The Snowball Effect
By KATHERINE MacLEAN
Illustrated by EMSH
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Galaxy Science Fiction September 1952.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Tack power drives on a sewing circle and
you can needle the world into the darndest mess!
"All right," I said, "what is sociology good for?"
Wilton Caswell, Ph.D., was head of my Sociology Department, and rightthen he was mad enough to chew nails. On the office wall behind himwere three or four framed documents in Latin that were supposed to besigns of great learning, but I didn't care at that moment if he paperedthe walls with his degrees. I had been appointed dean and presidentto see to it that the university made money. I had a job to do, and Imeant to do it.
He bit off each word with great restraint: "Sociology is the study ofsocial institutions, Mr. Halloway."
I tried to make him understand my position. "Look, it's the big-moneymen who are supposed to be contributing to the support of this college.To them, sociology sounds like socialism—nothing can sound worse thanthat—and an institution is where they put Aunt Maggy when she begancollecting Wheaties in a stamp album. We can't appeal to them that way.Come on now." I smiled condescendingly, knowing it would irritate him."What are you doing that's worth anything?"
He glared at me, his white hair bristling and his nostrils dilatedlike a war horse about to whinny. I can say one thing for them—thesescientists and professors always keep themselves well under control.He had a book in his hand and I was expecting him to throw it, but hespoke instead:
"This department's analysis of institutional accretion, by the use ofopen system mathematics, has been recognized as an outstanding andvaluable contribution to—"
The words were impressive, whatever they meant, but this still didn'tsound like anything that would pull in money. I interrupted, "Valuablein what way?"
He sat down on the edge of his desk thoughtfully, apparently recoveringfrom the shock of being asked to produce something solid for hisposition, and ran his eyes over the titles of the books that lined hisoffice walls.
"Well, sociology has been valuable to business in initiating workerefficiency and group motivation studies, which they now use inmanagement decisions. And, of course, since the depression, Washingtonhas been using sociological studies of employment, labor and standardsof living as a basis for its general policies of—"
I stopped him with both raised hands. "Please, Professor Caswell! Thatwould hardly be a recommendation. Washington, the New Deal and thepresent Administration are somewhat touchy subjects to the men I haveto deal with. They consider its value debatable, if you know what Imean. If they got the idea that sociology professors are giving adviceand guidance—No, we have to stick to brass tacks and leave Washingtonout of this. What, specifically, has the work of this specificdepartment done that would make it as worthy to receive money as—say,a heart disease research fund?"
He began to tap the corner of his book absently on the desk, watchingme. "Fundamental research doesn't show immediate effects, Mr. Halloway,but its value is recognized."
I smiled and took out my pipe. "All right, tell me about it. Maybe I'llrecognize its value."
Prof. Caswell smiled back tightly. He knew his department was at stake.The ot