Equestrian Center upgrades focus on educational value

Melissa Kendall

Renovations have been made to the Equestrian Center, yet it has remained closed down for students for a year and a half.

Pierce College began in 1947 as the Clarence W. Pierce School of Agriculture. According to the Pierce Web site, it has come a long way from its mere enrollment of 212 students to the current enrollment of more than 20,000 students each semester, with more than 100 disciplines to choose from. But staying true to its beginnings, Pierce is still an agricultural college.

With that being said, a costly renovation to the Equestrian Center would be considered a welcome improvement. That is, unless funds have run out and the Center was closed for student use; which is exactly what has happened.

According to Pierce President Robert Garber, the multi-million dollar project that began in 2003 didn’t have the proper planning.

“We weren’t prepared to do construction,” he said. “What we thought would take five years took longer.”

Garber said the Center was open for students and the public to rent stalls out, but rather than make a profit, it was costing the school $150,000 a year to keep running. The Center was closed down altogether to be rebuilt correctly, so when it reopens, students as well as the community can benefit from it.

The Equestrian Center was supposed to stay open for student use during each phase of its construction, but a year and a half ago it was shut down. Because it was built for moneymaking rather than for educational purposes, and therefore lacks the proper restroom facilities and lighting, the Center was unable to gain approval from the Division of the State Architect to be open for classroom use.

The closing down of the Equestrian Center could be looked at as a shift of focus back toward the student. Though it may be a disappointment that students are suffering from the mismanagement of funds and time lost during construction, Richard South, agriculture department chair, said the effect on their educational experience is minimal and that classes are still being given.

Garber may have taken a step in the right direction when he decided to close the Center down.

“I’d rather have a larger enrollment to teach because that is our main focus rather than rent out stalls and lose money,” Garber said. “I want to make our priority that of meeting the needs of the students. If you’re going to do something, you have to do it correctly.”

The newly renovated Equestrian Center, which is expected to be open by next summer, will help continue to keep Pierce’s agricultural roots alive.