Local residents react to D.C. hubbub

By CHERYL FRANKENFIELD
Collegian Staff Writer

Today the Senate is expected to discuss dismissing the charges against President Clinton and the decision to call witnesses for the trial.

Although the trial's action is far from State College, residents have different opinions about what the outcome of senators' possible courses of action could be.

"I'm not really sure (what will happen)," said Michael Recchiuti, College Democrats vice president. "I'm hoping for the good of the country, (the Senate will) dismiss the case."

Although Recchiuti wants the trial to be over quickly, he said it might be necessary to call some witnesses to respond to unanswered questions. The consensus among Republicans, including Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and Sen. Arlen Spector, R-Pa., is to call witnesses, he said.

After Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives, Santorum said in a statement, "The vote by the House today to impeach the president is a very serious decision and begins a process in the Senate in which I will be a juror in a trial of most grave proportions."

While the seriousness of the proceedings is clear, the details of the protocol, such as the calling of witnesses, is being heavily debated. The lack of recent precedent for such a trial leaves room for dispute about how the trial should proceed.

Eric Deitrick, a member of College Republicans, said he would like to see witnesses called because it is a necessary part of the process through which the senators should go. Although Deitrick said he would like to see witnesses, he does not want Clinton to testify again.

"I don't think there's a need for that. It seems kind of silly," he said.

On Friday, Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., said he would offer a motion to dismiss the two charges of impeachment against the president this week.

"I don't think they're going to dismiss the case," Deitrick said. "(Byrd's motion) will make the whole thing a lot more bipartisan. The tone will be a lot different (this week)."

Daniel Halperin (sophomore-political science and public relations) said the Senate will consider Byrd's motion to offer to dismiss the case because he is an important figurehead.

However, Halperin said he does not think the trial will be dismissed. The Senate needs to carry the trial to the end because impeachment charges are severe enough to warrant a complete and fair trial.