Pierce College

President Bing Inocencio’s article, “Campus of Many Personalities,” Sept. 22, was interesting because he strongly supported the Pierce College open admissions policy to all students. That is all well and good, according to how you define a student. I believe there is a conflict in the interpretation of the word.

The Standard College Dictionary defines a student as one who studies, not necessarily under a teacher, a learner. In the past, Pierce welcomed thousands of learners who attended non-credit sessions--lectures, forums, civic, cultural, vocational and sports events. People enjoyed immensely being on the beautiful campus and came back again and again feeling that with each visit they learned something. The larger the group of learners the bigger the debris left behind [but] that was to be expected.

To say no to patriotic Americans wishing to celebrate Independence Day on July 4 is not in keeping with the mission of the college as stated in the latest college catalog.

Let the Fourth of July celebration continue and thus make Pierce a college for all the people with its many missions rather than cater to a selected few. It will be a sorry day if the decision to continue or not will be resolved by a referendum.

H. ZAKARY ZEITLIN

Woodland Hills