4
Friday, September 23,1977
University Daily Kansan
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Comment
Unsigned editorial represent the opinion of the Kansas editorial staff. Signed columns represent only the views of the writers.
Lance questions stay
The Bert Lance affair twisted its way through weeks of press and Senate criticism of Lance, administration criticism of the press and the Senate, the transformation last week of Lance's inevitable resignation into Lance's theatrical victory in the Senate committee hearings—then, somehow yet a surprise, the resignation.
Lance maintained to the end, as did President Jimmy Carter, that his effectiveness as director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) was not harmed by the many allegations about his past financial adventures.
Perhaps Lance could have continued as an able OMB director, but he almost certainly would have lost credibility and trust as a presidential adviser and congressional lobbyist, which he reportedly was so valiant. Lance is not the man behind him within the bounds of the OMB, and had he stayed on his ventures outside might well have been uncomfortable and ignored.
LANCE'S RESIGNATION is far from the end of the Lance affair.
Most prominently, what will become of Lance himself? He is totering financially and still faces investigations into his wheeler-dealer past.
More importantly, though, there are legal, ethical and political questions raised in the Lance investigation that the resignation did not begin to answer.
First, the revelations of Lance's past publicized questions of bankers' ethics barely covered by federal regulations. The inner workings of banks' correspondent relationships and the question of when those relationships become illegal need to be more clearly defined to stop the cozy deals that, in the Lance case, met with wide disapproval from both the public and an embarrassed banking industry.
SECOND, ONE must still wonder why Carter himself did not know more about Lance's past when he nominated him for the post of OMB director last fall—or why Carter persisted in nominating Lance if he did know.
The assertions that Carter's staff did not fully disclose the faces to the man at the top sound strangely and unfortunately reminiscent of another administration. It is hard to believe that a man as meticulous as Carter would have lost his job, but about 40 years later past Carter learned of the Calhoun overdrafts and was assured that everything had been settled.
Finally, the whole mess points once again to the failings of the presidential appointees confirmation process. In the glow of post-election delight with the new Democracy minima, many bureaucrats, investigators and staff members only winked at Lance's finances.
However, only the most bloodthirsty administration critics could gloat over Lance's resignation.
IF LANCE WAS unfairly hounded from office, it is sad that our press and our people are so hungry for scandal that qualified men may become even more wary of working for the public.
But even if most or all of the allegations prove to be true, as seems more likely, then it is just as sad that a supposedly moral President—elected partially because of a hope that government could be trusted again—would choose Laudie. And it is safe to conclude that catch the mistake, because such mistakes will continue to occur as long as political happiness can obscure the scrutiny cabinet-level appointees should get.
For those who are attuned to the political happenings that directly affect the University of Kansas, the squabbling over the construction of buildings at KU as well as Wichita State University has posed a major problem in importance. After all, delays in the completion of the law school building, design errors in Wescow Hall resulting in inadequate ventilation, a faulty roof in Robinson Gymnasium and a lack of water supply to the halls glaringly point to the architectural problems KU has faced the past few years.
It's good that these defects have been brought to the public's eye. But to the average student, they're as remote as a prison riot in Portugal. They don't amount to a hill of beans when it comes to making your way through a day at school or annoying inconveniences.
As any experienced student knows, there are many things on this campus that seem to absolutely defy engineering principles or common sense, yet they prevail over us. You know, Heaven is some of the items that certainly should head up a "bug list."
- The bathroom doors on the fourth floor of Wescoe Hall are not only annoying but also dangerously designed by some sadist who relished the idea of students, faculty and staff members colliding on their way to the bathroom. A simple answer here would be to add a handle and a stop on one side of the door to prevent persons entering the bathroom or persons leaving the bathroom.
U.S. fosters South African bias
- While we're attacking doors, we should mention the main door. It's usually a good candidate for the number one cause of hernias at
N. Y. Times Features
By STEVEN BIKO
Building bugs annoy students
It has become pretty obvious to us that these are crucial years in the history of Azania (South Africa). The winds of liberation that have been sweeping down the face of Africa have reached our very borders. There is no more doubt than we are at a point of change—the only questions now remaining are how and when.
At this stage of the liberation process, we have become very sensitive to the role played by the world's big powers in affecting the direction of that process. In a sense, America has played a shameful role in her relations with our country.
WE ARE looking forward to a non-racial, just and egalitarian society in which color, creed or skin form no point of reference.
We rely not only on our own strength but also on the belief that the rest of the world views
Given the clear analysis of our problems, the choice is very simple for America in shaping her policy toward present-day South Africa. The interests of black women are made diametrically opposed to each other. America's choice is narrowed down to either entrenching the existing minority white regime or alternatively assisting, in a very definite way, the attainment of greater black population as well as those of whites of good will.
America's foreign policy seems to have been guided by a selfish desire to maintain an imperialistic stranglehold on South Africa irrespective of how the blacks are made to suffer.
the African discrimination against oppression and blatant exploitation of the black majority by a minority as an unforgivable sin that cannot be pardoned by civilized societies.
rough many words and statements to this effect have been used in the United States, America, very little by way of constructive action has been taken to concerted press release for white South African regime.
Besides the sin of omission, America often has been positively guilty of working in the interest of the minority regime and the oppressive nature of black people. America's foreign policy seems to have been guided by a selfish desire to maintain an imperialistic stranglehold on this country irresponsible; that the blacks are made to suffer.
THE NEW American administration must, however, take to account that no situation remains static forever. Through their white incarnation and influence on South Africa the South African white minority regime has increased the level of resentment among blacks to
a point where it now seems that the people are prepared to use any means to attain their aspirations.
Heavy investments in the South African economy, bilateral trade with South Africa, cultural exchanges in the fields of sport and music and, of late, joint political ventures like the Vorator-Kissinger exercise are among the sins of which America is accused. All those other interests and serve to entrench the position of the minority regime.
America must therefore reexamine her policy towards South Africa drastically.
A FEW MINIMUM requirements perhaps can be outlined at this stage:
- Carter should reverse the policy whereby America looks to the South African govern- ment to diplomate diplomatic initiatives in Africa.
- Where American firms do not on their own withdraw, the least that can be expected is for their government to set rise rates and keep them from accumulation, rate for the job, reservation, trade unions, etc.
to completely ensure that America is not involved in the exploitation of South African blacks.
- AMERICA SHOULD cease showing any form of tolerance to Bantusan leaders who are operating as a model and platform obviously designed for the subjugation of black people.
- America must insist on South Africa recognizing the need for legitimate nongovernment-initiated platforms like the Black People's Convention.
*America must call for the release of political prisoners and banned people . . . and the integration of these people in the political process that shall shape things to come.*
THE DIRECTION in which allegiances will go obviously will be affected by the role played by the various world powers. If America goes for a full-scale support of the struggle for the black man's liberation, she stands a chance of influencing political trends and being regarded as a genuine friend. Otherwise, so far her role has been seen as that of bolstering the minority regime, all at the expense of the black man.
Steven Biko, South Africa's most influence black leader, died last week in detention after what the South African government said was an eight-day hunger strike.
no, the doors are really no problem on a calm day (which are rare in Kansas) but more frequent are the days when you go to make those doors about as difficult to open as a bank vault door.
Dave Johnson
Editorial Writer
"It is probably more a result of cutting costs than anything else, but the size of the desk tops will be much smaller in taking notes comparable to writing a letter on top of a coaster. The short, oval-shaped tops will accommodate only a few pages of notebook paper. If you have a professor that talks with all the restraint of an aucklander, you will continually moving your paper to avoid写 half your
notes off onto your neighbors desk.
- The chairs in the cafeteria of Wescow were probably designed by the same guy who hung the doors on the bathrooms upstairs. Not only are they very comfortable, but portable as church pews but the legs jut out constituting a hazard to life and limb. Walking to a table in the middle of the room is comparable to from one end of a staircase to one end of the Hawk to the other on a Friday afternoon.
- The sequence of room numbers in (you guessed it) Wescoe wasn't bad on the fourth floor if you can follow the arrows on the walls. But the maze of randomly selected room numbers on the second and third floors is more difficult. The lack of sequential numbering was probably the result of a trend in humanitarian architecture: Because this is the humanities building, it's not
- Continuing the theme of making things an adventure in Wescos, the architect must have thought students weren't enough, so he devised windows that don't open so we could imagine a breath of fresh air whenever guests got up from their seats, turning to turn the phrase of education in a vacuum into a reality.
- Studying in Wesco can also be an adventure, especially in the cafeteria. Again wind and temperature are a factor you're seated under. You're hasty copying notes borrowed from a friend and your chemistry lecture class starts in two minutes when the door opens and gustful wind brings in your breath. You're lucky to collect your notes and make it to class on time.
going to be tyrannized by order and for that matter, reason. Let each trip through these halls be an adventure. And rightly so, if you are a teacher, or if your of your teachers, it is an adventure, map and all.
Granted, many of these bugs are merely nitipicking and could be overcome with a minimal amount of effort. But really, who wants to confront vicious bathroom doors and tripping hazards? You want more worthwhile things to devote our attention to?
The absence of windows that don't open would not be bad if the room temperatures were kept constant. But some days walking from class to class in the sun, or hiking down a mountain with extreme coldness at the top and blasting heat at the bottom.
More could be said about the history of design problems at KU Liberty, which would require a trip to Library Law, and that another story.
NEWS ITEM: CITY TO CONSIDER TERMINATING FIRE SERVICES FOR CAMPUS
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) isn't exactly a thorn in the side- its position is a bit lower
But on small farms, often family-owned and operated, the farmer, and his wife and children, make same work as the bred hand.
Farmers safe with common sense
Small farmers and hermits are almost the only people in the world to be under any independence from government regulations. OSHA, already the terror of industry and agriculture, wants to control small farms, too.
OSHA is a necessary evil, but its necessity doesn't make the evil of it any more acceptable. OSHA needs to regulate factories, warehouses, mines and construction sites. In these situations, the individual worker's environment is important and, really, doesn't have the control over the level of danger.
A few hard-core OSHA enemies insist that it should stay out of agriculture entirely.
In large farms, of course, farm risks are increased because of the greater number of workers and the fact that owners often don't do the same work as their employees.
MIGRANT WORKERS and those on large, plantation-style farms need protection, but agency officials will have to realize that industrial rules won't apply to all agriculture.
Just because the farmer doesn't provide hard hats doesn't mean he's the heartless capitalist oppressing his peasant workers with dangerous working conditions.
Ross McIlvain
Editorial Writer
OSHA ADMINISTRATORS like to point out that agriculture has a higher injury rate than any other occupations except farming and quarrying. But statistics never speak for themselves.
The farmer runs the same risk of being run over by heavy machinery, gored, stumped and kicked. If a farmer has to take the same risks, he's going to keep them to a minimum.
Most people today work in very sedentary, controlled environments. How many newspaper accounts have appeared in newspapers? Worker Dies Horrible Death in Electric Pencil Charisher?"
There are some risks in farming that just can't be ignored. How is OSHA going to regulate the degree of danger in a milk cow, the maximum sharpness of an eye, be detected at which a horse may kick?
One OSHA administrator collects news clippings about farm deaths and maimings to prove that his agency's powers should be expanded. An example given by Vernon Strahm, regional director of OSHA in Kansas, is that he tracked down a farmer who died when his tractor tipped over on him as he was chasing cattle.
CHASING CATTLE with a tractor may not seem odd to city dwellers, but most farm owners do. They chase cattle on a tractor who chases cattle on a tractor
KJHK mellow, noncommercial
To the Editor:
I wish to respond to a letter appearing in Monday's Kansan concerning KU's student radio station, KJHK. If KJHK adopted the suggestion, I will campus disc jockeys would rival cacophonous announcers that permeate the airways on the likes of the "Super Q." as is I, find the "Sound Alternative," the only choice for good video shows and for uninterrupted commercial messages, the mellow voices of the announcers and the fine music heard on KJKH all make for pleasurable listening. The coverage of news and campus events is thorough and informative.
KANSAN Letters
Valerie Berkeley
KJHK, don't change. FM is the only pure radio there is, and KJHK proves it.
Valerie Berkeley San Diego graduate student
can never be protected from himself.
Some OSHA regulations are reasonable for small farmers. No farmer will argue about the merits of keeping protective shields in place on dangerous machinery. And small farmers, who take the same risks as their workers, are prefectly willing to do it voluntarily. To do it would lose a hand or end up in a bailout of a hay. Humans don't have to be forced to look after their own interests.
A good example of OSHA's well intentioned bungling is a regulation it tried to push last year. OSHA declared that all farms with any non-family workers, unhappy, drinking and toilet facilities within walking distance of all fields.
**THIS IS obviously a good idea if a farm has 100 migrant workers in one field, but for the family farmer with one or two hired hands, it is ridiculous. It is not only completely superfluous (owners and workers have long lived sanitary lives without**
such frills), but it is economically impossible.
Small farmers have never been rich, but such a proposal would bankrupt them. Why should they have to provide money for their hands when they can't even afford them themselves?
OSHA exemplifies the agency that can't stop when it's finished the job. Instead of being satisfied with the necessary regulation of industry and large farms, officials will try to find ways to comply that will justify their existence and expand their control.
Nobody wants his job to be any more dangerous than absolutely necessary. But neither does any sane human want some overprotective parent of some animals to protect him from himself.
Americans, and especially small farmers—the last self-reliant individualists—need to stub their own toes, make their own mistakes and run their own lives.
They don't need OSHA.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
Editor
Jerry Selh
Published at the University of Kansas daily August 26, 2017. Subscribers are June and July except Saturday. Sunday and half-tonight. Subscriptions by mail are $ a member or $15 for a year outside the county. State subscriptions are a year outside the county. Student subscriptions are not available.
Managing Editor Edith Proctor
Cobb Steve Prazer
Campus Editor Ben Rowan
Associate Campus Editor Dan Bowerman
Assistant Campus Editor Ian Carloman
Sports Editor Brian Sheehan
Sports Editor Brian Sheehan
Photo Editor George Milleren
Editor Entertainment Editor Lory Kranin
Associate Entertainment Editor Copy Chiefs Beth Greenwald, John Muller
Make-up Editor Janet Ward, Chuck Whittle
Wire Editors Shannon Drewne,
Editorial Writers Debt Muller, Lory Kranin,
Dave Johnson, Rose Mellon, Rick Thiemner
Photographers Eileigh Chen, Paul Rose, John Siteman, Carl Cartesian Editor Ken Westphal
Photographer Eileigh Chen, Paul Rose, John Siteman, Carl Cartesian Editor Ken Westphal
Business Manager
Judy Lohr
Assistant Business Manager Patricia Thornton
Advertising Manager Kathy Long
Promotional Manager Denise Shirley
Advertising Manager Denise Shirley
Classified Managers Dawn Dawson
Publisher News Advisor
David Dary Rick Munzer
Advertising Advisor Business Coordinator
Mel Adams Helen Ross