Thursday, April 2, 1998 | 9:16 a.m.
Alec Baldwin's politics aside, he was the star at a youthful political rally attended mostly by young women who roared their approval. Baldwin, who has been coy about his political ambitions, was among the speakers at a Democratic rally at the State University of New York at Cortland. The audience of more than 1,000 people seemed more interested in his movie star status than his latest activism message Tuesday. "We decided we needed to see him in person," sophomore Jennifer Duby said. "It's probably the only time in my whole life I'll have that chance." "It was definitely an enticement that he was here," added student Kelly Palmer. Students dutifully applauded other speakers -- and roared when Baldwin stepped onstage. "Now that my wife won an Oscar, I can retire," Baldwin kidded about his wife, actress Kim Basinger, who last month won a supporting actress Academy Award for "L.A. Confidential." Baldwin went on to criticize Gov. George Pataki, who cut higher education spending in his previous three budget proposals. Pataki's new spending plan would add millions of dollars to the state's public university system. Critics say he's trying to overcome a potential election-year weakness.
A scoop of Dilbert
Dilbert's World sure beats a muffin and lukewarm coffee. Business fliers found out for themselves Wednesday with free pints of Ben & Jerry's newest flavor, "Dilbert's World: Totally Nuts," a nut-laden, butter almond concoction named for the flat-headed comic strip character Dilbert. Promoters for the ice cream company passed out samples -- and $300 checks -- to 82 passengers boarding a United Airlines flight from New York's La Guardia Airport to Chicago. Dilbert has gained a following making digs at 1990s corporate culture and even inspired its own lingo -- to be "Dilberted" is to be exploited and/or oppressed by the boss. Why launch the new "Dilbert" flavor at the airport? "Dilbert is the workplace hero, so we wanted to surprise commuters in what is normally a business setting," said Mary Lou Kelley, a spokeswoman for the South Burlington, Vt., company.
Keep the money
A judge ruled that Hunter Tylo gets to keep the $4.9 million judgment she was awarded for being fired from "Melrose Place" -- and then some. Television producer Aaron Spelling's companies also must pay Tylo's legal fees of nearly $1 million, Superior Court Judge Fumiko Wasserman ruled Wednesday in upholding her $4.9 million judgment. "She's very happy that the jury found in her favor and that the judge has reaffirmed the jury's decision," said the actress' attorney, Gloria Allred. Tylo, 34, won the award in a discrimination lawsuit after she was fired from the steamy prime-time soap opera for being pregnant. Spelling Entertainment general counsel Sally Suchil said in a statement the company was disappointed but "confident that we will be vindicated" in appeals. Spelling's defense had argued last month that the December award was excessive and the product of "a runaway jury swayed by passion and prejudice."
Compiled by SUN staff
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