Go Betty!!

I am thrilled to see Betty on her Harley! I too ride a Harley and am a professional in an institution of higher education. I have been riding for over 20 years and Betty is just more proof that you can do anything in life that you want to accomplish! I totally agree with her mission. Although Buffalo State College isn’t a community college, I have heard the negative comments regarding college students in general. The students that come through our office to work on various sponsored programs are wonderful, articulate and dedicated to their education.Good for you, Betty!!! Educate Jay Leno!!

Sandra Cochran, PHR

Sandra Cochran, Human Resource Coordinator at Buffalo State College Research Foundation, at 9:12 am EDT on August 24, 2005

The Lessons for Leno

Inside Higher Ed,

Thanks for the story on Dr. Betty Young’s Lessons for Leno Tour. She invites riders on Harleys or four-wheels to join her, and to help rally the good cause of the community college as the economic engine of the new economy.

The “Lessons” at each city stop will focus on workforce training, the legacy of the community college, access and cost, changing lives, and other vital missions.

Leno for years has said disparaging remarks about community colleges and he has the media power to truly change the mindset about American education. He and others are still mired in an old-world view that only the wealthy, elite segments of society need college training. That view is economically risky if not potentially disastrous. Unfortunately, many of our powerful political and media leaders think the same way.

There is irony in an old newspaper clip we received from a supportive reader a couple of weeks ago. Leno was an unknown comic trying to make his way up the ladder in the 1970s when he appeared at Mohawk Valley Community College in upstate New York and other similar locations.

Dr. Betty Young at Northwest State Community College in rural Ohio believes that with diverse and widespread outreach from around the nation, the NBC icon will eventually be eager to ride Harleys with her and “talk shop” about the reality and value of the two-year campus movement ... In the meantime, by far the greatest value will be 10 a.m. local time media briefings with other community college leaders at seven major media city locations. By next week, we will start posting many more details before and during this exciting Lessons for Leno Tour on our web site at www.northweststate.edu

Michael M. BrownNorthwest State Community College

michael M. Brown, Director of Public Relations at Northwest State, at 9:13 am EDT on August 24, 2005

Are the critical academics, being overly-touchy?

People — Jay Leno’s a comedian, known as a motor-garage ‘gear-head,’ who graduated from Emerson College in speech therapy. He isn’t the Duke philosophy professor who asserted one of the two major political party lacked intelligence.

His chief rival, David Letterman, graduated in communications from Ball State; his scholarship program allows those with average grades ("C"/2.0) to apply to honor his own outstanding academic performance.

Folks — it is just television. Really — lighten up.

BTW: may I assume that private funds are being used, in this crusade? I trust motorcycle rides are not some new government entitlement program — if so, I want to ride, too.

Bart S., at 11:41 am EDT on August 24, 2005

Leno Challenge

Audience,

Many thanks for the many messages, emails and calls on the Lessons for Leno Tour. Let’s please clarify a few things: — This Challenge is not for the good of Northwest State Community College alone ... it is a national campaign that just might be the tool that establishes the economic engine theme of community colleges ... — We are accepting financial help and want to make a statement that multiple and diverse individuals, corporations, colleges and economic leaders are buying into the reality that our nation — much like Leno — do not yet fully understand the direct and urgent correlation between a better educated workforce and financial vitality for individuals, small towns, big cities, and huge regions of the nation. — Want your organization, college or name on the list of sponsors? The business office at Northwest State Community College in Archbold, OH is accepting small or large donations via The Lessons for Leno Fund, 22600 State Route 34, Archbold, OH, 43502-9542. Questions can be addressed to my attention or Dr. Betty Young, our president. — As for the folks who say “lighten up,” that is exactly what our local, regional, and national economies are doing with so little support from powerhouse individuals in the government, corporate and entertainment business. We think the regional and national economic issues are pretty serious business but we sure would like to ride and share a laugh or two mixed into a stern conversation with Leno at NBC studios in Burbank. — If and when five minutes with Leno on or off camera are secured and I assure everyone that Dr. Betty is going to tell her emotional story and how community colleges can and will change millions of lives. Having Leno as a friend of the community college movement, rather than a thorn, is worth millions of dollars in how we strive to change the mindset about the two-year campus experience.— Generally, it would be a mistake to under-estimate the damage that Leno has inflicted on the community college movement with his frequent disparaging remarks ... and what a wonderful opportunity he now has to do something positive and help the American economy and millions of people better their lives ...

— Michael M. Brown

Michael M. Brown, Director of Public Relations at Northwest State Community College, at 3:04 pm EDT on August 24, 2005

C.C. alumni speaks truth to power

People — as a happy community college alumni, I’d only note that I never even heard of the Leno matter until I read it here.

So — by helping publicize ol’ Pointy-Jaw, more attention was brought to the issue. It’s like Michael Moore and Curtis Sliwa — “ignore them, and they might go away” — but more pernicious.

Free tip, from Marketing 101: don’t use your limited and valuable time to bring down the other guy — focus on your own message.

Heck — go to Letterman, with your case. He loves to take shots at Leno — who, frankly, hasn’t been funny for 15+ years. Or try MTV, or Current TV.

Have a nice day — really. And good luck — I’m rooting for you.

Bart S., at 3:50 pm EDT on August 24, 2005

The Two-Year College English Association (TYCA) of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)annually presents the Fame and Shame Awards to the media outlet or person(s) who present positive (Fame) and negative (Shame) images of community colleges. Jay Leno was this year’s winner of the Shame award for his negative portrayal of community college students. While many incidents could have been used, the TYCA award committee chose the segment from his show where he portrayed community college students protesting proposed tuition hikes with misspelled signs. See the full description of the Fame and Shame awards at http://www.ncte.org/groups/tyca/awards/fameshame/108296.htm

Betty’s ride is a productive way to draw attention to the negative stereotypes propagated by cheap shots comics make. We included the Fame award as a way of saying there are good media stories.

Paul Bodmer Senior Program Officer for Higher EducationNational Council of Teachers of English

Paul Bodmer, at 5:02 pm EDT on August 24, 2005

Lighten Up? Are You Kidding?..

Lighten up? Lighten up? Looks like somebody needs to do a little research into the effects of propaganda. One joke, yes, that’s harmless comedy. But apparently Leno is making a habit of this, and that could lead to a much larger effect.

Look at the reputation damage Leno’s predecessor, Johnny Carson, did to Bakersfield, California. For years, Carson did Bakersfield jokes, and its residents are still considered low-brow hicks by folks all across America, even though 90% have never even visited the city. Leno is now doing the same to Community Colleges, something that won’t just affect a single city’s reputation, but may dissuade millions of Americans from pursuing an education. I hardly think that’s fodder for recurrent humor.

I, for one, applaud such a bull-by-the-horns approach as Dr Young’s. It reminds me of another brave woman who’s attempting to meet with a person of power and do some educating. I hope Dr Young has more success than Ms Sheehan has so far.

Sheldon W. Helms, Psychology Professor at Ohlone College, Fremont CA, at 10:18 pm EDT on August 29, 2005

You go, Dr. Betty!!!!

Thank God for forward-thinking intelligent women like Dr. Betty who use all aspects of themselves to raise awareness of the need for community college education. I have a diploma as a Licensed Practical Nurse from a community college, which got me the job to finance my Bachelor’s in Music History and Humanities and also enabled me to purchase my Harley with cash. The entry-level jobs I could get with my BA wouldn’t pay as much as what I earn with my community college education. I am currently a student in a community college once again, this time working on my foreign language requirement needed for my Master of Arts—the community college I attend is less expensive and closer to home than the university that I will later attend. Betty, if I wasn’t in the middle of school myself, I’d ride my Harley alongside of you.

Crystal Woolsey, College of Lake County, Illinois, at 11:10 pm EDT on September 19, 2005