MOORPARK : Supporters Protest Plan to Fire Bowers

About 75 supporters of Moorpark College President Stanley L. Bowers urged community college trustees Tuesday not to fire the embattled president.

The backers took issue with the trustees’ decision May 21 to initiate steps to fire Bowers in the wake of questionable transfers of money. Bowers has 30 days to appeal the firing before the trustees take final action.

The trustees’ move to fire Bowers stirred supporters at the college to form the Friends of Stan Bowers Committee. The group has been flooding the trustees with calls and letters in support of Bowers.

Clint Harper, one of the committee organizers, asked the trustees to consider Bowers’ accomplishments before they take final action.

“Stan Bowers’ positive and cooperative attitude has made the president’s office more accessible to faculty, students and staff,” said Harper, one of nine supporters who spoke to the trustees.

He suggested that they delay action on the matter until a new chancellor begins his job in July. He also suggested that the trustees set up a committee to investigate Bowers’ competency.

The trustees declined to comment on Bowers, contending that it is a confidential personnel matter. However, they said they would consider the group’s comments and suggestions when they take up the matter in closed session.

Bowers was reprimanded by the trustees in December for improperly transferring $51,000 in campus bookstore profits to the Moorpark College Foundation.

He also came under fire for channeling $3,152 in bookstore profits to Ingrid Ely, the college’s former alumni association president, to pay for travel.

Then last month he came under criticism again for his role in a financial arrangement that involved funneling $25,000 in salary for two district employees through the foundation rather than the college.