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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (March 13, 1987)
Gorbachev's former classmate discusses Soviet leader's ideas By B.J. Thomsen Of the Emerald If Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gor bachev’s plan to revive the Soviet economy is to work, he must have an efficient and effective bureaucracy, said Alexander Riasanovsky, a University graduate. But Gorbachev’s plan is hurting the bureaucracy responsible for implementing the plan, Riasanovsky said during a lecture entitled “Gorbachev’s Dilemma of Power’’ on Thursday. Gorbachev is applying pressure from the top for better efficiency, and as more computer technology is implemented into the system, bureaucratic jobs will be eliminated, Raisanovsky explained. Gorbachev was a classmate of Riasanovsky’s when they attended Moscow State University in the Soviet Union. A Rhodes Scholar currently teaching Russian History at the University of Pen nsylvania, he has taught at Swarthmore. Princeton and Harvard Universities. According to Riasanovsky, Gorbachev is similar in many ways to Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin in that they are both graduates of Moscow State University and are the only leaders of the party who have had a formal college educa tion. Gorbachev is trying to make the Soviet system more efficient and streamlined as I^nin did, he added. Like Lenin, Gorbachev sees the need for an internal watchdog to keep the the Soviet system efficient and uncorrupt, he said. I>enin saw the labor union as the watchdog of the revolution, but Gorbachev sees this task as better performed by the “intelligentsia” or educated. “He (Gorbachev) is contemplating putting more and more acreage into private use,” to in crease efficiency, he said, and noted that although precise figures are not available, bet ween “4 to 6 percent of land being farmed in the Soviet Russia is now being farmed by peasants.” The peasants work on collective farms, but they have small plots of their own. Whatever they grow in these plots, they are allowed to sell on the free peasant market, he said. This tiny percentage of peasant-controlled land produces more than half the entire country’s agricultural output, he added. Alexander Riasanovsky It is this tremendously efficient output that Gorbachev hopes to harness by putting more land under private control, Kiasanovsky said. The land controlled by the peasants is out of bureaucratic control, he said, and if that percen tage is increased, as Gorbachev would like, many of the bureaucrats may be phased out of a job or be retired early, he said. This is not a popular idea among bureaucrats and will be a problem for Gor bachev, he said. He noted that being phased out of a job may not Ik? so bad under the present system, consider ing that Lenin killed bureaucrats that could not adapt to his system. ★ COPIES* Krazy Kats Try Us! 884 East 13th st. Dr1(mkin(; And driving CAN KILL A FRIENDSHIP WANTED: (preferably alive!) pftflcncum /TUD€NT/ WANTED FOR: DESCRIPTION: FAVORITE HANGOUTS: PRACTICUM EXPERIENCE IN THE HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER (Student Health Center) 1 or more credit hours. Enthusiastic, interested in health promotion. Just about anywhere, but notoriously found on running trails, in aeiobic classes, in health food stores, etc. REWARDS: MANY! Hands-on experience in health education, meeting others with similar enthusiasm, and more! IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION LEADING TO THE WHEREABOUTS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, CONTACT: JEFF THOMAS, KATE SCHUYLER OR LIZ GOEKE at the Lifestyle Planning Program 686-4401 I; 770 Willamette 686-1692 Perm Special with Jill *39.95 (Haircut Included) Long hair slightly more expires 5/15/87 Julia Duffy Spencer Tracy Danny DeVito American Academy of Dramatic Arts Over 100 years of training actors John James Robert Rectfcxd Auditions in Portland May 4 Founded in 1884. the Academy has trained more professional actors than any other school or college in America Academy alumni have won nominations for 80 Oscars. 62 Tonys and 101 Emmys. For Admission to Study at the Academy in California or New York Auditions by Appointment ONLY - Call Now Foe Information Toll Free (800)247-7303 Monday thru Friday — 10 00 a m. to 5:00 p m UOBookstore CASH FOR BOOKS Nebraska Book Co., Wholesale Book Buyers will be here FINALS WEEK Mar. 13th-21st 20% OFF UO Bookstore coupon per buyback customer this week only. TEXTBOOK BUYBACK EVERYDAY Now is the best time to sell your books back. Come in early for fast service. Your store since 1920 uo BOOKSTORE 13th & Kincaid M F 7 30 5 30 SAT 10 00 4 00 686 4331
