Pasadena : Blacks Protest PCC Choice

Representatives of several black organizations announced Tuesday that they will ask the Board of Trustees of Pasadena City College at its meeting tonight to suspend its appointment of Jack A. Scott of Cypress as president of the college.

Black leaders called for an investigation of alleged irregularities in the selection process, including extensions of the deadline for applications. They said Bonnie James, a black man and the only other finalist for the post, should have been chosen as president.

Spokesmen for the Pasadena and Altadena branches of the NAACP, the Black Coalition on Education, the Urban League and the Pasadena/Altadena Black Businessmen’s Assn. said the board was guilty of racism in failing to choose James, an administrator at PCC for 11 years who is now assistant superintendent and head of finance.

James and Scott were named as finalists after the board reviewed 88 applications for the presidency. On April 8, a divided board chose Scott, president of Cypress Community College in Orange County, who is expected to take the post in July or August.

Board members Walter Shatford and Richard Green abstained from voting, saying that some teachers had tried to influence board members to oppose James. They said some teachers wrongfully blamed James for the layoff of more than 20 faculty members in a budget crunch in 1983.

Altadena NAACP leader Tony Stewart said the black groups want to participate in an investigation of the presidential search and the PCC affirmative action program.