Ex-senator reflects on change

Former U.S. Sen. Eugene McCarthy and entrepreneur Helen VerStandig spoke yesterday on "coping with organizational change" for Creative Management Professor William Zucker's Dynamics of Organization class. McCarthy, a Democrat who represented Wisconsin in Congress from 1959 to 1970, made his mark as a civil rights pioneer and a presidential candidate, while VerStandig has built up and sold countless businesses throughout her long career. McCarthy -- whom Zucker credited as "epitomizing change" -- started his professional career as a high school teacher and has since written many poems. He focused his lecture on the American political system and media. "We're really not selling our minds directly -- we're letting someone else sell it," McCarthy said of the press. McCarthy added that the press and the two major political parties have developed a dangerous relationship. "We've now come to the point where we've legitimized the two party system," McCarthy unhappily explained. "We ought to reassert control over our political life." Known as a liberal during his years in Congress, McCarthy focussed his attention on social issues. He called for a shorter workday and more civil rights. In discussing current civil rights efforts, McCarthy expressed frustration that so little has been accomplished since the major legislation of the 1960s. And the former senator easily found fault with today's government for failing to take up any "central issues." "In his first race, Clinton ran for 'governor of the United States'," he said. "In his last one, he ran for 'superintendent of schools'." To fix the socio-economic inequalities in America, McCarthy recommended redistribution of wealth -- or "distribution of debt," as he phrased it. But some students expressed skepticism over McCarthy's proposals -- including a shorter work day. "Decreasing the work week is just crazy in this world," School of Arts and Sciences graduate student Mary Collin said. "There's 10 people there waiting for your job." Following McCarthy's political arguments, VerStandig emphasized the power big businesses have over small businesses. VerStandig began her life in the corporate world when she and her husband ran an advertising firm in Washington, D.C. -- which she said never lost a customer in its 20-year existence. "She made a success of it because of her abilities, her knowledge and her willingness to be flexible," Zucker said. After selling the agency, VerStandig operated a hotel, created "Madam Wellington Counterfeit Jewels" -- which she then sold to QVC -- and currently owns a number of radio stations with her son John, a 1967 University graduate. "I think I was fortunate because I come from an age when we were as individuals held very accountable for what we did," said VerStandig, who criticized today's employees for seeking unreasonable security from firms. Zucker noted that he organized the lecture to give his students a chance to interact with people who have dealt with change -- the theme of the class.