According to the higher education leaders, many elected officials, faculty, students, staff and the general public, higher education budget cuts will send universities, and therefore their states, into decline. Wisconsin’s Governor Scott Walker’s budget proposal last week included a decrease of $300 million in state support for higher education. It amounts to 13% according to the New York Times.   Rebecca M Blank, leader of UW Madison, the flagship campus, said if she eliminated the Schools of Nursing, Law, Business, Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine she’d still have to find other places to save money.

Walter V. Wendler

Things aren’t much better on the East Coast. Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy has proposed a budget that stipulates a $40 million hole in the University of Connecticut, the diamond in the necklace of higher education in the Constitution State. UCONN President Susan Herbst said that “managing a reduction of that size will necessitate deep and significant cuts throughout the University.”   Malloy left public education alone but did propose additional resources for special charter and magnet schools. Presumably these institutions are producing good results, but the jury is out.

In the desert Southwest, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey also brought out the hatchet, hacking $75 million, or 10% of state support to public higher education. Some say Ducey didn’t go far enough. Interestingly, Eileen Klein, President of the Arizona Board of Regents, is not sure about the cuts and their impact but does like the liberating potential of a stronger “public – private” approach to higher education. Michael Crow, at Arizona State University made international news with an inventive initiative to provide educational opportunity to Starbucks employees. The partnership offers reduced cost study through ASU to all Starbucks employees. Like it or not, it’s innovative and forward-looking.

Stringent financial times are driving many institutions into the ground. However, those same conditions prod other institutions to reflect diligently on what they do for whom, why, when, and how they do it, and to what effect. Leadership must ask legitimate questions of faculty and administrators in a shared governance, shared responsibility environment. It will advance a form of unparalleled academic freedom and ideation.

Governor Bobby Jindal’s seemingly merciless reductions in funding higher education are attributed to a potential presidential bid in 2016. This year, he’s trying to plug a $400 million shortfall. Both he and Governor Walker are being chided for appealing to the hardest right-leaning base of the Republican Party. Maybe, maybe not. The pension systems, ancillary costs, luxurious un-necessaries, and a multitude of other forces are driving the cost of education up while state revenues are disappearing in too many states in the nation.

And finally, Illinois freshman Governor Bruce Rauner proposed a budget with $6 billion in cuts to universities and other state enterprises. Rauner says this budget is “honest with the people of Illinois.” If that were the case it would be a refreshing change considering how many former state leaders served time, or are currently in state pens, for abject dishonesty.  For Illinois universities a reduction of over 30% in state support is called for. Not to trivialize the amount, but for some institutions in and out of Illinois, state support is less than15% of the total budget. Nonetheless a 30% drop in state funding requires that university leadership bring out the ax and chop off “business as usual” at the root. “Oh, I believe in yesterday” won’t work, no matter who’s running for what or which political party they represent.

If only one state were involved, these kinds of cuts could be blamed on a misguided state leader. But it’s not just one state. In fracking insulated North Dakota universities must change because mission is changing, even though the Peace Garden State has more resources than ever. Governor Jindal was a university president. Did he forget that?   Many in Wisconsin claim that Scott Walker has disdain for higher education. “He never even graduated from Marquette,” they say. And it’s true. However, holding a degree from a university proves no love, appreciation, understanding, or concern for higher education. University presidents have pilfered for personal profit at universities from which they have been given PhD’s while the institutional trajectory spiraled downward.

It is illuminating that reporting on higher education budget reductions occur in the “politics” sections of newspapers. In the “higher education” sections imagine headlines like these:

“New Tax Breaks Promote Record Private Giving To Higher Ed”

“Groundbreaking Liberal Arts Program Stipulates 50% of Degree Requirements Acquired off-shore”

“Coalition of University Presidents Proposes 401K Style Pensions for All Campus Employees”

“State Flagship Outsources Everything but Teaching and Research: Returns to Basics”

“Intercollegiate Athletics Programs Sold to Spectrum Sports Management, Inc.”

“New Pricing Structure Calibrates Costs to Combination of Student Ability to Pay and to Learn”

“Scholarships to Community College Graduates Equal Those for New Freshmen”

“Reduced State Oversight:  Faculty Say Academic Freedom Up while Student Cost is Down”

“University Degree Provides New Opportunity for 338,875 Toyota Employees Worldwide”

“Tuition and Fees Set At 237 Different Levels Depending on Student and Academic Program”

Just a few thoughts and I know: I am dreaming.

By Walter V. Wendler

In loco parentis, “in the place of a parent,” suggests that an organization or institution should or can act toward the benefit of a child in the absence of his/her mother or father. This ancient contract was embedded in English common law and a standard expectation of parents towards schools; and schools willingly accepted the burden of absentee parenthood, at the primary, secondary, and even university levels as an integral part of the educational process.

Walter V. Wendler

Since late in the 1940’s the inviolability of the concept has been chipped away at by civil libertarians to provide constitutional protection and liberty to students at every step of the educational ladder. In the 1960’s, a number of “adult citizen” freedoms, speech and assembly for example, were placed on universities through acts of the courts and legislatures at the state and national level, that limited in loco parentis, almost killing it. But, the concept still breathes.

Student-as-child and student-as-citizen create conflicting forces that are nearly impossible to navigate. Here are five perspectives.

One: A university rarely encourages structure on behavior from a moral perspective, which would be seen as restrictive and illiberal, yet expects faculty members to report all discussions of possible sexual crimes to authorities through covenant. Current law, The Cleary Act, disallows, for better or worse, a faculty member’s respect for a student’s wishes for a confidential consultation. Is the student a child or an adult? Is the faculty member a parent, teacher, confidant, or law enforcement officer? What is a school? Sexual crimes occur to be sure, but the same acts in a non-student environment under different conditions or circumstances are not equal.  Does this inconsistency create confusion?

Two: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) require institutions to treat students as adults; talking to a parent about a student’s academic performance is illegal without written permission, even when the parent is footing the bill. The same concept governs if binge drinking is suspected. However, The Cleary Act mandates that if a faculty member talks to a student about a reportedly non-consensual sex it must be disclosed to authorities, but whether it can legally be shared with a parent is unclear. Rape, whether fueled by a night of drinking, or a pathological indifference to anyone’s interest other than a perpetrators demand for immediate self-gratification, is a felony: Rape is rape, on- or off-campus. Yet, in the face of convoluted logic, universities are accepting responsibility to act as parents and police, moral and legal roles respectively, in fear of losing federal funding in accordance with The Cleary Act. It seems you can have it both ways. Does this baffle you as much as me?

Three: Intervention in personal decision making cannot be institutionalized. And for the stalwart few who insist on trying to communicate the positive benefits of personal moral perspectives that don’t excuse criminal irresponsibility by adults — silence is a condoning force — be prepared for a barrage of criticism. You will be branded a Neanderthal. Brow beating a particular perspective into students is foolishness, but sharing experiences through moral perspective can be educational. We all have one, and it should be shared as a cogent aspect of the teaching/learning process.  Is this mysterious?

Four: Universities are not special places where rule of law is suspended and students are treated extra legally, or like children through the tradition of in loco parentis.   In the case of Dixon v. Alabama a clear and appropriate argument was made that students should be afforded the same access to due process as any adult citizen. Does this translate to a faculty member being required to report a case of sexual misconduct? Why is a citizen on the street not required by law to do the same? What makes the relationship between the faculty and the student special and limited to some areas of life, and off limits or subject to required state intervention in others? Is this a solvable puzzle?

Five:   Students are adults and should be afforded the same rights, responsibilities and privileges thereto appertaining. Not quite. When a fraternity or sorority breaks campus rules, usually they break civil laws too, yet are seldom prosecuted as criminals, except in the most egregious cases, but rather expelled or suspended from school. The protection of students as special status citizens works to break down personal responsibility for actions and undermines the purpose of the university. If in loco parentis is seen as detrimental to the rights of students, it should be eliminated in whole and if that be the case, the need for student discipline hearings and equally extra-legal exercises would vanish.

Faculty and staff are not cops and courts. Students should enter the criminal justice system for violations of law. Or be law abiding citizens and enjoy the benefits of freedom, like studying.   Can you have it both ways?

Have we allowed in loco parentis to become just plain loco?

Gay Bowlin, Manager

Doug Yoder was in the office on Tuesday giving a Farm Bill update. There is not much time left to make your decision on what you will be doing with your farm ground. February 28 is the deadline to make your decisions and all paperwork must be competed and signed by all parties.

Gay Bowlin

I cannot even begin to explain any of this in a short article so the best thing to do if you have not done this or if you have questions is to call the FSA office at 438-4021 ext. 2. You can go to www.ilfb.org/farmbill for more information.

So far this month, corn prices are averaging $4.13 vs. last year’s $4.62.  Soybean prices this month are currently averaging $9.58 vs. last year’s $11.36. We still have the remainder of February to go. I know that some of you out there reading this think that farming is a “money making” machine. These falling prices show that farmers are not making the amount of money now that they did last. If you take into consideration that the cost of literally everything is going up including the cost of fuel and seed and machinery then farmers are making much less per acre.

U.S. House Republican leadership put H.R. 636 on the schedule for today (Friday February 13^th).  The bill makes the Section 179 small business expensing option permanent at $500,000, indexed to inflation.  IFB is also supporting permanent deductions for charitable contributions of food and for donations of conservation easements.

The Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2015 (H.R. 594) now has 143 cosponsors, including six Illinois republicans — Reps. Bost, Kinzinger, Schock, Shimkus, Rodney Davis, and Hultgren.  We expect to hear in the coming days about a bill that will be introduced in the Senate.  Several Illinois environmental groups are using Twitter and other social media to encourage our elected officials to stay off any anti-WOTUS bill that is introduced in the Senate.

For those of you who are using TWITTE we will need your assistance in the coming days to remind Sen. Kirk of his strong past statements against EPA over-regulation and encourage him to sign on to the #ditchtherule effort.   We will also continue to focus on Sen. Durbin and all members of the Illinois delegation.

The Franklin County Farm Bureau has many businesses giving discounts and/or support to our members. Here are just a few:

Benton Dairy Queen – 1218 N Main St, Benton, IL (618) 439-3378

• $1.00 off round of mini-golf or $1.00 off a Royal Treat (not valid with other offers)

The Wild Trillium – 807 Public Square, Benton, IL (618) 435-3744

• Local Artisans – unique gifts – follow us on Facebook for special “party” information

Extreme Auto Care & Service – 210 W Main St, Benton, IL (618) 438-0024

• Free detail with service work of $300 or more – 10% senior discount (55 and over)

West Frankfort Bowl – 108 E Poplar St, West Frankfort, IL (618) 937-9096

• Free drink with purchase of meal or free shoe rental with paid bowling

Rhino Linings of Southern Illinois – 1201 W. Webster, Benton, IL (618) 438-6144

• 10% off Rhino and Accessories (not valid with other offers)

For more information on joining the Franklin County Farm Bureau please call our office at 435-3616. There are many more discounts available to anyone who has been a member in good standing for at least 30 days. So don’t wait – call or come by and join now. The savings are amazing and it is a great organization.

Remember we are farmers working together. If we can help let us know.

On his path to becoming Illinois’ next governor, equity investor Bruce Rauner boasted he would be able to fix the state’s massive financial problems, assuring voters, “I’ve been a success at everything I’ve done.”

Here’s the link to the story in the Chicago Tribune.

(NOTE:  As I was preparing for my annual “Christmas Memories” show on WQRL, that will air Dec. 17, I come across this column that I wrote 10 years ago.  I brought back good memories for me and I hope you enjoy. Merry Christmas!  — JM)

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The young man in the frayed black and white photo looked to be in his early 20s. His eyes were bright and optimistic and he had a full head of thick, dark hair. He had a broad smile which made me feel that he was happy when the photo was taken.

It’s because of that young man, I thought, that I’m standing here in the middle of this two-car garage on a blustery Sunday afternoon in November.

The young man that held my stare that day was my dad and the photo was taken at a time when he had his entire life ahead of him and long before he knew me. When the photo was taken I suppose I was, as the saying goes, still just the gleam in his eye.

My dad, Bill Muir, had died six weeks earlier and in the ensuing weeks since then my family had gone about the task of sorting out his personal belongings — sorting out 87 years of living, 60 years of marriage, the birth of four children and more than four decades of living in the same house on the same corner. I guess it’s fair to say that we were sorting out his life, and it was a good life.

That particular day found me going through the large two-car attached garage. I would describe the day as a cross between a therapy session and a trek down memory lane.

My parents’ generation has been correctly called “the greatest generation” however I believe they could have also been called “the keep-it generation” – meaning that they would prefer to keep their possessions, whether they needed it or not, rather than throw it away.

I’ll stop short of calling my dad a pack rat, but I laughed out loud at some of the things I discovered – all neatly in place I should add – and shook my head wondering why he kept some of the items he did. I discovered one small box with approximately 25 nozzles from empty cans of spray paint and a shoebox full of heels off of shoes, some worn and some new. Another box contained at least 50 small pieces of used sand paper. In many instances there was more paper than sand. And it was like that throughout the day, rolls and rolls of tape, shoestrings, coffee cans, nuts, bolts, nails and even a box of water bills from the 1950s and 1960s. Upon examination the water and sewer bill back then was $2, mailed in an envelope that contained a four-cent stamp.

Perhaps the prize of the day came in mid-afternoon when I pulled a small motorized object from a closet inside the garage. It was mounted on a stand and had a spotlight attached with a well-worn electric cord that had a small switch. I knew immediately what the gizmo was and knew that there was also a second piece. Upon further searching a plastic, multi-colored wheel about the size of a plate was found. I remembered the apparatus because it was used with an aluminum Christmas tree. The wheel was connected to the small motor and sat on the floor beneath the tree. As the wheel turned the tree changed colors from red to blue to yellow and to green. It was all the rage in the early 1960s.

I quickly assembled the wheel to the motor and sort of held my breath as I plugged in the well-worn electric cord. To my amazement the spotlight lit up, the wheel slowly started turning and the chiming sound of “Silent Night” could be heard.

At the exact same second that the light came on I was immediately transformed in my mind into a small boy standing with my dad on the sidewalk in front of our house braving the cold, while waiting for it to get dark to see the aluminum tree change colors for the first time.

In the high-tech world we live in today children would consider an aluminum Christmas tree and a multi-colored light that plays Christmas carols dull and boring. But, standing beside my dad that cold December night many years ago it was a magical moment – a moment that brought a smile to my face and at the same time put a lump in my throat when I recalled it more than four decades later.

When we look around this holiday season it would be easy, with a sagging economy, increasing unemployment and growing anxiety at every turn, to get robbed of the joy and wonderment associated with this wonderful time of the year.

So, instead of dwelling on things I have no control over I’m going to instead offer thanks for good parents, that wonderful old aluminum Christmas tree, a multi-colored revolving wheel, spray paint nozzles and a box of used sandpaper.

In short, I’m going to be thankful this holiday season for a garage-full of good memories.

By Jim Muir

In order for a university to create positive economic and social value it must serve the community and region where it is located.  However, when a university only works to serve the local community, without a vision to expand influence, little university or social value is accrued. Patrick Geddes gave birth to this idea a century ago in his classic text, “Cities in Evolution.”  Marshal McLuhan’s concept of the “global village”  is often misunderstood and causes a university to overstep regional needs as a means to increase reputation.

Walter V. Wendler

This thinking is especially detrimental to universities in rural regions, where the positive impact of increased employment, cultural and recreational opportunity, and general economic development may be most powerful like a company town. The impact of a single university in a major metropolitan area, while consequential, almost disappears in comparison.

U.S. land-grant institutions; Texas A&M University, the University of Illinois, Penn State University for example, are located in rural regions. These universities continually transform local economies while having global impact.  All are internationally known, in part because they addressed local needs in becoming stalwart economic work horses.

Other examples have value.  Emily Dickenson, writing in her upstairs bedroom with only the fortification of family and familiarity, touched the world mightily for generations.  She understood deeply rooted cause and effect human emotions common to all souls and was able to express those relationships through the prism of her outwardly small world.  An international audience that crosses every geographic and cultural divide harmonizes with her sensibilities of the human condition.  She was a contributing citizen of the world community from a second floor bedroom.

On the other hand, the worldly, sophisticated, well traveled Henry James’ “In the Cage” fails for his being out of touch with the working people about whom he vicariously writes.  Ellen Douglas’ reflection, “Provincialism in Literature” provides these working perspectives.  A well-grounded understanding of problems and circumstances clarify rather than confuse provincialism and regionalism.   Provincialism breeds narrowness of mind, but effective regionalism draws ideas from multiple sources and coupled with focus benefits individuals, communities, and the world.

Moreover, while a region is seemingly distinct they are frequently replicated in many places around the world.  The soybean and corn production farming of central and southern Illinois is one example.  The Illinois Soybean Center, housed at SIU Carbondale is a team effort of government/industry/university collaboration for powerful regional benefit. Furthermore, if the College of Agriculture at Southern Illinois University has a positive economic impact on the region through increased crop yields, and the same principles will be of value in other delta locations where similar geographic, social and commercial regional forces are at work.

Ramon Lim, M.D., Ph.D., who is Professor Emeritus of Neurology in the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, makes a strong case for the combination of regional distinctiveness and international excellence regarding the University of Iowa and its powerful contribution to the “land locked” state of Iowa.

Regionally and globally 4,000 MIT related companies employ 1.1 million people and have annual world sales of $232 billion according to Jonathan Cole (Research Universities and the Future of America) in concert with the civic leadership of the Boston Metropolitan Area. MIT has a long history of scholarly productivity.  The University of Alabama, Birmingham creates a $4.6 billion economic impact on Birmingham adding 61,205 jobs according to the National Science Foundation report.  It is only 75 years old — young by comparison to MIT.  A recent decision to eliminate football was regionally based, creates significant consternation, and would make little sense in many rural university towns.   Birmingham doesn’t need a football program evidently.   Given the impact of Alabama and Auburn for talent, fans, or brand why bother?   The University of Alabama Birmingham will be known for research prowess in medicine and related fields, and economic impact that creates more “wins” in the long run.  Birmingham and UAB will be pleased with where it goes, and with better odds than a 60 yard downfield “Hail Mary” pass.

Bloomberg Businessweek’s “What MIT Can Teach Colleges About Becoming an Economic Powerhouse” cites one of the ways that MIT has provided such economic power beyond the adherence to academic excellence —  they helped “Build regional ecosystems. To increase the likelihood of spinoffs, encourage close ties with industry and government.”  MIT’s model mirrors the marriage powerhouse of Stanford and local government in Silicon Valley.
Adam Smith’s observation in the “Wealth of Nations” is correct:  “The policy of some nations has given extraordinary encouragement to the industry of the country; that of others to the industry of towns. Scarce any nation has dealt equally and impartially with every sort of industry.”  This perspective, when regionally focused, holds true for universities.   There is seamlessness and healthiness in interactive regional and national economies:  Thinking and acting locally generates value globally.

Rural and urban universities help regions become economically stronger and simultaneously increase reach because they address real issues they know something about.  Ms. Dickenson demonstrated the power of reach from her bedroom.  Vicarious experience and copy-cat approaches are superficial: Henry James found that out.   Regional responsiveness is not provincialism and leads to healthy creative economies.

Certainly, there is great joy for Chicago Cubs’ fans today with the signing of left-handed pitching mega-star Jon Lester – one of the top pitchers in this year’s free agent market.  And rightfully so!  After all, when an organization holds the record for futility and has embraced the ‘lovable-loser’ mentality for more than 108 years (but who’s counting) the signing of a top-shelf pitcher and proven winner like Lester is big news not only in Chicago but across the nation.

So, if Cubs Nation is hoopin’ and hollerin’ today and chanting that seldom-used line ‘Cubs win .. Cubs win’ I say let them enjoy their moment in the sun as we count the days until Spring Training.

OK, that’s long enough to celebrate, now let’s talk about facts and legend and lore.

I hate to be the person (really I don’t) to partially deflate the euphoric high that Cubs’ fans are feeling right now but I feel that somebody — and who better than me — has to mention the facts behind Lester’s hefty contract and … ugh … ugh … that 800-pound billy goat sitting in the corner.

Let me explain.

As I read the stats on Lester I just couldn’t help but think yet again that $155 million just won’t buy what it once would.  And that certainly isn’t sour grapes on my part or an indictment that the Cubs overspent to get their man.  You see, I think professional sports owners across the board (especially baseball) have more money than they do common sense so overspending is now a part of the game.  Do the names and contracts of A-Rod, Pujols and Zito ring a bell?  Check out this link for more of the insane spending for marginal players.

The $155 million, six-year deal that Lester signed for translates to $25.83 million per year.  During the past nine years the 30-year-old Lester has an overall record of 116-67, which factors out to 12.8 wins and 7.4 losses per season.  Lester has also pitched more than 200 innings in six of the past seven seasons, so he is durable and has stayed healthy, two very important stats.  During that same stretch Lester has had a not-so-great 3.58 ERA.  He has also shown the ability to win in big game situations as evident by his 3-0 record in World Series starts.

Let’s look at Lester’s numbers against his salary.  If he stays healthy (and that’s always the question on a zillion dollar contract) he will get a maximum 32 starts per year, which equates to $807,000 per start.  And if he continues on with his average wins per season — 13 wins per year over nine seasons — Lester will be paid $1.97 million per win.  But hey, that’s the world of professional baseball, every team overspends and takes chances.  It’s the name of the game.

However, while baseball pundits can dissect Lester’s contract from every angle, there is one gigantic issue that must be addressed – the ‘Billy-Goat Curse.’  The ‘curse’ that many Cubs’ fans believe really exists and is solely responsible for a century without winning a World Series.  While looking for some information on the ‘curse’ I was somewhat surprised to find that there is a website (Cubbiesbaseball.com) dedicated to this topic (see I told you some Chicago fans embrace the curse).  So, I just copied the information that you will find below.  It’s pretty amazing stuff … and information that probably didn’t come up in contract negotiations with Lester.

Chicago Cubs Curses

The Goat of 1945

Back in 1945, a man by the name of William “Billy Goat” Sianis attempted to bring a goat named, Murphy, to Wrigley Field during Game 4 of the World Series. Sianis was the owner of the “Billy Goat Tavern” and was a diehard Cubs fan.

Since there was no signs or warnings that barred animals from the park, Sianis figured he would have no problem bringing Murphy to the park. Ready with one ticket for himself and one ticket for Murphy, Sianis and his pet watched the game until late in the game when they were asked to leave. Orders came directly from Cubs owner, P.K. Wrigley, asking that both Sianis and his pet goat be ushered out of the park. The reason given was “because the goat stinks”. As a disgusted Sianis left, he was heard saying “The Cubs ain’t gonna win no more. The Cubs will never win a World Series so long as the goat is not allowed in Wrigley Field.”
After the Cubs lost the Series to the Tigers in seven games, Sianis sent a telegram to Wrigley that said “Who Stinks Now?” Diehard Cubs fans believe the curse still exists today.

The Collapse of 1969

The 1969 Cubs was a team consisting of Cubs legends like Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Fergie Jenkins, and Billy Williams. It was considered to be the greatest Cubs team ever assembled.

With a late season lead of 9 1/2 game lead over the Mets, nothing looked like it could stop the Cubs from returning to the World Series.

The curse is said to have reared its ugly head again on September 9th, 1969 when a black cat ran onto the field as the Cubs played a crucial series against the Mets at Shea Stadium. After running circles around Ron Santo in the on-deck circle, the black cat quickly disappeared underneath the stands.

The 1984 Cubs

Finishing the 84 season with a 95-64 record, the Cubs were primed and ready to finally return to the World Series. Led by MVP, Ryne Sandberg and Cy Young Winner, Rick Sutcliffe, the Cubs jumped to an early 2-0 series lead over the San Diego Padres. The Padres won game three and then won game four after Steve Garvey broke a 9th inning tie with a home run. Leading game 5 late in the game, it looked like the Cubs would finally break the curse. Instead, the Padres scored two runs to trim the lead to 3-2. In the 7th inning with a runner on second, a ground ball was hit to First Baseman, Leon Durham. Instead of making an easy second out and retaining a one run lead, the ball rolled between Durham’s legs and the Padres scored on the error. Two batters later, the Padres would take the lead, which eventually led to a Padres win.

Buckner’s Batting Glove in the 1986 World Series

Most baseball fans are aware of the infamous ball between the legs of Bill Buckner during the 86 World Series. The error caused Boston to lose game 6, forcing a game 7. Eventually the Mets won the series and many fans blamed Buckner, thus extending the Red Sox curse.

What hasn’t been noticed until recently was what Bill Buckner was wearing under his first basemen’s glove during that play.

A picture taken over 20 years ago showing Buckner walking off the field after committing the error revealed something that has been undiscovered until recently. As Buckner walked off the field, he removed his glove, exposing a worn Chicago Cubs batting glove with the Cubs logo on the back. Buckner had previously played for the Cubs before joining the Red Sox and was apparently wearing the batting glove for luck. Instead it acts as one more piece of evidence as to why the Cubs Curse exists.

Santo’s 1998 Call

Late in September of 1998, the Cubs were in a tight Wild Card race with the Mets and Giants. On September 23rd, the Cubs were leading the Brewers 7-0. As the Brewers crawled back, the Cubs still led 7-5 in the bottom of the 9th with two-outs and the bases loaded. With a count of 2-2, Rod Beck threw the pitch and a routine pop-fly to left field should have ended the game. Instead, the ball was dropped and the Brewers won the game. The loss was most felt through the emotions of broadcaster Ron Santo.

HUGHES: “Two down, the Brewers have the bases loaded, and a 2-2 count on the hitter. Here’s the pitch. Swung on. Fly ball to left field. Brant Brown going back. Brant Brown … drops the ball!”

HUGHES: “Three runs will score, and the Brewers have beaten the Cubs.”

Steve Bartman and the 2003 Cubs

On Tuesday, October 14, 2003 during a playoff game against the Florida Marlins, Steve Bartman, a local 26-year old global human resources worker from the Northern suburbs of Chicago, became the latest “goat” when he attempted to catch a foul ball near the left field wall. As Cubs left fielder, Moises Alou, attempted to catch the same ball, Bartman, and others could be seen deflecting the ball. What could have been a momentum killer for the Marlins eventually was a major blame to the collapse of the Cubs after being one game away from the World Series. After the game, Bartman apoligized to fans:

“There are few words to describe how awful I feel and what I have experienced within these last twenty-four hours. I am so truly sorry from the bottom of this Cubs fan’s broken heart.

I ask that Cub fans everywhere redirect the negative energy that has been vented towards my family, my friends and myself into the usual positive support for our beloved team on their way to being National League champs.” – Steve Bartman

Though Wrigley Field ushers will not tell you where Bartman sat during that game, a Cubs sticker can be seen on the back of the famous seat where Bartman interfered with the ball. Each game, you can see fans taking pictures at that same spot in the same pose as Bartman.

Since the Boston Red Sox won the 2004 World Series, the Cubs are the last team to be suffering from their famous curse. Whether its the curse of the goat or the curse of the 2003 playoffs, fans hope that each year they do not have to “wait until next year.”

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See, I told you, it’s pretty amazing stuff.

In closing, as a St. Louis Cardinals’ fan I’d like to welcome Jon Lester to Chicago, the National League Central Division and one of the great rivalries in sports history .  And Mr. Lester, don’t believe all that nonsense about the ‘Billy Goat Curse’ … however it might be a good thing to avoid ladders, broken mirrors, black cats, full moons and anything that has to do with the number ’13.’

Play Ball!

I am yielding the floor for the second week to my friend Mark A. Pearson. Now retired, for more than a quarter of a century Mark was an institutional psychologist working in 7 different institutions for the states of Alabama and Illinois. Working with a diverse set of forensic and mental health populations, he continues to search for solutions to individual and group problems.
 
Walter V. Wendler

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By Mark A. Pearson

As we know from history republics (essentially governments of, for and by the people) at best survive only into a third century of existence, then collapse under the weight of more and more added on programs in a (misguided) effort to constantly do more and more for the people. Programmatic/governmental Apoptosis would limit maybe even reduce the likelihood of what is often perceived by historians as inevitable; that any republic, in fact, any governmental system, will end on the scrap heap of history. Planned apoptosis just might reduce the inevitability of that journey/ending.

In spite of the bureaucrat’s intentions to hold onto “the way things were” and to fight for more and more government, history also tells us that things do change. Since my Grandfather’s birth shortly before the beginning of the 20th century and on through my Grandson’s birth shortly after the beginning of the 21st century the world has changed radically. Long lived empires have fallen (the Ottoman; Japan), empires have risen and fallen (the Soviet Union; Nazi Germany), Central Europe and much of the continent of Africa has changed internal boundaries and governments numerous times, the United States has expanded and, if current administrators have their way – will be “fundamentally transformed.”

The problem is not that there is not change, the problem is that change tends to be poorly predicted, prescribed and managed; leaving it a chaotic process. Governmental apoptosis would constantly change things in predicable, prescribed and manageable ways. Problems would be identified and programs created to address them for the likely duration. Programs would not be created to be tended indefinitely. Historically, the military has been expanded in times of war and reduced in times of peace. All governmental problems can be addressed that way.

The intention here is to create a system (subject to review, of course) whereby programs – all programs – die in a prescribed, predictable fashion. Hopefully the program has “solved” whatever problem it was created to solve and resources can be moved onto other current problems (in this way money won’t be spent on eradicating small pox, but rather will be available to manage/eradicate Ebola). If the problem persists in a similar or advanced form a more up-to-date program can replace the previous, no longer useful program. Toward that end it is proposed that every law has a standard, time certain “sundown” provision. Ten years seems a reasonable time to address any identifiable problem (after all it only took the U.S. Military to mobilize, fight and win the greatest conflict of all time (WWII) a little over 4 years). Setting “sundown” dates addresses new laws, those presumably designed to address current problems.

But what do we do about “old” laws; created at some historical moment to address what was an important historical problem. The important thing is to not create a crisis, but rather a process. Thus, every law in existence can be assigned a number from one to 10 (two random number generators can be used – one to select the law as all laws are numbered and one to select the number from one to ten.) The process then is that on 1 January of the following year each and every law with a “one” becomes null and void. This allows the legislature a year to address the issues underlying one-tenth of the laws currently in effect (of course, as they research a given “problem” they may discover duplication of laws and act to “sun set” them also). On the next 1 January the laws enacted in the previous year would become effective while each law numbered “two” becomes null and void. Again, allowing the learned, deliberative legislators to deliberate on a current, better, right answer – knowing full well as the problem morphs, it will be readdressed ten years hence. Each year, in a systematic, predictable fashion one-tenth of the laws of the land – the answers to the old problems of society – are reviewed and updated. The “daughter laws” are more able to address the current state of affairs.

In addition to constantly updating the responses to the here-and-now problems of a society, Governmental Apoptosis, in effect making government more effective, Governmental Apoptosis will give politicians, legislators and leaders something (organized) to do. They say idle hands are the devil’s workshop. Under the current (non) system, when there is not a “crisis” legislators sit around idly and worry that they are – with nothing really to do – irrelevant. This leads many to search out ideas to implement that have nothing to do with the legitimate powers of government – much, if not most, of what the Federal Congress has done in the last century does not seem to be “limited and enumerated” in the U.S. Constitution (but that is for another column, another day).

Governmental Apoptosis will, then, reduce Fraud, Waste and Duplication. It will keep governmental solutions up-to-date with here-and-now problems and it will limit the damage unfettered and uncontrolled legislators can do (often called “unintended consequences”). A positive side-effect is likely that the amounts of money spent on any given problem will be markedly reduced and the workforce necessary to address a here-and-now problem will be reduced as Waste, Fraud and Duplication – especially Duplication are reduced.

(Seventh and final in the IMTE series)

By Walter V. Wendler

A reflection on October 6, “I’m Mad, too, Eddie,” (IMTE) claimed that minority points of view are swept under the rug and labeled as intolerant.  Mayor Michael Bloomberg, speaking at Harvard’s commencement, was correct when he said U.S. higher education is becoming dangerously narrow-minded.  Contravening perspective relative to the status quo is frowned upon. This reflection is not about “political correctness,” an overused, misunderstood, and meaningless phrase that is bantered about to demean any view with which an individual or group disagrees.

Walter V. Wendler

Jonathan Last writes thoughtfully in The Weekly Standard on the changing nature of virtues in our nation and the impact these changes have on how we see the world, or at least how we say we see the world. Last makes a compelling example regarding smoking and sex. While it is acceptable — according to “modern” virtue — to treat smokers as lepers, the idea of suggesting that indiscriminate sex likewise has a negative impact on human physical and emotional health is relegated to citizens of the Cretaceous epoch.  On the one hand the individual who detests smoking is current, proper, and virtuous.  On the other hand, if that same person rejects casual one night sexual “hookups,” fueled by instantaneous gratification, and too frequently alcohol and/or recreational drugs, or sexual relations outside the bond of marriage, they would be branded as stupid, uncaring, and Neanderthal.  On a good day.

Universities, to the diminishment of their effectiveness as reflective social forces, have become institutions prone to eye-rolling responses to diverse points of view.  Harvey C.  Mansfield of the Heritage Foundation provides thoughtful discussion on the issue and encourages caution of quick-draw, shoot-from-the-hip responses to complex issues.  And apart from proclamations from the Ivory Tower, the butchers, bakers and candlestick makers know that no educational opportunity is “value-free.” Some within the ivy covered walls believe freedom from values is the benchmark of university life. They are wrong.

Some points of view are just not welcome. And these unwelcome perspectives come from different locations on the spectrums of insight, knowledge, culture and morality. But, because virtuousness is determined by committees, standards are in flux.  Committees take votes and the view that rises to acceptability is the one that causes the least grief.  This falls short and transforms public morality into thresholds of acceptability. Different targets I fear.

The newest approaches to dealing with sensitive issues are “trigger warnings” to presage potential offenses to unwary audiences, like MPAA ratings for movies.  While dean at a major college of architecture I issued a “trigger warning” regarding a gallery exhibit over 20 years ago.  The show exhibited pencil drawings of acts of homosexual acts that many people found frightening for the content, but beyond that for the darkness and intensity of the presentations. A custodial worker asked me if she could be freed from cleaning the gallery as the images were so intense and disconcerting (she said “disgusting”) she did not want to see them. Said she, “I am having nightmares.” I told custodial service not to ask anyone offended by the exhibit to clean the gallery.  They could find no one willing to do it.

I wanted to remove the exhibit.  It was offensive to many beyond the janitorial staff.  The Office of General Counsel said I could close the exhibit, but I would likely have to reopen it after a protracted public discussion.   The attorneys suggested I post a “trigger warning” (they did not call it that) outside the exhibit hall. I acquiesced, fueled by fear of standing up for a value system that would be wantonly misconstrued by many.  Even the faculty whose protégés produced the exhibited work were concerned and believed fair warning was appropriate.

It is possible to walk on the knife’s edge of personally held values and free public expression, but it is, nonetheless, a knife’s edge.  What made the knife’s edge navigable was not a bureaucracy or a set of rules but thoughtful people trying to understand how to solve a difficult problem in a complex and changing world. In the end, I expressed my thoughts, representing many others, and the artists expressed their views through the work. A set of rules or a committee would not have achieved a desirable outcome.  The commentary about “trigger warnings” suggests every work of fiction ever written would need a caveat, most especially so if the work had any value:  Any idea worth its salt is offensive to some.  Pick the offender: Auclert, Tolstoy, King, Dickens, Laozi, Shakespeare, and Christ are a few examples.

Jonathan Last points out seven “modern” cardinal virtues: freedom, convenience, progress, equality, authenticity, health, and the grandparent of them all, nonjudgmentalism. By comparison, and in contrast, Christianity’s traditional virtues: chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, and humility seem antiquated.  The primary difference between the two sets is simply summed up in Hindu philosophy:  Virtue cannot be imposed or external, but is attained and lived up to by each individual, as an internal commitment.  Interestingly, this is the foundation of Christian practice.
Universities are masters of their own fate and would do well to espouse and act on the fact that people are too.  No two the same.  Hide-and-seek with committees, rules, and processes obfuscate moral responsibility and diminish rather than define it.