Golf Plan at Pierce College

I am greatly concerned regarding Pierce College and the proposed 125-acre “golf education center” (“Panel Seeks Details on Golf Plan at Pierce,” March 18). Development partners Chang Ahn and Tom Riley have stated that they feel that the benefits of their proposal include creating awareness of the campus among golfers, providing West Valley residents a place to play and generating income for the school. In addition, the proposal includes educational programs in hotel and resort management, horticulture, greens maintenance and golf instruction.

Upon study, each of these “benefits” is a mere attempt to camouflage the real intent, which is to generate income for themselves. Not only has there always been awareness throughout the Valley and Southern California of the Pierce campus, it is not nor ever has been exclusive to a recreational group. Rather, Pierce has always been known as the only two-year program within the district to provide training in the agricultural industries including but not limited to veterinary medicine, horticulture and equine science.

If the public truly wishes golf instruction or a course in hotel and resort management, then we should petition the district to provide these courses. Frankly, this appears to be an attempt to placate those who have pointed out that the land was designated for educational purposes. A course in fertilizing hardly seems to satisfy this requirement.

I implore you to gather all of the facts and then take a stand against the proposed golf course. No matter how one examines this issue, it is obvious that a golf course is neither needed nor fiscally wise. Please allow the farm to remain intact for our future generations--their future education depends on it.

SANNI POUTTU-MATHEWS

Hidden Hills

* Pierce College should utilize any means necessary to obtain the funds required to maintain facilities and provide necessary classes! As a student returning to school with a pre-engineering major, the funding cuts have made it increasingly difficult [for me] to take the night classes necessary for my major.

DAVID GOLDSTEIN

Chatsworth