Tuesday, March 10, 1987 / University Daily Kansan Opinions All in a daze work Only three things are certain in life — death, taxes and the fact that Student Senate never knows what it is doing. In the latest episode in its continuing comedy of errors, Senate denied revenue code status to the KU Forensics Team and the Black Student Union. Now, that is the Senate's prerogative, but let's examine how the members came to this decision through typical Senate fashion. It all began Saturday, Feb. 28. The Student Senate Finance Committee unanimously granted revenue code status to BSU, only to have the decision reversed several hours later by the Student Senate Executive Committee. Members of StudEx voted three in favor, three against and three in abstention. In effect, one-third of the committee decided the issue by choosing not to decide. The two different committees decided earlier that if one committee approved revenue code status and the other denied it, then the group would be denied status. Confused yet? But wait, there's more to the story. Jason Krakow, StudEx chairman, said incorrect procedure was followed in deciding status. As a result, another vote was taken to decide whether to accept the first vote. This time, members of StudEx voted 7-2 to accept what they had done the first time. Still here? OK. The whole mess boils down to the fact that BSU and the forensics team still are being denied revenue code status. Three abstentions. Incorrect procedure. Is it any wonder that it is a rarity when Senate accomplishes anything? Not another meal ticket This mouth has been salivating for years, waiting for some way to receive nourishment from the Regents. The Board of Regents may have another mouth to feed in the future. Well, Washburn University of Topeka just might be able to set the table. Those who want Washburn to become a Regents school might have found a sneaky way to get Washburn into the system. The Kansas House passed an education bill last week that would centralize control of higher education in the Board of Regents. The bill would transfer control of the state's 19 community colleges from the Board of Education to the Board of Regents and would admit Washburn to the Regents system. The bill still needs approval from the Senate and Gov. Mike Hayden. The bill is supposed to have been written in the name of improving Kansas higher education. But passage of the bill would take a load off the Board of Education and dump it on the Board of Regents, which has enough trouble meeting the needs of the existing Regents schools. Such a move would harm the University of Kansas, the five other state universities, the Kansas Technical Institute in Salina and the community colleges. The bill, which is supposed to centralize higher education, also satisfies Washburn, which unsuccessfully has tried to slither its way into the Regents system for years. In the past, the Regents have recommended to the Legislature that Washburn be barred from the system. The present Regents schools would have quite a bit to lose if Washburn succeeded this time. The Regents would have to invest time and money in Washburn, a move that would hurt the existing Regents schools. Their needs must come first. Well-intentioned stunt And in fact, it was just a publicity stunt - but a well-intentioned one. It looked like a cheap publicity stunt. About a dozen congressmen, along with a small group of actors and actresses, hit the streets of Washington to spend the night with the city's homeless. The strategy of the event was best described by actor Brian Denehny when he told a group of reporters, "My being The congressmen and actors participated in the "Great American Sleep-Out." an event planned to bring media attention to the homeless. The sleep-out took place March 3 to heighten the momentum of a bill before Congress to provide $500 million in housing, medical and mental help for the homeless. here means that more of you people will show up." Some may ask whether the rich congressmen and actors couldn't do more for the homeless by donating money than by mugging for the cameras. But the protesters may accomplish more by stirring others into action on this important issue. Something more than money is needed to solve the problem. A change in attitude also is necessary. Instead of playing down the sleep-out as a publicity stunt, people should ask why such tactics are necessary to shame people into action. Yes, spending one night on the street was a small price for the protesters to pay. But if we all make even a small effort, there is no problem that we can't overcome. News staff News staff Frank Hansel Editor Jennifer Benjamin Managing editor Juli Warren Editor editor Brian Kaberline Editorial editor Sandra Engelland Campus editor Mikra Schleier Sports editor Daithe Dulmeier Photo editor Bill Skeet Graphics editor Tom Eblen General manager, news adviser Business staff Lisa Weems Business manager Bonnie Hardy Ad director Denise Stephens Retail sales manager Kelly Scherler Campus sales manager Duncan Calhoun Marketing manager Lori Coppie Classified manager Anni Mikkelsen Production manager David Nixon National sales manager Jeanne Hines Sales and marketing adviser Letters should be typed, double-spaced and fewer than 200 words and should include the writer's name, address and telephone number. 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POSTMASTER Send address changes to the University Daily Kansan, 118 Stauffer-Funt Hall, Lawrence, Kan 66045 Distributed by King Features Syndicate "THIS NEW ROUTE IS FOR ALL YOU SIMPLETONS WHO CAN'T TAKE A JOKE!" Working for America's richest man What's it like to work for the richest man in America? One hundred forty-five thousand people and I probably could give you a good John Benner Columnist idea, and the answer might not be what you had imagined. Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., tops the fifth annual Forbes magazine list of the wealthiest people in the United States. Walton's wealth is estimated to be approaching $6 billion, more than twice as much as his nearest competitor. Walton has made his money on the strength of the performance of Walt Mart stores, which were built in small towns ignored by other retailers. Walton has said that his original intent was to create a modern-day general store that would keep prices low and still offer a wide selection. pany has been attributed to the "down-home" atmosphere that each of the 1,000-plus stores is supposed to seek. This approach is also the reason behind some of the strange things you may have seen in the Wal-Mart store here in Lawrence. The stunning success of the com- I have been in retail for more than eight years and have spent nearly four years as a "Wal-Martian" at the local "Wally World." Never, however, have I been embarrassed quite as thoroughly as was the first time I was asked to participate in the "Wal-Mart cheer." This exercise is when we associates (not employees, please) are subjected to:"Give me a 'W!' Give me an 'A!'" and on so, I was asked to be the squigly that day, as in:"Give me a squigly!" You see, it is not a mere hyphen that separates "Wal" from "Mart." A close look at the Lawrence store could be an education to any student of advertising who would like to view commercialism aimed at rural America. A sign over the main aisle of the store (a.k.a. the "action alley") boasts that the Wal-Mart "buy- American" plan has helped either to retain or to create more than 10,000 jobs in the United States. "Made in America" signs and red, white and blue streamers are used to highlight the products that have kept Americans employed, never forgetting that many of them are potential shoppers. The store stores to keep the general excitement high by having contests, drawings, races, bake sales, dinners and red-light specials. We never say "blue-light" — that's for the other Mart. My personal favorites are the races. We have pitted everything from hampsters to babies against one another, often with hilarious and sometimes messy results. After a walk down the dog food aisle, it is evident that the top-selling chow is not Dog or even Puppy, but instead "Ol Roy." This food is named for Walton's former bird dog of the same name. Each bag memorabilies the deceased hound: "Ol Roy" gone but not forgotten, 1970-1984. To further maintain the family image, the Wal-Mart chain no longer sells many record albums and magazines, including albums by Ozzy Osbourne and Eddie Murphy, and Rolling Stone magazine. Officially, the company says the decision was made in order to stock merchandise "in the family image." Company public relations director Stacey Duncan has denied that the decision was made in response to pressure by Jimmy Swaggart or by religious groups. So how does the richest man in America live? You won't see him on "Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous." In fact, International Dull Folks Unlimited has named Walton the second-dultest American of 1986, just behind David Letterman. Walton drives a beat-up 1979 pick-up truck and spends most of his time attempting to visit all of his stores and hunting quail while on these junkets. He even waits in line when he shops at one of his stores. Is this image merely more advertisement aimed at the small-town shoppers of America? Probably not. After all, there can't be a down-home way to spend $6 billion dollars. Howard Baker a favorite on Capitol Hill Paul Greenberg Replacing Don Regan with Howard Baker as White House chief of staff would have been a stroke of genius four months ago; doing it even now may prove this administration's salvation. Columnist A leader of presidential stature himself, Baker became a nationally known and nationally trusted figure as a result of another and different scandal — Watergate. His soft but insistent question, "What did the President know and when did he know it?" resounded like a Greek chorus, reflecting the country's determination to get to the bottom, or the top of things. He invented credibility with him and much of the country's trust and affection. A man of soft answers and high principles, Baker now steps into another and perhaps even more formidable challenge, bringing with him the good will of Ins and Outs, and almost everbody who has watched him over the years. In the shadow of the Tower Commission's report, his appointment is a burst of old light and seasoned hope. President Reagan and whoever recommended Baker to him — the word is it was Paul Laxalt — are to be congratulated on good judgment. Baker is not only a good man but a nice guy. It would be understandable why a man of his stature would accept such a position at the rosy sunrise of an administration just elected with a popular mandate. But for him to set aside his own presidential ambitions and step in at the bleakest hour and take command of an administration in shambles, says a lot about Baker. His actions say a lot about his sense of duty and challenge, his eagerness to get back into political harness after too long away from his country's service and his sense of patriotism. This job calls for all those who want to be a national zonal talent that made him a respected major leader and bipartisan pillar in the U.S. Senate. Reagan's Irish luck may still be holding. The politically sensitive Reagan and first lady Nancy welcomed Baker to the White House with undisguised enthusiasm ("I am delighted he will be with us17), as the president was bidding adieu to his old chief of staff with polite and unconvincing expressions of regret. The current Republican leader in the Senate, Robert Dole, has been a font of good sense throughout this president's travail; that quality was still evidentin his appraisal of Baker: "a great pick . . . the right man at the right time." Meanwhile, across the aisle, the most Democratic of Democratic senators, Alan Cranston and Ted Kennedy, were joining in the plaudits for Baker. "One of my favorite Republicans," Cranston said. "An inspired choice," Kennedy said, "one of the ablest and most sensible leaders of the Republican Party." Another good sign: Right-wing ideologues were the only ones who seemed upset at the president's choice, "I'm sick to my stomach," said Richard Viguerie, whose idea of a good chief of staff probably would have been closer to Pat Buchanan — whose departure was another happy sign that this administration may yet be salvaged. Meanwhile, out on the hustings, there was more from the wimp. George Bush was still trying to distance himself from this scandal rather than admit any responsibility for it. The vice president said the arms sales to Iran were "clearly wrong" and "failed the American public." Now he tells us. According to the Tower Commission's report, Bush had ample opportunity to protest this self-destructing scheme to sell arms to Iran. But the report offers not a single instance of his ever speaking up against it, unlike the secretary of state and secretary of defense. The vice president will be eager to point out in this coming campaign that the report lists no sins of commission on his part; no need to mention those of omission. With Baker taking command of the White House staff, the mistakes and mistaken can be left to investigating committees and courts while the country gets on with business. Now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of their party and country. As Baker put it in one of his first statements, "If we go forward, credibility will follow." It's a new — and welcome — beginning. BLOOM COUNTY - 1987 Washington Post Co bv Berke Breathed