Page 4
Opinion
University Daily Kansan, June 24, 1983
Two men, one building
Not too long ago, there was a TV ad proclaiming a new era for an airline. "We're changing our name . . . ." The change was, in part, due to expansion of the airline's territory.
All the subsequent changes, we are sure, were cheerfully done. After all, this was a new beginning, a chance for the airline to reach new customers and make more money.
On Friday, the Board of Regents approved a name change for the journalism building from Flint Hall to Stauffer-Flint Hall.
By placing Stauffer in front of Flint, the University is honoring the late Oscar S. Stauffer, founder of Stauffer Communications Inc. and a KU benefactor. Before his death in 1982, Stauffer had given the journalism school $1 million for renovations in the building and improvement in the program.
Unfortunately, the building already had a name that many people around the University were quite comfortable with. Flint Hall was named in 1955 to honor KU journalism professor Leon Flint, who taught at the University for 41 years.
There really isn't any need to rehash the arguments. But at its simplest, it was tradition versus gratitude. At its vilest, the argument was academia versus money. Some wanted the name change to get off the ground, while others never wanted to see the change fly.
What emerged from the Board of Regents was a compromise. Why drop a name when there is the marvelous grammatical devise commonly known as the hyphen? It has journalism tradition behind it.
There also seems to be something of a hyphenated tradition already on campus. One example is Carruth O'Leary Hall. Another is the newly renamed University Theatre — Crafton-Prever Theatre.
There may be a small problem with the new hyphenated name. Such a name is cumbersome to the tongue. Often some part of the name is dropped in everyday use.
We can't help but wonder if those who wanted to change the name were thinking of another airline commercial . . . "Is this anyway to run an airline? . . . You bet it is."
Workers depart as high-tech arrives
By BRUCE NUSSBAUM
NEW YORK — Springtime is always a period of great optimism. This year, even the economy is cooperating. Each week brings forth a new burst of glowing statistics, blossoming into financial euphoria like so many brilliant flowers. Yet this recovery is unlikely to provide what people want most — jobs — because this recovery is unusual.
New York Times Syndicate
In this transition from an economy built on
Indeed, the world has not seen one like it for more than a century. The international economy is not passing simply through a normal business cycle; instead, the West's industrial base is undergrowing a dramatic technological transformation brought about by a fourteenfold rise in energy costs in less than a decade.
energy-guzzling heavy industry toward a 21st century society of energy-sipping high technology, millions of Americans and Europeans are being "deskilled." The 35 million workers unemployed on both sides of the Atlantic will not, for the most part, be returning to their old jobs at
These people are not merely losing jobs. Their jobs are becoming archaic, their skills obsolete.
Up to 75 percent of all factory jobs may be replaced by robots by the end of the decade, according to a Carnegie-Mellon University study. For the first time, there will be no safe haven. Automation has spread not only basic industries but also as well as large chilling example, the Japanese are creating a McDonald's-like robot that can cook burgers, pour Coke and make change.
One method of managing chronic un-employment is "reskilling" Reskilling workers will prove to be a lot cheaper than maintaining
them on the dole for the rest of their lives. While a 50-year-old steelworker may not be able to become a computer programmer, he might choose servicing robots over making change at a gas pump. Unions have billions of dollars in pension fund money stashed away in bonds for a rainy day. It is now pouring, and a lot of that sum could be used for retraining.
Our system of higher education has to be reinvigorated. The "hot-tub high-tech" culture of Silicon Valley is intimately connected with California's best universities. In the past, rivers, ports and raw materials determined where new industries developed. Today, the presence of sophisticated universities determines where the corporations of the future will grow. Just as the spread of "aggie" schools throughout the Middle West in the 19th century increased the productivity of farms, so too would the spread of new "teche" schools revitalize middle America.
Balanced budget amendment hopes fading
I seem to recall several years ago an ambitious gentleman from California telling me that the people of America elected him to the presidency, a valiantness the federal budget by the end of his term.
Of course, I also recall Chicken Little telling me that the sky was falling.
The sky did not fall, but the ambitious man from California was elected to the presidency
Let's face it, if Reagan thinks he can balance the budget by next year, perhaps he should consider returning to the movie industry where fantasies can come true.
It is comforting to know, however, that many experts say Reagan has long since given up hope to balance the budget — at least during this term.
Doubtless, Reagan will run again, and doubleless, the subject of a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget will be a topic of concern in the upcoming
And well it should be.
And even it should be.
To become an amendment, only two more states need to ratify the proposal, before it goes on to the Senate for approval.
with that as a possibility, candidates running for office should be aware of such an amendment's implications.
Thanks to Beagan, the winners of the next election may indeed feel the sky is falling.
Experts predict that by the time Reagan's term in office ends, he and his administration will have created a federal deficit of $655.6 billion — that figure is more than $100 billion
WARREN BRIDGES
Abb remain the main section of the budget make up its core, three fourth portion of the budget is made up of governmental benefits, such as Social Security, Medicare, veterans' benefits and food stamps. Benefits such as these account for about 45 percent of the budget.
higher than the federal deficits created by the last five presidential administrations combined. That's right, combined.
That's right, commitment.
And Reagan hoped to balance the budget.
Defense spending accounts for about 29 percent of the budget and interest paid on the federal debt accounts for about 14 percent of the budget.
Obviously, changes would be necessary in these areas to reduce the federal deficit, and thus, work toward a balanced budget.
However, an article in the March issue of Business Week magazine reported that Congress will "pare back federal pay and pension, medical programs and farm price supports, but deficit reducing cuts are secure" (http://www.census.gov/news/1997/issue3/5426). Congress ruled off-limits by congressional leaders and the administration."
social leaders and the business community. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to balance the federal budget without cutting those "deficit-reducing" programs.
Simply, a haphazard attempt to require a balanced federal budget will serve only to increase an already monumental federal defect, and may even cutback from those programs most deserving of federal funds, such as veterans' benefits and farm price supports.
These days, few will disagree that the economy is looking up for the first time in years. And perhaps Reagan deserves some credit. But perhap's Reagan guessing what the future economy will be like.
Without knowledge of the future of our economy, requiring a balanced federal budget could turn a well-intended plan into a disastrous damage arrow in the heart of our economy.
Letters Policy
The University Daily Kansan welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be typewritten, double-spaced and should not exceed 500 words. They should include the writer's name, address and phone number. If the writer is affiliated with the University, the letter should include his class and home town or faculty or staff position. The Kansan reserves the right to edit or reject letters.
The good outweighs the bad in lab research with animals
WASHINGTON — While all of us have benefited from the ability of modern medicine to prevent and treat many devastating diseases, there are critics who fail to realize that the improvement of medical care depends upon research involving animals and who insist that the use of animals in research is inhumane and unnecessary. They are mistaken.
Animals are of course used as substitutes for humans in research regarding the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. Virtually every major advance in medical science has been based on knowledge gained through such research. A good case in point is the development of insulin for the treatment of diabetes. There are in America alone some 11 million diabetics, most of whom live normal lives with the aid of insulin injections. Previous treatment for diabetes consisted of a starvation diet to delay, however briefly, inevitable death. Equally good examples are the development of polio vaccine, improved treatment for heart attacks and high blood pressure, the development of transplant procedures, kidney dialysis and vaccines against numerous diseases.
BY LYNN MORRISON and GERALD S. LEVEY
Nonetheless, important medical questions remain unanswered. Biomedical researchers are seeking methods to prevent, or improve the treatments for a wide range of diseases including cancer, multiple schizology and heart disease. Animals are essential to this research. While such knowledge is often supplemented by information obtained through alternative methods, and while scientists avoid using animals whenever possible (there has been a 50 percent decline in their use in research since 1968), the functions of human organs such as the heart and brain cannot be simulated in a test tube or through the use of a computer. Improvements in medical care will continue to depend — at least in part — on the use of animals.
Considerable publicity and misinformation has surrounded isolated incidents of mistreatment of laboratory animals. Along with the general public, research scientists are appalled by such abuse, whether in a scientific, industrial or sports environment.
Researchers themselves make sure that laboratory animals receive proper care for humanitarian reasons as well as in the interest of scientific quality. Universities and medical schools have committees that inspect animal care facilities and actively oversee the use of animals in research. As for external controls, the Government has established standards for the care of laboratory animals. They must be housed in sufficiently large cages that are kept clean and adequately ventilated. Anesthesia must be used for potentially painful procedures. Animal care facilities are designed by the Agriculture Health Inspection Service of the Agriculture Department. Despite these assurances, public confusion regarding this issue persists and, unfortunately, has been exacerbated by the misguided efforts of certain well-intentioned animal rights groups.
For obvious reasons, there is sharp disagreement between these organizations and research scientists. The biomedical community finds it hard to understand why there is opposition to using animals — even rats and mice — when such research might lead to vaccines or cures for diseases such as muscular dystrophy and leukemia with thousands of children each year. Clearly, the scientific interest that the public's interest in assuring that laboratory animals are treated humanely. But it is important to recognize that the use of animals will remain essential in the search for medical knowledge that will save lives and relieve human suffering.
However, there is an important distinction between these groups and organizations that seek to limit — or totally eliminate — the use of animals in research. Such organizations act in a variety of ways. Many have raised large sums of money to lobby for legislation that would inhibit or ban research involving animals. Some have successfully advocated the repeal of local laws that permit laboratories to obtain unwanted animals from shelters – facilities that last year alone had to destroy about 13 million homeless dogs and cats. Some of the more radical organizations have orchestrated demonstrations or break-ins at research facilities to "liberate" animals. Others go so far as to suggest that the use of prisoners or elderly patients as research subjects would be preferable to the use of animals.
The University Daily KANSAN
The University Daily Kansan (UKS) 600-640 is published at the University of Kansas. 118 Flint Hall, Lawrence, Kan. 600-640, daily during the regular school year and Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings at 9 a.m., Monday through Saturday. Subscriptions are $45 for six months or $87 in Douglas County. Mail attribution to Kansan. Subscription paid at Lawrence, Ks. 600-640. Subscriptions are for $45 for six months or $87 in Douglas County. Mail attribution to Kansan. Subscription paid at Lawrence, Ks. 600-640
Editor Janet Murphy
Jason Murphy
Managing Editor
Editorial Editor
Campus Editor
Assistant Campus Editor
Makeup Editor
Wire Editors
Baff Photographers
Copy Chef
Columbia
Staff Writers
Justin Abelson
Harry Malin
Rick Duffer
Need Staffer
Elizabeth Fennis
Son Schmidt
Stephen Phillips, Steven Purcell, Slow Fox
George Genee
Warren Bridgen, Charles Lawhors,
Seven Strohbill
Judy Hindle, Matt Schaffield
Business Manager Laurie Samuelson
Laurie Samuelson
Retail/Production Manager      Bill Murray
National Back-to-School Coordinator
Classified/Campus Manager
Retail Sales Representatives
Laurel Dunbar Tim Inneside Mike Reynolds,
Tere McClanaghan
Advertising Advice
General Manager and News Advisor
John Obernan
Mike Kaushak