Pierce College Farmland Issue Is Misunderstood

* I read once again, in a Dec. 5 letter to the editor, that “there are persistent rumors that the farmland will be sold” at Pierce College.

I have been the president of Pierce College for 2 1/2 years. During that time I have never once heard any official of the college or the Los Angeles Community College District give any consideration whatsoever to the sale of any of Pierce College’s land.

What has been discussed is how Pierce College is going to be able to survive the current financial crisis. And what friends of the Canada geese and the farm must understand is that our college receives money to educate students and for no other purpose. To the extent that the farmland contributes to the education of students, we will support it as we do any laboratory experience.

What we are trying to determine is how to secure funding so we can continue to devote all of our acreage to educational, agricultural and recreational pursuits. We are considering a number of possibilities, including a special taxation district, private endowment and expanded agricultural activities. For now we are not considering joint ventures, such as a golf course. We are limiting any such consideration to the area near our gymnasiums, not on the farmland.

LOWELL J. ERICKSON

Woodland Hills