College’s New President Outlines 5-Year Plan

Calling it a place of intellectual energy and ideas, Darroch “Rocky” Young was officially inducted as president of Pierce College on Friday and outlined an ambitious five-year plan for the school.

More than 100 people attended the ceremony at the college’s Performing Arts building. The event marks the first time in the college’s 53-year history that a president has been inaugurated. Young, 52, took office last July but educators wanted the event to symbolize the start of a new era.

In a 15-minute speech, Young touched on the goals he envisions for the community college. Among them, he said, he wants to secure state funding to refurbish buildings on the 240-acre campus and repave the cracking parking lots--an idea met with rousing applause.

“It’s not a question if we can accomplish these goals,” Young said. “It’s a question if we can do it in five years.”

Young’s comments come at a critical time for the college. A master plan has been drafted that examines land use and facility improvements. It is expected to be submitted to the Los Angeles Community College District board this summer. Last August, the board rejected a proposal to build a golf course on college farmland.

Young was formerly vice president of Santa Monica City College, where he spent 28 years. During Friday’s event, Young was praised by fellow educators and given his academic charge by Los Angeles Community College District Chancellor Mark Drummond.