Late last month, the MCC faculty senate called on nine of the 10 college trustees to resign if they don't revote and select either Rochester business owner Dennis Kessler or Broome Community College President Laurence Spraggs as president. (The 10th is a student, elected by the student body.)

When we first heard about the senate's resolution, it seemed like a good idea. But we've been doing the math here, and guess what:

Resignations wouldn't change a thing.

Here's why:

Five of the 9 non-student trustees were appointed by the Republican-dominated County Legislature. Four were appointed by the governor.

If all nine resigned, Governor David Paterson would appoint four replacements. Since he's a Democrat, presumably he would appoint trustees acceptable to local Democrats. The County Legislature would get to appoint five.

The term of the current student trustee, who has opposed a Smith appointment, expires at the end of the month. But since the student government joined the faculty senate in a no-confidence vote last month, it's a good bet that the new student trustee - who takes office in July - will also oppose the appointment of Smith.

The result, then, would be the same: a tie.

(One of the five local appointments - Lori Van Dusen - broke from the Smith supporters in a big way. So if she resigned, that would be a loss for the Smith critics. But one of the governor's appointments, former Deputy County Executive Richard Mackey, is a Smith supporter. So those two resignations would be a wash.)