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Thursday, January 15, 1987 / University Daily Kansan
Proceed with caution
Even before he was officially sworn-in as governor Monday, Mike Hayden had shown Kansans that he meant to be a quick, decisive leader. He ordered state agencies to reduce spending by 3.8 percent to ease the state budget deficit, called for pay cuts for top officials and had said he wanted a death penalty bill to be a high priority of the legislature.
But, while Hayden's fast action on these two major issues is admirable, he must realize that a quick solution often is not the best solution.
Hayden has explained his ambitious proposals by reminding people of his 14 years of government experience. He has even said he didn't view the position of governor "as a place where I need on-the-job training."
As chief executive of the
state, Hayden should realize that he has more resources open to him than ever before, and even more responsibilities.
Important issues, such as the state's budget deficit and the state penalty, require careful thought. A rash decision may well harm the people of Kansas more than no decision at all.
The governor should take the time to look at the important issues facing the state once more, not as Speaker of the House Hayden or candidate Hayden, but from the perspective of the governor.
In his inauguration speech, Hayden said his greatest dream was to help make Kansas a better place for your children and grandchildren. Hopefully he will realize that such dreams will not come true overnight.
Gov. Mike Hayden's budget reduction ax has descended on state judges in a personal manner.
A case of poor judgment
Hayden has asked 170 state employees, earning more than $50,000 a year, to voluntarily accept 3.8 percent salary cuts. Of the 170 employees, 154 are judges.
The cuts would be the Judicial Department's contribution to Hayden's proposed $60 million reduction in state spending this fiscal year, which ends June 30.
If these employees cooperate, the state could save $350,000 over the next six months.
Ron Keefever, of the Kansas Supreme Court education and information office, said recently that about 1,000 state employees earned more than $50,000 per year, but only 170 had been asked to submit to a salary cut.
The judges would voluntarily accept a cut, Keefero said, if all state employees received cuts. Salaries are about 98 percent of the Judicial Department's budget.
Hayden seems to have singled out judges. He is treating them unfairly and pressuring them into accepting a reduction. Everyone in the state must face the cuts, but Hayden seems to be asking a select group of people to make personal sacrifices for the state.
The judges have balked at the cuts and Attorney General Bob Stephan's recent opinion has favored their position. According to his opinion, salary reductions cannot be forced on judges and other officers of the executive branch, unless all state employees are treated equally.
This is an all or none situation, preferably none.
We sink or swim together
Lawrence residents, suffering from a multiplicity of flooding problems created by a poorly planned drainage system, will not find much relief without cooperation between city and KU officials.
Lawrence City Commissioners expressed concern for the high costs and lengthy process
Much of the flooding, occurring in the area south of campus along Naismith Drive, has been attributed to poor drainage from Mount Oread. After heavy rains, the water often runs deep enough to disrupt traffic and, in places, can float cars off the road.
Last week, disgruntled residents expressed their complaints to the city commission. An association of south Lawrence residents cited hazardous water levels at numerous intersections and examples of property damage resulting from flooded basements.
City officials and residents have pointed a finger at the University for lack of water detention planning in new building and renovation projects on University land. As a state institution, the University is not bound by the city's water detention regulations.
Greater sensitivity to the city's flooding situation is needed. Viable communication between University planters and architects and city engineers is critical before construction begins on the science library and a human development center, both likely to exacerbate the problem.
Otherwise, south Lawrence residents will continue to find themselves "up a creek" when the rains come.
News staff
News staff
Frank Hansel...Editor
Jennifer Benjamin...Managing editor
Jull Warren...News editor
Brian Kaberline...Editorial editor
Sandra Engelland...Campus editor
Mark Siebert...Sports editor
Diane Dualmeet...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
Kate Schener...Campus sales manager
Duncan Calhoun...Marketing manager
Lori Copple...Classified manager
Jennifer Lumianski...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. If the writer is affiliated with the University, include class and hometown, or faculty or staff position.
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Opinions
The Kansan reserves the right reject or edit letters and guest shots. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall.
The University Daily Kansan (USPS 650-640) is published at the University of Kansas, Kansan. 118 Stauffer Flint Hallow, Kanen, K6045, daily during the regular school year, excluding Saturday, Sunday, holidays and finals periods, and on Wednesday during the summer session. Second-class postage paid in Lawrence, Kanen, K6044. Subscriptions by mail are $40 per year in Douglas County and by county. Student subscriptions are $3 and are paid through the student activity fee.
POSTMASTER. Send address address to the University Daily Kansan, 118 Stauffer-Flint Hall, Lawrence, Kan. 66045
Class begins early for Kansan staff
As students file one by one back to Lawrence, pay fees and get used to getting out of bed to make it to those early morning classes, a group of dedicated and possibly masonic students already have started school.
FRANK HANSEL Editor
And you, the readers, serve as our professors. Each day, we will turn in our assignments for you to grade. If we make a mistake, and we will, call and tell us.
They haven't taken any exams, or attended any lectures, but you are looking at their first homework assignment.
This class started four days early to produce our first homework assignment for our professors.
The group is the staff of the University Daily Kansan.
Unfortunately, names will be misspelled, people will be misidentified and quotes will be taken out of context. But, as in any other class, the only way we learn is for our professors to point out our mistakes. Our goal is to put out the perfect paper each day, but very seldom does a student get a perfect grade in each class.
Readers will notice some subtle changes in the Kanan. The changes we have made were done to help the reader feel more confident we will know where to find certain items.
Before my office is besieged with life-threatening phone calls from people wondering why in the world I would take out the Far Side and
The Far Side has not been abandoned either. Look on page six each day and you will find the humorous life as only Gary Larson can tell it.
Bloom County, calmly look at the bottom of this page. You still will be able to keep up with the daily adventures of Opus, Milo and all the Bloom County gang.
A new feature this semester is the weekly calendar that will appear each Monday. This will include campus and area events, whether they charge admission or not. The deadline for calendar events is 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
Page six also will be the permanent home of On Campus. Check out this feature to find where all the free campus events are taking place. Organizations should stop by the Kansan newsroom, 111 Staffer-Flint Hall, to submit items for On Campus.
The news briefs on page two also have taken on a different look. Now, they run down the side of the page under the headings of "Around the World," "Across the Country" and "In the State."
Probably the most significant change in the paper is the use of graphics. The Kansan now has computer graphics capabilities and more informational graphics will accompany stories. An example of our new graphics is the weather map on the bottom of page two.
With these changes, we hope the Kansan will better serve our readers, but we have no way of knowing unless you tell us. If you have a complaint, criticism or compliment give us a call or write a letter to the editor.
It is only this way that the students in this class will know what their grade is.
Making dollars and sense out of religion
It was late Friday. I had a beer in my hand, and I was in the company of friends. The remote control for the television was in my power.
JOHN
BENNER
Columnist
As I flipped through the stations, I knew everyone was rooting for MTV National.
The Christian Broadcasting Network was in the middle of its telethon fund-raising period.
While everyone else tried to ignore the program, I decided to watch the "$400,000 Match Hour." Pat Robertson told the audience that an anonymous group had issued a challenge. If the audience would pledge $400,000 in 60 minutes, the group would match it.
Pat was surrounded by his cohosts, people with the biggest, whitest teeth and the cleanest hair in Christendom. Behind them sat the telephone "counselors." They seemed to be busy counseling and collecting pledges, but in what order?
I called the toll-free number on the screen ad, and one of the "counselors" answered.
"What does it take to belong to the 700 club?" I asked.
"That takes a donation of $15 to $83 per month," she answered.
"I heard Pat talking about a 1000
"Let me ask my supervisor," she said.
club and a 2500 club. What will that cost me?"
"The 100 Club is a donation of $84 to $208 a month, and the 250 Club is $269 to $400 per month. The Founder is a person who give $400 or more per month."
"Would you like to contribute?" she finally asked.
"What do you do with all the money?" I asked.
"We use it to keep the CBN network going."
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but done. GBN show commercials during that."
"I don't know. I normally just watch The 700 Club."
"Thanks, but I think I'll spend my
money by myself.'
As the hour wore on, it became apparent that the telephone pledges would push the total over $400,000 before the end of the hour. Pat stopped asking for up-to-the-minute tabulations when the total topped $390,000. I assumed he wanted to keep the pledges pouring in until the last second.
After the "$400,000 Match Hour" goal had been met, I pulled out a calculator to do a little bit of figuring.
If Pat were elected president and if he could keep up the pace of the $400,000 challenge 24 hours a day, it would take him 570 years to erase the current national deficit.
Maybe if he could raise just $1 trillion, he could get somebody to match it.
100th Congress brings changes for Dole
WASHINGTON — On the opening day of the 100th Congress, Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole sat in the same chair and behind the same desk that have been his for the last two years. But what a difference!
STEVE GERSTEL
UPI Commentary
For those two years, Dole was the Republican leader of a Senate controlled by Republicans — the most dominant man in what is generally recognized as the most exclusive political club in the world.
Through no fault of his own. Dole's status changed dramatically on election day. The Democrats regained
control of the Senate 55-45, splattering Republican incumbents from coast to coast.
Although Dole had about two months to adjust to his new role as the Republican leader in a Senate controlled by Democrats, the impact must have been sharper on the first day of the centennial Congress.
Dole no longer was No.1. That role shifted to Senate Democratic leader Robert Byrd, who is the first man in history to have served as majority leader, then minority leader and return as the chief of a triumphant majority.
In the minutes before the noon opening last week, the signs of the changing of the guard were noticeable.
Dole, who entered the chamber before Byrd, kept a row's distance from the more than 50 reporters anxious to ask him questions. Whether this was the normal deference shown the majority leader by the minority leader or a reluctance to talk is not known.
**mat is known is that when Byrd, laden with manila envelopes and other papers of state, entered the chamber, Dole was quickly forgot-
But the new alignment did not rob Dole of his sense of humor.
"I must admit it is going to take a few days to adjust," Dole said. "I found myself this morning wanting to talk to him, and do all those things leaders do."
And later, praising Byrd's mastery of the rules, he said, "I am not certain how it is going to work."
"Now that I am minority leader, he can probably do most anything and I will never know the difference." Dole said.
Yet, the change may even work to Dole's advantage if he decides — as he almost certainly will — to seek the Republican presidential nomination in 1988. He will be freer to leave the Senate to search for delegates, leaving the day-to-day chores to his deputy, Sen. Alan Simpson, R-Wyo.
Nor will it profoundly negate one of his strongest points, that, in contrast to the other potential candidates, he has been "in the eye of the storm" on the major issues.
BLOOM COUNTY
by Berke Breathed
AH. THANK YOU ALL FOR
COMING OUT TO SEE ME
OFF ON MY MISSION.
WITH YOUR PRAYERS,
I SHALL RETURN
SAFELY.