Page 43
Page 43
You stroll into the Small Business Development Center, touched by the community service the students of Clark provide with their student organizations. Wow, this isn't like any club you've ever seen. Men and women in suits, skirts, and ties bustle about with a professional air. The offices are orderly, and there are no pictures in crayon on the walls.
A man with thin hair and a red face stops abruptly when he sees you. His jaw drops open, and he quickly puts down his pile of paperwork and hurries over to talk to you. He must be the group's ombudsman.
"What a great operation you have here," you say, "It warms my heart to see student groups apply their classroom knowledge to make the world a better place."
The guy opens his mouth to say something, closes it, looks around suspiciously, opens it again, closes it again, and finally says slowly, "Well, thank you, uh, sir. We work hard to make sure area businesses get developed..."
"What a professional-looking operation. Why, stick a bunch of kids in jackets and ties, and they look middle-aged! Harharhar!" You laugh at your observation. The guy frowns at you. Or maybe he's just squinting.
You fearlessly continue. "Say, a word of advice: no business is going to want to deal with a business development group that's in the middle of student space. Maybe you should find a place off-campus. I was a business man, ya know, before I lost my memory."
By this point, the man is looking bewildered, and running his hands through his hair. "No, you see, sir, we're not a student group. We're funded by government grants and use students from the Grad School of Management to help area businesses. But I'm not talking the local pizza place. I'm talking big manufacturing firm, factories, and so on. We've been here 15 years, and all we give to Clark is something for the management students to do. Oh, wait, there may be some kind of tax break or accreditation angle, I'm not sure. Anyway, we're proud of our tradition."
Now you're the one who's confused. You make excuses and flee.