Shannon Berry
Adjunct professor Dr. Lynda Toth questioned Interim President Joy McCaslin’s decision to demolish farmhouses on campus during the American Federation of Teachers meeting Thursday.
McCaslin explained the houses, which were used to house the animals caretakers, contained hazardous materials.
“Who will be around when a horse dies in the middle of the night?” asked Toth.
Toth believes demolishing the houses is a tragedy.
“When good people do nothing, evil will persist,” said Toth.
The sheriffs will work alongside the agricultural technicians during the day and weekends, according to McCaslin.
She also said a video surveillance system will be installed to monitor the animals.
After the meeting, former Pierce College President Robert Garber explained why he made the decision for the farmhouses, located across from Parking Lot 8.
“The houses are uninhabitable and they do not need to be maintained any longer,” Garber said. “You wouldn’t want your worst enemy living there.”
Garber said one of the houses contained asbestos.
“Free rent in exchange for work and somebody living with their family [on campus] is unnecessary,” he said.
Garber said the demolition decision had nothing to do with Swinerton and that it was made long before their relocation was decided upon.
“The board questioned the first time [Pierce] renewed the contract for the houses,” Garber said.
Garber declined to comment any further on keeping the agricultural tradition at Pierce.
“I don’t work here anymore. It’s not my problem,” he said.
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The house on El Rancho Drive sits abondoned at Pierce College as its demolition date approaches. (Jared Iorio / Special to the Roundup)
