You explain to Jim Collins the issues surrounding your campaign for President.

 Collins says, "Well, look, Dick. We're really financially strapped right now. As University Treasurer, I'm afraid I can't allocate any money toward this. However, you might want to find Fred Regan or Tom Dolan and see if they can't... um, 'divert' some funds in your direction."

 "Who are those guys again? I always get them confused."

 "Tom Dolan is the Senior Vice-President..."

 "What's that mean? After all, you're the Executive VP. Kasperson's the Provost, the second highest position in the school. I mean, just what the hell do these words mean? Senior vs. Executive vs. 'Second highest in the school'? For crying out loud, we only have four VPs, and three of them have special prefixes!" You've never noticed this before, and you're frustrated with your inability to make sense of it. Also, you're beginning to think Fred Regan and Tom Dolan are the same person.

 Collins sighs. "Listen, Dick, the words don't mean anything except that we like them and like their work."

 "Then all it means is that we don't like Regan's work." Suddenly, it's beginning to make sense.

 "Right. He's our disposable VP. Next time some seriously heavy shit goes down, like with the Trustees making demands or something, he's the one we fire to prove we're taking action.^A We hire someone identical, and then everything's back to status quo. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to invoke some incremental causality campaigns before lunch."

 He picks up the phone and waits for you to leave before dialing. As you enter the hall, you hear him saying, "Roger, I've decided to kill the Comp Sci department. Make it so."^B

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