Monday, August 24, 1998 Speaks Out
Speaks Out
Last Monday, President Clinton spoke to the nation, responding
to allegations of sexual misconduct and the intrusions into his
private life. During his speech,
he said, ³It is time to stop the pursuit of personal
destruction and the prying into private lives.² How much right
does society have to know the private lives of public
officials?
³The public has as much of a right to know about public
figures as they do for anyone else. They are public figures and
they do have a big influence on everyone, but the media does go a
bit too far sometimes, but then again, it¹s driven by the
public. We always want to know more.²
Teresa Goo
Fourth-Year,
Civil Engineering
³I think that the public should learn to leave the public
figures in our society some private life. I think what is being
done with Clinton is far too much. In other countries, the public
figures have very private sex lives, and even if it does become
public, it is not a big deal. They have much more important issues
to think about.²
Sohrab Tahavoli
Graduate student,
School of Medicine
³To be a public figure is a coveted position. It¹s
something where you have to take a lot of responsibility for your
actions. If you¹re in the eyes of the American public, and
you¹re going to be leading them in a certain way, you have to
lead them through a good example. It¹s the public¹s
business to know who¹s leading them, and I think a
person¹s character is described by the way they live, not just
who they say they are, but their actions as well.²
Sandra Lopez
Fourth-Year,
Physiological sciences and English
³I think everybody has a right to their own privacy,
whether they¹re a public figure or not. I think the president
has a right to lead his own private life, and if he wants to sleep
with whoever he wants to sleep with, that¹s his business.
I¹m not saying that it¹s right, but that¹s the way
some people lead their lives. It should be left up to the families
on how to deal with it, not the American public.²
Joshua Zears
Third-Year,
Geology
³I think it¹s up to public figures as to how much
society knows about their private lives. For example,
Clinton¹s personal life didn¹t need to be brought up
until he lied about it. I don¹t think his personal life had
anything to do with his political life or how well he could
govern.²
Naomi Brand
First-Year,
Physiological sciences
³I think society has no right at all. It¹s personal
stuff. Their public life, where they work, is different than their
personal life. It¹s like they lead two different
lives.²
Tomoyuki Ose
Student Teaching Assistant,
Psychology