Empire-building at MCC

Whoa!!! Wait a minute, big fella....  Rein in those horses! The headline read, "MCC aims to be top choice for students"

Call your MCC Trustees and tell them how you feel about the empire-building. Tell them to "Just Say No". How many presidents have there been in the past five years? How (un)successful was The Promise, because the program was managed in a wasteful manner?

Then MCC buys a couple of "hot" interceptors and persuades its new president to go for a "police department".

And then it wants to expand and buy additional grounds.

And now it plans to launch a $150,000 marketing campaign - its "branding" effort. Well, I say, "Heat up those branding irons that read S-T-O-P and hog-tie the trustees and let 'em have it.

What does MCC need with a new logo, "messages", color schemes, re-designed website (just make the one they have more user-friendly!) and marketing materials?

Marketing materials? What for? Aren't they bursting at the seams now?

It's a junior college, folks. It's a two-year college. It's a local school. It's not an Ivy League school. Look at the students who are entering from our McHenry County high schools. Can they spell? Can they add and subtract? Do they even know what belt loops are for? Hint: those loops are for a belt, guys - you know, to hold your pants up.

Vince Lombardi told his players to go back to the basics. Hire teachers who will teach. You don't have to hire PhDs to teach remedial math and reading. The sign is still out front. It's clear as day. McHenry County College. All the high schools in the County know where it is.

MCC is not Sony or Land's End or amazon.com. No "branding" is needed. Geezzz....!!!