Our Word: SIUC's marketing strategy a snooze

If SIUC's goal is to appear as a mind-numbing, third-rate university, the school's marketing machine hit a home run Thursday.

Front and center on the home page of the university Web site was a truly eye-catching photo. In it, a student yawns as associate mathematics professor MingQing Xao lectures to a class about borrowing money.

Elsewhere, a student seems more focused on her nails and another appears to be sleeping.

Out of 11 visible students, only one looks like she gives half a hoot.

The newsroom never had a bigger laugh.

This image, taken by Media and Communication Resources, paints a disturbing picture of what goes on within the walls of the campus' lecture halls.

Is this what SIUC is about? Are the classes so boring and devoid of enthralling material that students drift into a comatose-like state?

Those who are enrolled here can form their own opinions on the quality of the curriculum.

Those who aren't can only get an idea of what the campus has to offer by looking at what is presented to them. In this case, the university offered potential students the perfect reason to spend their tuition dollars elsewhere.

Our prediction? Enrollment takes another blow.

Media and Communication Resources - the department charged with making this university look good - underwent a change late last semester that saw its longtime leader Sue Davis transferred from the high-paying director position.

Now the spokesman for SIU President Glenn Poshard, is temporarily in charge while the department figures out what its focus is.

It's yet to be seen if the change in leadership has revamped efficiency at Media and Communication Resources. With student numbers down nearly two percent in the fall semester - and officials giving dour forecasts for spring semester figures - time is of the essence for those whose job it is to make sure classrooms stay full.

We applaud the university's efforts to pay attention to enrollment. After all, former Chancellor Walter Wendler was demoted in part because of student numbers and the university's already struggling coffers aren't benefiting from a deteriorating population.

Enrollment is an inevitable uphill battle; we understand that, but endeavors such as this faulty photo aren't likely to help get students here.