Wednesday, March 29, 1995
Letting Off Steam 3/24/95
He who calls the tune, pays the piper, there's no free lunch, and you must put your money where your mouth is. Unfortunately, often in public life it is someone else who pays the piper, etcetera.
These thoughts crossed my mind while reading some recent news items. These remarks are not very focused, but they have to do with my general thesis of responsibility. Irresponsible criticism must pay for its mistakes. Responsible criticism must include potential solutions.
First item, the one about Yale University having to refund $20 Million to a donor.
Four years after giving this sum to Yale, to expand its Western civilization curriculum, and after extensive negotiations about its implementation to satisfy the requirements of the faculty multiculturalists, the donor, Lee M. Bass, got tired of the runaround and asked for a say in the hiring of the teachers. When that was not granted, he requested a refund. Yale has agreed to repay, even though some of the money is already spent, and the school has a $12 Million deficit. A Prof. of comparative lit, Michael Holquist, states that: "I think Mr. Bass made a great mistake. I think that the possibility for a creative and innovative program...for new ways to negotiate Western heritage has been lost." He reminds me of the statements of the negotiators of the baseball strike. Nothing was said about whether the multiculturalists made a mistake. Holquist further states that he had always held out hope that a compromise curriculum could have been designed. Nothing indicates how his people contributed to the working out of the program in the four years. Nothing indicates that the protesters are raising a fund to help defray the loss.
On the same page, John L. Loeb is giving Harvard $70.5 Million in directed funds, for population issues, preventive medicine, advanced environmentl studies, and a "humanist chaplaincy" at the Memorial Church, as well as general teaching and financial aid support. No funds to expand the Western civilization curriculun, hence no protest. While New York Times saw fit to write a sanctimonious editorial about the Bass gift, they saw naothing objectionable in the Loeb conditions.
Next story. SUNY trustees have announced that they will close eight of the SUNY 34 campuses and raise tuition by $1,600 a year, to $6,250, to meet the Governor Georce E. Pataki's proposed 31.5 percent budget cuts of $290 Million, out of a total budget of $1.5 Billion. The Chair of SUNY, Frederic V. Salerno, forecasts that this action would cause a drop of 20,000 in the 159,000 student body.The Gov and Speaker Bruno have responded by offering to get rid of the trustees, for using scare tactics. This is an issue that would hurt the Governor politially, since most of the SUNY campuses are in upstate Republican areas, and provide employment.
Speaking from personal albeit anecdotal knowledge, the SUNY campuses, which were expanded to accomodate the baby boom, have been underutilized for years. This is a classic case of duplication of facilities and administrative overheads. To justify their existence, some community colleges have been recruiting prisoners in local jails and welfare recipients, offering them free tuition and transportation to attend classes, without having to meet performance requirements. The courses offered to this group of students have not been specifically geared to teaching trades and skills that would facilitate the students' return to mainstream. Thus, much waste. Consolidation of SUNY facilities is indicated. As to the Governor's gee-whiz reaction, it would be inconceivable that he expected the 31.5 percent budget cut to go through without some college closings.
I find the Governor's attitude particularly galling because in January he endorsed the Gingrich balanced budget amendment, full well knowing that New York would lose huge Federal subsidies, should the amendment take effect. Our New York State sends Washington about $14 billion more a year than it gets back as is. Under the amendment the state would lose $11.2 billion in annual aid by the year 2002, and would have to raise taxes by 24 percent to make up for the loss. This was calculated by the Democratic Governor Howard Dean of Vermont. The Dean numbers were disputed as hypothetical by Governor Pataki, who has promised not only to reduce taxes by 25 percent but also not to mandate expenses down to the local level. If reducing the state support for schools, Medicaid, hospitals and home nursing aid does not mandate expenses down to local levels, I don't know what does. Who's kidding whom! Already the demonstrators are gathering - Al Sharpton's army has marched to Albany, school kids are walking to New York City Hall, and there will be more. Jesse Jackson has started talking in street language, and my paranoia foresees a hot summer of potential riots, the kind that came right after the Civil Rights acts were passed in 1965, that forced the brave President Johnson turn tail and pass the Great Society laws, precipitating the welfare mess that we are in today. If the Contract With America goes through as announced, the riots will not be far behind. But maybe that is what the Right wing envisioned all along - cause riots that precipitates suspension of government and a Pat Robertson dictatorship.
Paying the Piper
He who calls the tune, pays the piper, there's no free lunch, and you must put your money where your mouth is. Unfortunately, often in public life it is someone else who pays the piper, etcetera.
These thoughts crossed my mind while reading some recent news items. These remarks are not very focused, but they have to do with my general thesis of responsibility. Irresponsible criticism must pay for its mistakes. Responsible criticism must include potential solutions.
First item, the one about Yale University having to refund $10 Million to a donor.
Four years after giving $20 Million to Yale, to expand its Western civilization curriculum, and after extensive negotiations about its implementation to satisfy the requirements of the faculty multiculturalists, the donor, Lee M Bass, got tired of the runaraound and has requested a refund. Yale has agreed, even though it has spent some of the money, and has a $12 Million deficit. A Prof. of comparative lit, Michael Holquist, states that: "I think Mr. Bass made a great mistake. I think that the possibility for a creative and innovative program...for new ways to negotiate Western heritage has been lost." He reminds me of the statements of the negotiators of the baseball strike. Nothing was said about whether the multiculturalists made a mistake. Holquist further states that he had always held out hope that a compromise curriculum could have been designed. Nothing in the article shows whether his people contributed to the working out of the problem in the four years, or essentially contributed to protest. Nothing in the article indicates that the protesters are raising a fund, or taking a cut in pay, to help defray the loss.
On the same page, John L. Loeb is giving Harvard $70.5 Million in directed funds, for population issues, preventive medicine, advanced environmentl studies, and a "humanist chaplaincy" at the Memorial Church, as well as general teaching and financial aid support. No funds to expand the Western civilization curriculun, hence no protest.
Next story. SUNY trustees have announced that they will close eight of the SUNY 34 campuses and raise tuition by $1,600 a year, to $6,250, to meet the Governor Georce E. Pataki's proposed 31.5 percent budget cuts of $290 Million, out of a total budget of $1.5 Billion. The Chair of SUNY, Frederic V. Salerno, forecasts that this action would cause a drop of 20,000 in the 159,000 student body.The Gov and Speaker Bruno have reponded by offering to get rid of the trustees, for using scare tactics. This is an issue that would hurt the Governor politially, since most of the SUNY campuses are in upstate Republican areas, and provide employment.
Speaking from personal albeit anecdotal knowledge, the SUNY campuses, which were expanded to accomodate the baby boom, have been underutilized for years. This is a classic case of duplication of facilities and administrative overheads. To justify their existence, some community colleges have been recruiting prisoners in local jails and welfare recipients, offering them free tuition and transportation to attend classes, without having to meet performance requirements. The courses offered to this group of students have not been specifically geared to teaching trades and skills that would facilitate the students' return to mainstream. Thus, much waste. Consolidation of SUNY facilities is indicated. As to the Governor's disingenuous reaction, it would be inconceivable that he expected the 31.5 percent budget cut to go through without some closings.
Another story. The Congressional axe aimed at the National Endowment for the Arts has its origin in such NEA-sponsored shows as the Richard Serrano sculpture, featuring Christ in urine, Karen Finley's image-mutilating self-exhibit, and Maplethorpe's homosexual/sadistic photographic fantasies. These anarchistic shows in themselves are part of our 1st Amendment rights; were they denied, we would be the less for it?
These thoughts crossed my mind while reading some recent news items. These remarks are not very focused, but they have to do with my general thesis of responsibility. Irresponsible criticism must pay for its mistakes. Responsible criticism must include potential solutions.
First item, the one about Yale University having to refund $20 Million to a donor.
Four years after giving this sum to Yale, to expand its Western civilization curriculum, and after extensive negotiations about its implementation to satisfy the requirements of the faculty multiculturalists, the donor, Lee M. Bass, got tired of the runaround and asked for a say in the hiring of the teachers. When that was not granted, he requested a refund. Yale has agreed to repay, even though some of the money is already spent, and the school has a $12 Million deficit. A Prof. of comparative lit, Michael Holquist, states that: "I think Mr. Bass made a great mistake. I think that the possibility for a creative and innovative program...for new ways to negotiate Western heritage has been lost." He reminds me of the statements of the negotiators of the baseball strike. Nothing was said about whether the multiculturalists made a mistake. Holquist further states that he had always held out hope that a compromise curriculum could have been designed. Nothing indicates how his people contributed to the working out of the program in the four years. Nothing indicates that the protesters are raising a fund to help defray the loss.
On the same page, John L. Loeb is giving Harvard $70.5 Million in directed funds, for population issues, preventive medicine, advanced environmentl studies, and a "humanist chaplaincy" at the Memorial Church, as well as general teaching and financial aid support. No funds to expand the Western civilization curriculun, hence no protest. While New York Times saw fit to write a sanctimonious editorial about the Bass gift, they saw naothing objectionable in the Loeb conditions.
Next story. SUNY trustees have announced that they will close eight of the SUNY 34 campuses and raise tuition by $1,600 a year, to $6,250, to meet the Governor Georce E. Pataki's proposed 31.5 percent budget cuts of $290 Million, out of a total budget of $1.5 Billion. The Chair of SUNY, Frederic V. Salerno, forecasts that this action would cause a drop of 20,000 in the 159,000 student body.The Gov and Speaker Bruno have responded by offering to get rid of the trustees, for using scare tactics. This is an issue that would hurt the Governor politially, since most of the SUNY campuses are in upstate Republican areas, and provide employment.
Speaking from personal albeit anecdotal knowledge, the SUNY campuses, which were expanded to accomodate the baby boom, have been underutilized for years. This is a classic case of duplication of facilities and administrative overheads. To justify their existence, some community colleges have been recruiting prisoners in local jails and welfare recipients, offering them free tuition and transportation to attend classes, without having to meet performance requirements. The courses offered to this group of students have not been specifically geared to teaching trades and skills that would facilitate the students' return to mainstream. Thus, much waste. Consolidation of SUNY facilities is indicated. As to the Governor's gee-whiz reaction, it would be inconceivable that he expected the 31.5 percent budget cut to go through without some college closings.
I find the Governor's attitude particularly galling because in January he endorsed the Gingrich balanced budget amendment, full well knowing that New York would lose huge Federal subsidies, should the amendment take effect. Our New York State sends Washington about $14 billion more a year than it gets back as is. Under the amendment the state would lose $11.2 billion in annual aid by the year 2002, and would have to raise taxes by 24 percent to make up for the loss. This was calculated by the Democratic Governor Howard Dean of Vermont. The Dean numbers were disputed as hypothetical by Governor Pataki, who has promised not only to reduce taxes by 25 percent but also not to mandate expenses down to the local level. If reducing the state support for schools, Medicaid, hospitals and home nursing aid does not mandate expenses down to local levels, I don't know what does. Who's kidding whom! Already the demonstrators are gathering - Al Sharpton's army has marched to Albany, school kids are walking to New York City Hall, and there will be more. Jesse Jackson has started talking in street language, and my paranoia foresees a hot summer of potential riots, the kind that came right after the Civil Rights acts were passed in 1965, that forced the brave President Johnson turn tail and pass the Great Society laws, precipitating the welfare mess that we are in today. If the Contract With America goes through as announced, the riots will not be far behind. But maybe that is what the Right wing envisioned all along - cause riots that precipitates suspension of government and a Pat Robertson dictatorship.
Paying the Piper
He who calls the tune, pays the piper, there's no free lunch, and you must put your money where your mouth is. Unfortunately, often in public life it is someone else who pays the piper, etcetera.
These thoughts crossed my mind while reading some recent news items. These remarks are not very focused, but they have to do with my general thesis of responsibility. Irresponsible criticism must pay for its mistakes. Responsible criticism must include potential solutions.
First item, the one about Yale University having to refund $10 Million to a donor.
Four years after giving $20 Million to Yale, to expand its Western civilization curriculum, and after extensive negotiations about its implementation to satisfy the requirements of the faculty multiculturalists, the donor, Lee M Bass, got tired of the runaraound and has requested a refund. Yale has agreed, even though it has spent some of the money, and has a $12 Million deficit. A Prof. of comparative lit, Michael Holquist, states that: "I think Mr. Bass made a great mistake. I think that the possibility for a creative and innovative program...for new ways to negotiate Western heritage has been lost." He reminds me of the statements of the negotiators of the baseball strike. Nothing was said about whether the multiculturalists made a mistake. Holquist further states that he had always held out hope that a compromise curriculum could have been designed. Nothing in the article shows whether his people contributed to the working out of the problem in the four years, or essentially contributed to protest. Nothing in the article indicates that the protesters are raising a fund, or taking a cut in pay, to help defray the loss.
On the same page, John L. Loeb is giving Harvard $70.5 Million in directed funds, for population issues, preventive medicine, advanced environmentl studies, and a "humanist chaplaincy" at the Memorial Church, as well as general teaching and financial aid support. No funds to expand the Western civilization curriculun, hence no protest.
Next story. SUNY trustees have announced that they will close eight of the SUNY 34 campuses and raise tuition by $1,600 a year, to $6,250, to meet the Governor Georce E. Pataki's proposed 31.5 percent budget cuts of $290 Million, out of a total budget of $1.5 Billion. The Chair of SUNY, Frederic V. Salerno, forecasts that this action would cause a drop of 20,000 in the 159,000 student body.The Gov and Speaker Bruno have reponded by offering to get rid of the trustees, for using scare tactics. This is an issue that would hurt the Governor politially, since most of the SUNY campuses are in upstate Republican areas, and provide employment.
Speaking from personal albeit anecdotal knowledge, the SUNY campuses, which were expanded to accomodate the baby boom, have been underutilized for years. This is a classic case of duplication of facilities and administrative overheads. To justify their existence, some community colleges have been recruiting prisoners in local jails and welfare recipients, offering them free tuition and transportation to attend classes, without having to meet performance requirements. The courses offered to this group of students have not been specifically geared to teaching trades and skills that would facilitate the students' return to mainstream. Thus, much waste. Consolidation of SUNY facilities is indicated. As to the Governor's disingenuous reaction, it would be inconceivable that he expected the 31.5 percent budget cut to go through without some closings.
Another story. The Congressional axe aimed at the National Endowment for the Arts has its origin in such NEA-sponsored shows as the Richard Serrano sculpture, featuring Christ in urine, Karen Finley's image-mutilating self-exhibit, and Maplethorpe's homosexual/sadistic photographic fantasies. These anarchistic shows in themselves are part of our 1st Amendment rights; were they denied, we would be the less for it?
# posted by Wally Dobelis @ 10:56 AM 
