Feeling Betrayed By Gov's Call Girl Connection
This story was written by Chris James & Rachel Smith, Washington Square News
Stern senior Sarah Hu didn't know what to think.
"It's a shock!" she said, after she saw the news in the Stern lounge Monday. "He seemed like a good guy. I approved of his policies."
Gov. Eliot Spitzer apologized after news sources reported that he was caught soliciting a high-class prostitute. And across campus, people wondered: What happened to the ethical politician whom 70 percent of New York State voted for?
Politics professor Christine Harrington called the scandal "sad."
"People who campaign on ethics as their main concern better realize that they'll be scrutinized on those very same ethics," she said. "And indeed, that is the case here with Mr. Spitzer."
Dan Hughes, the political coordinator for the NYU Law Democrats, thinks that Spitzer's political career is "tarnished."
"He was a rising star within the Democratic Party with national potential. Until this morning, he was on the short list to be the vice presidential nominee," he said.
In a press conference Monday afternoon, Spitzer said, "I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself."
During his brief address, Spitzer didn't mention the possibility that he might resign.
But in interviews, many students and faculty said he should.
"He's got to," said Michael Wood, the executive-at-large for the NYU College Democrats. But he added, "If you know anything about Eliot Spitzer, you know he's a fighter."
Spitzer has many connections to NYU, and many faculty members were directly involved in his early days as governor.
Karen Greenberg, the executive director of the NYU Center on Law and Security, was a co-chair on a transitional committee for Homeland Security. Ellen Schall, a Wagner dean, served on a committee for human service. Michael Waldman, the executive director of the NYU Brennan Center for Justice, served on Spitzer's Government Reform Transitional Committee.
Spitzer was scheduled to speak at the dedication ceremony for the 64th volume of the NYU Annual Survey of American Law, law student and survey Editor-in-Chief Ben Geffen said. But Spitzer canceled the appearance last week.
NYU College Democrats President Chris Cruzcosa worked for Spitzer's campaign in 2006 as an intern.
"I was disappointed," he said of yesterday's news. But he added that Spitzer's political record shouldn't be dismissed.
"I still think he was a very dedicated, talented and decent kind of guy," he said.
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