Pierce Panel Responds to Teacher’s Letter

In response to a stinging letter from an agriculture teacher published in the school newspaper, a faculty ethics committee at Pierce College has recommended that any future disputes be first addressed through college channels rather than discussed in public forums.

At a Tuesday meeting, the Pierce faculty ethics committee recommended that when a faculty member has an issue to discuss with the college, he or she should first seek response from campus colleagues, said Helen Krahn, president of the academic senate.

“There was a recommendation made urging all faculty to work within the system in order to solve whatever problems that might arise,” said Krahn, who acknowledged there was no way to control faculty conduct. “We cannot block any faculty’s right to free speech.”

The committee’s action was in response to a letter published Sept. 10 in the Pierce College Roundup from Leland S. Shapiro, director of pre-veterinarian services. Shapiro’s letter demanded that Pierce officials slash other areas before making budget cuts in the agriculture program.

Pierce College President E. Bing Inocencio asked officials on the campus ethics panel to look into creating a better internal system for dealing with such faculty concerns.

Pierce College is one of only two colleges in the Los Angeles area with an agriculture program.