Hill statement: Call from Justice's wife 'inappropriate'

WALTHAM, Mass. -- Anita Hill chose not to speak out on Wednesday about a voice mail left on her Brandeis University office phone from the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

“I am on my way to teach my class, and I don’t have any comment at this point,” said Anita Hill.

Virginia Thomas released a statement, admitting she made a call to Hill.

“I did place a call to Ms. Hill at her office extending an Olive Branch to her after all these years in hope we could ultimately get past what happened so long ago,” said Virginia Thomas in the statement.

Voice mail transcript: 

"I just wanted to reach across the airwaves and the years and ask you to consider something. I would love you to consider an apology sometime and some full explanation of why you did what you did with my husband. So give it some thought and certainly pray about this and come to understand why you did what you did. OK, have a good day," said Thomas in the message (AP).

At first, university officials said that Hill wasn't sure the call was a prank.

"I think Professor Hill in the beginning...unsure what is was, and thought it may have been a prank. I would leave it up to others to judge how they would view the transcript," said Andrew Gully, a Brandeis University Spokesperson.

Back in 1991 during Senate confirmation hearings, Hill, who had worked for Thomas, stunned the nation with her allegations of sexual harassment against her former boss.

"He would turn the conversation to a discussion of sexual matters. His conversations were very vivid," said Hill at the hearings back in 1991.

One of her most unforgettable accusations was about a can of coke on Thomas' desk.

"Went over to his desk to get the coke, looked at the can and asked, ‘Who has put pubic hair on my coke?'" said Hill.

Thomas denied all of her claims and was confirmed by a 52-48 margin.

Hill released a statement about the phone message:

"I certainly thought the call was inappropriate. I have no intention of apologizing because I testified truthfully about my experience and I stand by that testimony."

Harvard law professor Charles Ogletree, who represented Hill and sat behind her at the confirmation hearings spoke to Hill about the call and agreed that she has no reason to apologize.

"It seems to me the conversation should be between the Thomas', if it hasn't happened over these 19 years, and not between Virginia Thomas, who professor Hill does not know, and professor Hill," said Ogletree.

On the Brandeis campus, students who were infants at the time of the hearings got an unexpected history lesson.

"My whole knowledge of the debacle is from YouTube," said Jordan Kert, a Brandeis student.  

Several of the students who spoke with 7NEWS said they didn't even know who Clarence Thomas or Anita Hill were before Wednesday. Now they say that are curious about taking a class with Professor Hill.

Virgina Thomas later said she was not trying to offend Hill with the phone message.

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