Jeff Sandstoe / Roundup
Dr. Joy McCaslin spoke to faculty for the first time as the Pierce College interim president during an American Federation of Teachers (AFT) lunch this afternoon.
McCaslin discussed issues that are currently affecting the school.
McCaslin’s first matter of business was to confirm suspicions of the H1N1 virus on campus.
“Swine flu has arrived” said McCaslin.
The announcement made by McCaslin confirming that Pierce will be a smoke free campus in the near future was met with by applause from the faculty.
“We have been on a path in this direction,” she said. “This is just taking it to one more level.”
The smoking issue hits very close to home for McCaslin, who mentioned that her mother died of cancer from second-hand smoke.
“Things will inevitably go wrong [during construction],” McCaslin stated, announcing that the second phase of construction on the mall will be postponed until January.
The original completion date for the mall project was scheduled for this past September.
Other topics that were discussed were:
· An LA Times investigation into the LACCD bond program.
· Budget concerns about not having access to reserve funds.
· Concerns about who would be looking after livestock now that the farm houses are scheduled to be demolished.
· Concerns about the future of summer school.
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