University of Houston, 4333 University Drive, Houston TX 77204-2000, (713) 743-1050.
© 2013 University of Houston. All rights reserved.
| Title | Houstonian, 1998 |
| Contributor (LCNAF) |
|
| Date | 1998 |
| Description | This edition of the Houstonian, published by the students of the university in 1998, is the official yearbook of the University of Houston. |
| Subject.Topical (LCSH) |
|
| Subject.Name (LCNAF) |
|
| Subject.Geographic (TGN) |
|
| Genre (AAT) |
|
| Language | English |
| Type (DCMI) |
|
| Original Item Location | LD2281.H745 H6 v. 64 1998 |
| Original Item URL | http://library.uh.edu/record=b1158762~S11 |
| Digital Collection | Houstonian Yearbook Collection |
| Digital Collection URL | http://digital.lib.uh.edu/collection/yearb |
| Repository | Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries |
| Repository URL | http://info.lib.uh.edu/about/campus-libraries-collections/special-collections |
| Use and Reproduction | In Copyright |
| File Name | index.cpd |
| Title | Spring |
| Format (IMT) |
|
| File Name | yearb1998091.jpg |
| Transcript | Presidential Sex Scandal Trouble in the White House Zarana Sanghani Monica Lewinsky's accusations about President Clinton's attempts to cover-up their affair had the country in the midst of a complex legal battle. Handling issues of justice everyday, several law students and professors at the University of Houston Law Center contemplated what the allegations and the investigations imply about the nation's legal system. "I don't care about the affair. When it comes to obstructing justice, that's where we should draw the line," said law student Maryalyce Cox. "I don't want him setting an example. If he can get away with it, then anybody can." Law student Richard Strama said the investigation focused less on the issue of obstructing justice and more on the president's private life, and scrutiny could take away from the effectiveness of the presidency. "I think it's an inappropriate investigation of the president's sex life. It undermines the legitimacy of the president," Strama said. "All I expect politicians to do is to facilitate government. Their private lives are not the issue." Professor of law David Crum said special prosecutor Kenneth Starr may have had powers that undermined fair legal proceedings because "the independent counsel is not subject to the usual checks and balances of an executive prosecutor." The special prosecutor or independent counsel was an attorney assigned to a national case in place of the attorney general, who usually handled lawsuits involving government offices. For example, the prosecutor had an unlimited budget, Crum said. The independent counsel could outspend the other sides, and the defendants may not have had enough funds to equal the prosecutor's efforts. Despite the possibility of problems occurring, law professor Sandra Guerra said assigning an independent counsel was the best method in which to handle the case. "The president appointed the attorney general," Guerra said. "In cases like this, where the attorney general probably agrees with the president and has had a long relationship with him, it's good that someone outside that circle be the prosecutor." Most prosecutors have a lot of power relative to the defendants, Guerra said. The people and the state must have faith in the prosecutor to not abuse that power. Law student Ron Delrose said the independent counsel's actions are legitimate because the administration brought the probing investigation on itself by its conduct. "I think the independent counsel has to be powerful because the Clinton administration is not forthcoming with the information that is needed," Delrose said. "(Clinton) has to tell the facts, whether or not they hurt. And I don't think he's told all the facts." l think it's an inappropriate investigation of the president's sex life. It undermines the legitimacy of the president," Plichard Strama Many UH students expressed sympathy for Chelsea, the Clinton's daughter. Most of the scandal broke shortly before returning to Stanford for her second semester of college. Photo courtesy of World Wide Photos 118 January Presidential Sex Scandal I 19 |