'Campus' out, 'Community' in for college

After more than a year of often-heated discussion, the Mid-Plains Community College Board of Governors have made it official. Nebraska's oldest junior college will be called McCook Community College a Division of Mid-Plains Community College.

Around 140 concerned citizens from the McCook area attended the regular meeting of the board, at True Hall in McCook, on Wednesday night to show their support for the college, which officials have been calling the McCook Campus of Mid-Plains Community College.

During the meeting, 10 individuals told the board why the college name was so important to the alumni of the college and the citizens of the area.

"We are asking you to call the brick and mortar that sits in McCook, Nebraska, 'McCook Community College,'" Lloyd Benjamin of the McCook Community College Foundation, told board members. "Why would you alienate the people who have been so supportive of this college area?" he asked.

Mike Owen, president of the McCook Community College Foundation, and local historian Linda Hein stressed the importance of holding on to the heritage of the college.

"Face it, from 1926 to the present day, McCook Junior College and McCook Community College have been a big part of this area," Hein said.

Jerda Garey, a former MCC administrator, told board members that while she was in Iowa working as executive director of the Iowa Vocational Education Council, classes were offered on community colleges and McCook Community College was one of the first colleges examined because of its historical value to the state of Nebraska.

"We must retain our history and recognize our heritage," she told the board.

"We are a unique college. It is OK to be unique. It is OK to recognize our roots."

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," local business owner J.T. Harris told the board. "As a business owner, I recognize the importance of a business that has been established for 75 years." Harris encouraged the board to recognize the importance of retaining the name of a college that has been in the area for three-quarters of a century.

Gene Morris, publisher of the McCook Daily Gazette, and an active proponent of retaining the college name, told the group, "I'm hoping you will make the change in the name and then allow us to use that name to promote this college. I think you will be astounded with what we can accomplish."

Following the open forum from local citizens, board president Betty Wadewitz told the group of citizens, "This is a compromise. Everybody gets something, but nobody gets everything."

Wadewitz told the audience the proposal to change the name of the college "comes with the recognition of the support of the people who live here."

Following a brief presentation by board member Rick Kolkman, the board voted unanimously to change the name of the McCook school.

The North Platte school will be named North Platte Community College, a division of Mid-Plains Community College Area and each satellite campus will be identified by the name of the town followed by the words Extended a division of Mid- Plains Community College Area.

An ad hoc committee will be appointed to come up with ideas on logos, marketing plans, signage and letterheads.

Board members include on the committee are Ed Moore, Royce Norman, Rick Kolkman and Harold Bennett.

Additional members, including college staff members, will be appointed by the administration.

In other action, the board terminated the employment of Richard Breault, information technology instructor at MCC. He was in his second semester of a two-year probationary period.