As the Clinton Senate impeachment trial carries on, many Americans have become critical of the media’s coverage of the scandal.

Of particular interest is the portrayal of former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Dianne Bystrom, director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics, said even with the constant media attention, Lewinsky’s side of the story has not been conveyed.

“She has been covered in everything from tabloids to the traditional press,” Bystrom said. “But we really haven’t heard from Monica herself.”

However, one student believes that Lewinsky has had plenty of opportunities to share her side with the media and simply hasn’t used them.

“She hasn’t said much; [she] kind of deserves a lot of [the negative press],” said Andrea Brody, junior in French. “Even with five attorneys with her all the time, she’s never made a press release or anything.”

Lewinsky has been under a gag order from the Office of the Independent Council, although she currently has a book deal with British author Andrew Morton and an upcoming interview with Barbara Walters.

Even if Lewinsky has had opportunities to tell her side, some people believe the media have been treating her in a humiliating manner.

Vikki Carnine-Irwin, educational coordinator of the Margaret Sloss Women’s Center, said in some respects, she thinks Lewinsky is being treated unfairly.

“The glaring difference with Lewinsky is that she’s referred to by her first name, Monica,” she said. “It’s degrading. People tend to view her as a comical figure; it tends to objectify her.”

Carnine-Irwin said there also are other reasons that Lewinsky has not been treated with respect by the media.

“Her position is one of inequity,” she said. “Being a woman puts her at a disadvantage. She’s not in the same power position as the president.”

Others agree that the imbalance of power between Washington’s most infamous couple plays a major factor in the scandal.

“The issue of power is really the key of sexual harassment,” Bystrom said. “This may not meet those standards [for sexual harassment], but power is at the root of any sexual impropriety. I’m not sure the media has really covered that.”

Bystrom also said the scandal and the issues of abuse of power could have political ramifications for women in the near future.

“Politicians have suggested that this scandal may lead to the legitimacy of a woman running for president in 2000,” she said.

Bystrom also noted that few women in Congress have been singled out for sexual misdeeds.

“Given this idea — perhaps true, perhaps no — that women in power don’t succumb to these types of behaviors as easily as men,” she said.

Bystrom said Lewinsky’s place in history will depend on Lewinsky’s actions in the near future.

“A lot will depend on [the actions of] the moment, but it also will depend on how she conducts herself afterwards,” Bystrom said. “If she does something in her career that can be admired, she will have a good role [in history].”

“If she tries to capitalize on this, or capitalize on bad behavior, she will be treated badly,” she said.