The drama of the ongoing Michael Jackson trial, in which the popular musician has been accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy, has sparked debate among AU students. The issue has caused some to attempt to separate their impressions of him as both a musician and an individual.
Some students feel that Jackson is talented, but an odd person.
"I think he's an amazing talent, but a tad bit creepy," said Lauren Bell, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Josh Mattingly, a freshman in the School of Public Affairs, feels differently.
"Simply being a strange individual doesn't make him a sex offender," Mattingly said.
Whether or not Jackson is guilty of child molestation has yet to be determined. Jackson invited the boy, now 15, to his ranch after the first time they spoke, the boy testified, and they soon began to exchange phone calls. The two spoke on the phone approximately 20 times while the boy was in the hospital being treated for cancer.
Jackson has pleaded not guilty to 10 charges, including molestation, conspiring to commit child abduction, extortion and false imprisonment. He will face up to 20 years in prison if convicted, according to ABCNews.com.
Jackson's accuser took the stand Wednesday and described being forced to look at pornographic Web sites and being encouraged to sleep in Jackson's room, said ABCNews.com.
The accuser's brother has also given damaging testimony against Jackson.
Jackson's lawyers attempted to establish that the boy and his siblings may not be credible witnesses during cross examination, since his older sister admitted to defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. that she lied in a previous lawsuit against JC Penney.
Though Jackson has cooperated with authorities on the whole, The Washington Post reported on Thursday that Jackson failed to arrive to court on time after representatives said that he went to the hospital after he fell and injured his back that morning. Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville set a one-hour time limit for Jackson to arrive before he would be arrested. Jackson arrived several minutes past this deadline and appeared to be wearing pajama bottoms, a jacket and sandals, an ABCNews.com article said.
Some AU students felt that his actions were inappropriate.
"I don't think he should wear pajamas to a trial," said Seana Duffy, a junior in the School of International Service.
The trial is also affecting the lives and livelihoods of other celebrities and famous entertainers. Melville ruled on Friday that Jay Leno may joke about Jackson on 'The Tonight Show,' an ABCnews.com article reported, even though a gag order has been issued since he is a potential witness in the case.
Leno may testify about a phone conversation he had with the accuser, who Jackson's lawyers say solicited money from several celebrities, including Leno.
While some people think the trial is important news, Chris Chan, a sophomore in CAS and SPA, said that it seems trivial compared to other world events.
"It is just about one person who may or may not have done something wrong," Chan said. "I think it's a farce."
Aneesa Khan, a sophomore in CAS agreed.
"I don't care about the trial's outcome, this is old news," she said.
