We’ve always known TCC as the University of 19th and Mildred. A shining beacon of scholarship with the global clout that comes from being across the street from an International House of Pancakes.
But the humble homebodies who run TCC have always acted content just being Tacoma Community College. And the fact that Tacoma appears first in the name (unlike those fence-sitters at UWT) speaks volumes about loyalty.
They gush about it on their website – so sweet, like we’re best friends forever:
“For more than 40 years, TCC has been committed to creating community within the college and supporting the community surrounding the college.”
But what if it’s all a big ruse?
What if they’ve expanded their definition of surrounding community about 30 miles to the north?
Might they dream of shaking the dust from this hick town off their feet? Could the “T” in TCC soon stand for “Traitor?”
Sorry to be cynical, but sometimes you have to judge a book by its cover – In this case, the cover of a book that’s about to hit shelves like a bombshell.
Confused? Read on.
Something doesn’t add up here: Le Schnoz sniffed out an early copy of the cover photo of a new TCC remedial algebra textbook that will be used this fall.
The old Math 85 text had a closeup of the Museum of Glass hot shop cone, photographed by a college staff member.
A fine choice.
The new custom-ordered book has a cover shot of the Seattle skyline – complete with a certain space-age tower built 50 years ago.
Well, isn’t that a Titan-ic kick in the groin?
TCC honchos said they were caught unawares and didn’t intend to big-time Tacoma. They said they hadn’t seen the book because it’s not yet in stock at the bookstore.
After being needled by The Nose, they passed the buck.
“It would be just like an East Coast publishing house to grab an image of the Space Needle and say, ‘Seattle, Tacoma – what’s the difference?’” said Mike Flodin, TCC’s dean of Math, Science and Engineering.
Flodin points out that math students can still enjoy the glass museum photo on the Math 90 and 95 textbooks for two full quarters.
So don’t be sad. As the great philosopher Meatloaf once said: Two out of three ain’t bad.
No hard feelings, though: With Russell Investments moving north and Dale Chihuly opening a big glass garden at Seattle Center, we sometimes drift into identity confusion ourselves.
Once a week, we check Google Earth to see if Tacoma still exists.
And speaking of The Needle: The world-famous flying saucer on a stick was painted last week with the words “Top This for our 50th! – an invitation to submit anniversary designs or messages. The winning entry will appear up there for six months.
If the judges pick one of our ideas, they can use it for a year at no extra charge:
- This end up.
- At least Clay Bennett didn’t take this to Oklahoma.
- Still shorter than Mount Tacoma by 13,805 feet.
- Wheedle jumped, or was he pushed?
- Future home of TCC north campus.
Does this mean we’re New York?: You never know what hippie talk you’re gonna hear from the mouths of Oregonians. Even the Republicans sound like they’ve taken a few trips on Ken Kesey’s Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test bus.
Here’s what Allen Alley, chairman of Oregon’s state GOP, said on the national convention floor during Tuesday’s roll call of the states:
“We’re going to be the New Jersey of the West!”
He probably meant Oregon is ready to shed its liberal larva and emerge as a beautiful conservative butterfly. But we took it a different way.
New Jersey and Oregon are bicoastal BFFs because they both ban self-serve gas.
Also, they’re both located just south of a real state.
You betcha Washington’s a real state! No matter what those East Coast pinheads think.
Though it’s never a confidence booster when you’re stuck near the end of the Republican roll call, right behind the Virgin Islands.
Got news for The Nose? Write to TheNose@thenewstribune.com.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.