Newspaper Page Text
■ Men’s basketball team beats LSU - 3
GEORGIA
COMPL
NtWSPAPGR PROJECT
T(t4 CHRISTINE BROUN
UGA MAIN LIBRARY^
& Black
Ang the University of Georgia community
m INSIDE
• Stuart Davis' art
exhibit opens - 6
• A look back at this
week in UGA
History - 2
MONDAY. JANUARY 26. 1998 • ATHENS. GEORGIA • VOLUME 105. ISSUE 64
University student worked with Lewinsky
By CARLA BRAY
Staff Wfttw
A University student, who was a White House
intern with Monica Lewinsky, the former intern
accused of having an affair with President Bill
Clinton, said Lewinsky’s job gave her access to the
president
"I knew her to say ‘hello,’* said Alison Bracewell, a
graduate student in political science from Athens
*We never discussed anything outside of work-related
topics.’
Bracewell. who interned during the fall of 1996.
said Lewinsky had access to the president because
she worked in the chief of staffs office, which man
ages the president’s schedule
Bracewell worked for the Office of
Intergovernmental Affairs, which deals more with
local and state officials.
Lewinsky is at the center of a national scandal fol
lowing allegations that she had an affair with Clinton
and was encouraged to lie about it. On Saturday,
Lewinsky’s attorneys were trying to make a deal with
independent counsel Kenneth Starr.
A source close to the talks said Lewinsky was will
ing to confirm a sexual relationship with the presi
dent, contradicting her sworn affidavit denying any
such relationship, in exchange for immunity.
Sources said Clinton also denied a sexual relation
ship with Lewinsky in his sworn deposition in the
case of Paula Jones, a former state employee who
recently filed a sexual harassment suit against
Clinton.
“That leaves us with the very real possibility of a
criminal perjury charge against the president, not to
mention many counts of stupidity," said Barbara
Nicastro, who once headed the Justice Department
unit in charge of setting guidelines for pursuing per
jury charges.
Tape recordings of Lewinsky reportedly describe
her having performed oral sex with Clinton on multi
ple occasions, but not intercourse. She also reported
ly complains of his having extramarital relations with
four other women, including other White House
staffers.
Sources who said Clinton denied an affair with
Lewinsky in his sealed deposition for the Jones case
have not specified what Clinton was asked about
regarding his relationship with Lewinsky
He could escape a perjury charge if he broadly
denied sex with her, intending that “sex' does not
include oral stimulation, Nicastro said.
Clinton and a pack of aides focused on his State of
the Union address over the weekend, which Clinton
rehearsed for at least two hours in the family theater
on Saturday.
It is not known if he will address his legal troubles
in his address Tuesday
- The Associated Press contributed to this story.
University
police seek
fire starter
By ANDREW DEMIUO
Staff Writer
University Police are trying to deter
mine who is responsible for setting a resi
dent assistant's door on fire twice last
week.
Oglethorpe House was evacuated early
Saturday morning when the first floor RA's
door was set on fire, according to
University fire Safety
“Somebody deliberately set a door on fire
at the dorm at about 6 a m ," said Fire
Safety Officer Frank Edwards ‘Some
papers and the bulletin board on the door
were set on fire."
The same door had been set on fire Jan.
19 when someone burnt a piece of paper on
the top of the door, Edwards said.
When asked if there were any suspects.
University Police Chief Chuck Horton
would not comment, but Edwards said the
fires were probably set by the same person.
Edwards said he was concerned a
“prank* like this could lead to something
more serious.
“If people think they can get away with
lighting a person’s door on fire, they could
try something more serious next time,’
Edwards said. “Fire's not a toy, and it
shouldn't be treated as such
Some residents who live on the first floor
of Oglethorpe House said the door had been
vandalised in the past.
“I've heard about people taking stuff and
messing with things on his door before, but
it's never been this extreme,' said Jessi
Carden, a sophomore from Macon. “It’s
ridiculous that people could be that igno
rant.’
Jim Day, director of University Housing,
said vandalism to door decorations is not
an uncommon occurrence in residence
halls
“Unfortunately, it's not unheard of for
this kind of thing to happen,* Day said.
“I'm not sure why some folks commit that
kind of vandalism. We won't tolerate it, and
we will respond appropriately to this prob
lem."
Horton said the incident was atill being
investigated.
“We're going to do all that we possibly
can to find the people responsible for this
crime,’ Horton said. “When people start
setting fires in dormitories, that is
extremely dangerous. You just don't deal
with conflict by setting fires*
True hands-on learning
Adele Magher (I) helps Valerie Maples, (r) both residents of Athens, clean a
gourd at one of the activities at the State Botanical Garden.
Botanical garden uses
nature as a classroom
By KRISTEN WYATT
Staff Writer
lb learn about plants, you can sit in a botany or
horticulture class at the University, or you can
visit the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and
learn about plant life first-hand on 313 acres of
gardens and woods.
The State Botanical Garden, on South Milledge
Avenue, offers a variety of classes, most of which
are either free or cost less than $10. Many of the
programs are ta ight outdoors, with an instructor
who points out the species growing in gardens,
greenhouses and along Uie trails.
“A lot of people aren't aware of all the classes
we offer here,* said Misty Herrin, public relations
representative for the State Botanical Garden.
“They come to walk through the trails, and I think
a lot of them would be interested in learning more
about the plants around them. Rather than just
running through, they can take a class and learn
to identify what they’re seeing.*
The botanical garden also offers classroom
instruction for people who want to learn about a
particular topic. Upcoming classes include a
Wildflower Symposium about Georgia's native
plants and a “Numbers and Nature’ lecture on the
relationship between mathematics and plants.
They have a class on just about anything
interesting," said Leigh Foster, an Athens home
maker who attends several classes a year at the
gardens. “You can learn about beekeeping, endan
gered plants, cooking with herbs, mushroom iden
tification. There's always a fascinating class com
> f.i :i *.ih »vU—1
! Programs at the Stats Botanical Qardon:
>Ai—a
weonesaay
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Wildflower Symposium
Fob. 7
10-11:30 a.m.
Numbers and Nature
Fab. 11
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Ir<4aas Dianto
inooor rlMTS
Fob. 18
9 a.m.-noon
Winter Tree Walk
Fob. 1840
Free trees given out to
celebrate Arbor Day
ing up*
Paul McClendon, an education coordinator for
the State Botanical Garden, said more students
should take advantage of the classes offered there.
There’s a lot of opportunities being missed by
the University population,* McClendon said. “We
have a lot of programs that would be of interest to
students, and everything we offer is so cheap.
We'd like to see more students participate.*
Foster agreed, noting that meeting new people
is one of the best rewards of taking a class.
“I've met so many interesting young people
from all different backgrounds,’ Foster said. “You
can learn a lot at the gardens, but you also get the
chance to meet some really nice people. Meeting
young gardeners in my classes helps keep me
young It’s one of my very favorite places to be.*
Police officer in frat
fight back on the job
By MARK NIESSE
Staff Writer
A University Police officer who was injured trying to break up a fight
at the Kappa Sigma fraternity house on Nov. 15 is back on duty after
more than two months of paid leave.
University Police Officer Parks Owens returned to “full active status”
Friday after suffering a broken wrist, a blow to his head and bruises
while attempting to stop a fraternity party that went beyond the 3 a m.
time restriction set by the Office of Greek Life, said University Police
Maj. Jimmy Williamson.
James McLeod Norman, a senior from Thomasville, and Joseph Sean
Ragsdale, a 1995 University graduate, were arrested and charged with
felony obstruction of a police officer and battery in connection with the
incident.
The incident is still under investigation by University Police.
Following a Dec. 9 hearing in Athens-Clarke County Magistrate’s
Court, Judge Michael Coleman bound the case over to a Grand Jury,
which will decide if tnere is enough evidence to indict Norman and
Ragsdale.
According to the ACC District Attorney’s office, the Grand Jury will
not hear the case for at least another week as the state collects further
police reports and evidence before presenting its case.
In the Grand Jury hearing, the state will present its case without
interference from the defense, said John Timmons, a local attorney rep
resenting Ragsdale.
According to Timmons, if the Grand Jury returns an indictment, the
court’s clerk will send out an arraignment notice for Ragsdale and
Norman to plead guilty or not guilty.
Kappa Sigma hired local attorney Kim Stephens to conduct an inves
tigation on its behalf.
Stephens’ report said Norman and Ragsdale didn’t realize Owens
was a police officer and did not resist “after finding out that Owens was
a police officer."
All parties involved voiced concern for Owens’ health.
“I’m happy to hear he’s doing better,” Timmons said.
Chip Marrara, student affairs adviser to fraternities, spoke for the
fraternity.
“They’re very sorry that the incident happened at all and are con
cerned about the well-being of the officer," Marrara said.
In addition to a social suspension agreed upon with the University,
Kappa Sigma will possibly face charges before a student judiciary panel,
Stephens said.
No place like home
for Catlin, Castellano
By CAL POWELL
Sports Editor
There haven’t been many sur
prises at the seventh annual
Georgia Invitational — the top
three seeds reached today’s semi
finals.
And though tournament direc
tor and Georgia head women’s
tennis coach Jeff Wallace said “a
lot would have to happen’ for the
top two players in the country, No.
1 Mirela Vladulescu of Alabama-
Birmingham and Georgia's own
Marissa Catlin, ranked No. 2, to
meet in today's finals, such a situ
ation is a distinct possibility.
Should Vladulescu knock off
Georgia's Vanessa Castellano in
today’s 9 a m. semifinal at the
Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Courts,
she would face the winner of the
Catlin-Mariel Vierban match,
which also begins at 9, in the
final. That match would be played
shortly after both semifinal
matches are over.
Castellano reached the semifi
nals by knocking off Wake Forest’s
Dorothee Kura 6-4, 5-7, 6-1.
Catlin said she feels confident
about her chances in today's
match, though if she wins, she
may have to face her doubles part
ner, Castellano, in the final.
“I feel like I'm playing some
good tennis,’ she said. “My oppo
nents have been tough, but I’ve
stayed focused pretty well."
Catlin breezed through her
side of the bracket, dropping only
two games in her first two match
es. On Sunday, the Clearwater,
Fla., native showed a little wear,
as Maryland's Meg Griffin pulled
to within 5-3 in the second set
before Catlin ripped a backhand
winner from the baseline to done
out the match.
“Marissa is proof that good
things come to those who work
hard." Wallace said. “She is doing
CASIO, aUCRRCRO ti„RSml Blacfc
Marissa Catlin advanced
to the semifinals of the
Georgia Invitational.
everything she needs to do —
staying mentally focused and con
centrating on every point. And
she’s very coachable, so that helps
her a lot."
Castellano has also shined,
Wallace said.
“She’s playing extremely well,"
he said. ‘I’ve been very pleased
with her performance here.”
Junior Jane Reid reached the
third round of play before falling
Sunday to Vierban, 7-6,6-0.
Freshman Aarthi Venkatesan
also reached the third round, but
fell to Kelly Brown of Kentucky, 6-
1,6-1.
Georgia's lone senior, Nadine
van de Walle, was also knocked
out in the third round by Griffin,
while sophomore Iaiuren Rose fell
to Vladulescu in the second round.
6-3, 7-6.
There have been a few match
es where I thought we could have
played a little better,’ Wallace
said. ‘But overall, I've been
pleased’
