Students divided on O.J. Simpson coverage

The jury is split on O.J. Simpson. While some University students have lost interest in the ex-football star's double-murder trial, others say they are looking forward to watching the proceedings on TV. The trial, which begins today in Los Angeles, is being broadcast live on all of the major networks as well as several cable stations. "I think the trial is far, far overexposed," College and Engineering sophomore Matthew Finkelstein said. "It's a travesty of justice. I'm going to watch as little as possible." College freshman Jody Girgenti echoed Finkelstein's sentiments. "I think [the media coverage] is totally excessive," she said. "But I'm sure I'll end up watching because it's going to be on everywhere, all the time." Yet other students expressed an interest in the trial, and said they were going to make an effort to watch. "As a prospective lawyer, I think I'd like to keep in touch with it," Wharton and College senior Michael Hoffman said. "I think it's interesting because someone who was such a hero is now being challenged." Third-year Law student Bruce Koch said he would most likely watch portions of the trial because "it's good to learn from." "It's interesting to watch the tactics of the defense lawyers," he said. Koch added, though, that he did not understand why the networks were devoting so much air time to the trial. "There are a lot of other important things going on in the world," he said. But while most University students agree that the trial is receiving too much hype, most believe that the coverage has been fairly objective so far. "[The coverage] is all right," Engineering sophomore Victor Vuchic said. "It seems to be pretty solid and not too biased." Hoffman agreed, but added that the gluttony of "trash media" has made it difficult to understand the facts. "I don't know who to trust anymore," he said. Whether they believe it is over-hyped, everyone expressed their curiosity about the trial's outcome. "I'll probably pick [the trial] up at the end, because the middle's going to be really boring," Koch said. Vuchic said he will do the same. "I'll tune in when they deliver the verdict," he said. While curious to hear the jury's decision, the consensus among students is that Simpson is guilty but will not be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. "I want to think he's not guilty, but where's there's smoke, there's fire, if you know what I mean," said Hoffman, referring to the mounting evidence against Simpson. "[But] I have a feeling he'll be found completely not guilty." Vuchic agreed. "If it was some average guy, they'd probably put him in the chair," he said. "But O.J. will walk."

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