MCC students get first-hand look at the business of politics
On Monday, March 24, Monroe Community College students had an opportunity to witness, first-hand, the lessons they had studied in their business, political science and social studies classes. For many students, the business of selecting a new leader to replace retiring MCC president, R. Thomas Flynn, held all the intrigue and excitement of being at a major political rally, complete with buttons and a catchy tag line that urged the board of trustees to “do the right thing.”
After the board of trustees methodically disposed of the neccessary, mundane business of running a college, the atmosphere in the conference room came alive with anticipation as 28 student leaders, faculty members and administrative staff were given three minutes each to address the board.
At times, cheers, jeers and applause interrupted the normal decorum of the procceedings as all the speakers urged the board to base the decision of hiring a new MCC president based on the candidates qualifications and not on political patronage. The rumor that two local Republican party insiders would be added to the list of perspective finalists, was probably the worst-kept secret in MCC history.
Hundreds of students, faculty, alumni and Monroe County citizens squeezed into the packed conference room at MCC’s Brighton Campus to learn the results and reccomendations to the board of trustees by two Presidential Search Advisory Committees.
Charged with finding someone to replace Flynn, both committees, working independently of the other, narrowed the search down to the same two candidates, Kenneth Ender, president of Cumberland County College in Vineland, NJ and Laurence Spraggs, president of Broome Community College. Len Redon, a Paychex executive and chairperson of one of the search committees stated, “that out of the fifteen applicants for the position, these two candidates stood head and shoulders above the rest.”
Following the committee’s recommendation of Ender and Spraggs, six members of the board of trustees voted to add two names to the list for consideration, Rochester businessman Dennis Kessler and former Monroe County legislator Bill Smith—both Republicans. Kessler is an adjunct professor at the Simon School of Business and Smith has no acedemic experience, other than being a student. Cries of foul rose from the audience as the names were announced. Most in attendance felt the process had been tarnished and Smith is guaranteed the post of MCC president because of his political connections.
“Everyone is reading into the fact that because we are adding two candidates to the pool it’s a foredrawn conclusion of what the results will be,” board member John Parrinello stated over the rumblings of the crowd. Parrinello voted to add Kessler and Smith to the list of finalists.
“None of you know the other two candidates and what they look like and neither do we,” Parrinello continued—the rest of his statement drowned out by an explosion of laughter.
In April, all four candidates will visit Monroe Community College to complete the interview process and meet with the board and the community.
Current MCC President R. Thomas Flynn, who will be retiring in June, concluded, “It is important for the community to respect the process—no matter how we got here.”
