindling Protestant majority. “But we’re showing it’s our city, too.” In Downpatrick, Protestants and Cathodes worshipped together inside the Anglican cathedral near Patrick’s traditional burial place. “I don’t believe anybody owns St. Patrick,” said Anglican Bishop Harold Mider, who laid a wreath at die stone monument to the saint among grave stones outside Down Cathedral. “We call him the aposde of the Irish people. He belongs to every Irish Christian per son right across the divide.” In Armagh, until this year the site of the largest St. Patrick’s parade in Northern Ireland, Cathode Archbishop Sean Brady released 1,553 green-and white balloons to symbolize the number of years since Patrick’s consecration as the first archbishop. In the neighboring Irish Republic, meanwhile, hundreds of thousands turned out for more than 30 parades. Dublin, for several hours. I The following Is a list of goals ASUN has set, and the progress It has made. 1. To create ouccoonful programming for MartfoUither King Jr. Day on Jan 19 as wel as create a Martfo Luther King Jr. Day coorcinating commission for 1999. -ASUI President Curt Ruwe said alhou^i his wok on the commission has been done for several weeks, he was confident flat presidentelect Sara Russel world have a ^eamteesT tension onto tie oommissioa Ruwe said Russel has previously worked vOhmemebers on tw commission, such as umar varensne, a memoer or AinKan Peoples union. 2. Rssooroh and work toward the ImptemsntaUon of mkhorm and stnnrtmd academic evaluations in ackfltlon to the existing departmental evafoaUons. -Rwmb said he met wtti Russel last Rfdsytoeochenge ideas on how to make sfcdente more confident to the evaluation process. Rave said changing toe evaiusfion system was a hand process, but he was confidential Russefs admrisflafion world confinue to esqplorB options. 1 ConlinuotoaCTlttowMdlnytomonttStondnpwVk^^rflttnn^^ -Ruwe said ASUN has not woriod on Ms goal tor several weeks. Stodents tove told him toy want the class, Ruwe said, but they do not want to loee tot warning tickets or lave increased periwig petrnft prices, He said I was pretty much now uptoRussefeadmtoisflation, which takes oioe April. 4b wonc siwarosiienwirBgwtraDon for cnttoos. -Pail Schreier, chairman of »aTechnology Fee AcMeory Board, said he had not done any work this week or last week on MsgoaL He saidtwaetne lor the new ASUN adhriniskafiontotake over. Schrier said he hoped flat Russel world confinue to make I poestle lor UNL students to register orfine, but i vos hBRitoprecfict how longlwotld take.t could take sk morthsorayear," he said."far newer tom’ 5. Lobby for student support for foe‘Train gate” ML -LBHTBros advanced past oommllee and to the Legisnia floor, but Ruwe said he was not veiy confident in Is success *Ib year. He said fla nature of »a bi has also changed. There is no reason to waste a lot ol fime on somefling that is not going to happen," he sail 6. Have the Student bnpact snd Government Uason Committee start campus DesuuiKauon projects. -Carrie Pierce, cheiwoman of the Stodent Impact learn, said the teem has been busy woriSig an tond raising efforts to raise money to replace flees and shrubs damaged by last Octobers storm. She said they met vflh the new dredor of landscape senloee, fibn Meyers, to dtecuss STTs role to tree planing. STT members plan oncaing nurseries and busineesestoaskfordonalions and wanttohaueacanjpuswide service project in Apritopfert tides. 7. Reconstruct foe Outstsndng Educator Award -This goal was not aooompfehed because! was not reoonsflucted before last Wednesday* ASUN elections, in vMch the outsorting educator is elected, Ruwe said. This year* outsfeandteg educator is BIMclaigfin,anac|unctchemteyinstnjctor.
