ROUND OUNDUP Wednesday, March 11, 2015 | Volume 122 - Issue 2 | Woodland Hills, California | One copy free, each additional copy $1
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Lifelong friends Pessin, Degrasse kill it on court....Page 8
Third party to audit foundation
Review to look back 15 years, cost $17,000
#PIERCEWIRE Free, confidential HIV testing
SCOTT PREWITT News Editor @s̲prewitt The Budget Committee gave its approval this week to begin a 15-year, $17,000 audit of the Foundation for Pierce College. The Pierce Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization that handles fundraising for the college. The foundation’s Senior Program Director Floriya Borzenkova said news of the audit was “unexpected” and “like thunder,” and that the foundation has paid a firm every year to conduct external audits, as required by law. “If we did something wrong, or misused money, they would find Diego Barajas / Roundup it,” Borzenkova said. “And then we had an audit from the college. It was LACCD Board of Trustees President Scott Svonkin (right), Vice President Steve Veres (middle) and member Ernest Moreno listen to Farm an internal audit. They didn’t find Center owner Robert McBroom at the Board of Trustees meeting in the Great Hall at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. Nov. 5, 2014. anything wrong on the financial side.” Budget committee ex-officio Rolf Schleicher would not confirm the audit’s cost of $17,000 and declined multiple requests for a comment. Schleicher referred the Roundup to the committee’s minutes. *incumbent | Source: LA City Clerk However, those minutes were unavailable. The most recent budget committee minutes were from July, SEAT 3 SEAT 1 2014. The audit was initially intended 50.90% Andra Hoffman 56,377 35.58% Sydney Kamlager 79,566 to investigate accusations leveled against the foundation by former Farm Center Director Robert McBroom, according to 34.99% Francesca Vega 55,440 50.90% Glenn Bailey 32,230 Borzenkova. McBroom said repeatedly Jozef Thomas 23,021 14.72% that he is still owed money by 14.84% Marie Quintero 23,524 Essavi the foundation, according to the foundation’s chair Denise Robb. The audit will go through 15 Sam Kbushyan 21,482 13.74% 14.58% Mark Isler 23,104 years of the foundation’s records to ensure a thorough examination of Farm Center documents, according to Pierce College President SEAT 5 SEAT 7 Kathleen Burke. “In order to do that, you’d have to go back to when the Farm Center Mike Fong 91,510 58.22% became involved,” Burke said. Scott Svonkin* 96,015 62.16% The budget committee’s decision to increase the scope of the audit to cover the past 15 years is not 22.02% John C. Burke 34,618 just about McBroom’s allegations, but is part of a feud between the administration and the foundation, Steve Schulte 58,434 37.83% according to Borzenkova and Robb. Joyce Burrell 31,043 19.75% The Farm Center’s contract with Garcia the foundation didn’t begin until 2005, and “expired at least three or four years ago,” Borzenkova said. That means that much of the 15undeclared, whoever wins will join said. year period covered by the audit SHARLA SMITH Denise Robb, chair of the Kamlager and Fong when they all will fall either before or after the Roundup Reporter Foundation for Pierce College, begin their first terms in July. Foundation’s involvement with the @sharlamsmith said the fate of the Farm Center Svonkin said he looks forward to Farm Center. should be a priority for the Board of his work with the fresh faces. “It was for five years we had a Trustees. he Los Angeles “I’m excited to work with Andra Hoffman Kamlager contract with them,” Borzenkova “I can’t raise money for the Community College and Fong, they are both LA City Clerk said. “Why is it [the audit] 15 years.” college because everyone thinks District Board of incredibly bright and talented Borzenkova said that the audit our farm is about to be sold,” said Trustees filled three people,” Svonkin said. “They are was initially a reasonable response Robb. “When I go to donors and seats in the Los wholly committed to the agenda to the allegations by McBroom, Angeles city primary election slow, and we may not know for that this board has, which is to help ask them to donate money, the first but that it became a much more March 3, with board Seat One still days, maybe weeks,” Hoffman said. students achieve their dreams.” thing they ask me is ‘what’s going complicated issue when the budget undeclared. Newcomers Sydney Kamlager Steve Schulte was Svonkin’s on with your farm.’” committee ordered that the audit Charter Amendments 1 and 2 The race for Seat 1 was too close and Mike Fong won their races for opponent in the race. He said that look back through 15 years of the to call on election night. The Los seats three and seven respectively, Svonkin’s victory was due to his were approved, which means city, foundation’s records. state, and LAUSD elections will be Angeles City Clerk showed that and incumbent Board President financial backing. “It’s impossible to produce all Andra Hoffman led her opponent Scott Svonkin was re-elected to “He had over $500,000 to held on the same day. This could the paperwork. Our retention policy Francesca Vega by fewer than 600 seat five. spend,” said Schulte. “I believe that improve future voter turnout, which goes back to seven years,” said votes, or 0.3 percent – well within “I’m thrilled that the voters was mostly about maintaining the was estimated at 8 percent by the Borzenkova. “After seven years, we the margin of error. The candidates believed in the work that I have status quo.” City Clerk. destroy.” Schulte, who lost in his race for “Nobody shows up for city must wait for mail-in ballots to done, and have trusted me to The foundation oversees about be counted before a winner is continue to serve for another four seat five, said he supports Hoffman. elections. Nobody cares, and it’s $700,000 in funds and donations. announced. “I hope Andra wins. I think she’s pretty embarrassing,” said Robb. years,” Svonkin said. very knowledgeable, very capable, “The election was just plurality, it “I’m not going to get any sleep. The board consists of seven members. Though seat one is still and a very nice person,” Schulte was not a majority.” [See AUDIT, pg. 3] The reports are coming in really
The HIV/AIDS Awareness Week returns March 16, and will feature free and confidential HIV testing from in Parking Lot 1. Free HIV tests will be available Monday, March 23, 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, March 25, 9 a.m. to 2 The Resistance Fest p.m. and Thursday, March 26,Film 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. The CSUN Path Project, and A Let us know your thoughts Club Present about the return of thea Document HIV/ AIDS Awareness Week with #Piercehealth.Women’s History Mon
Killing Us Softl
Feminist Club to show movie, host discussion
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Board fills three seats Race for Seat 1 still undecided, too close to call
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Editorial: 12 units too much for full-time status..Page 2
“I’m not going to get any sleep.” -
18-year-old Saudi leads AGS Honor Society........Page 4
Discus follow.
IfThe you need an accommodation to a disability Feminist Clubduewill showto participate i contact Sheryl Nomelli at nomellsl@piercecollege.edu or 818 710-4 the documentary film “Killing days in advance.
Us Softly 4,” which features Jean Kilbourne, in honor of Women’s History Month. The film is about the media’s effect on women and society. Instructor of History Sheryl Nomelli, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Sociology James McKeever, and the Feminist Club will host a discussion panel after the film. “Killing Us Softly 4” will show on Wednesday, March 4, at 2:30 p.m. in the Great Hall. Share your thoughts about the film and Women’s History Month on Facebook and Twitter with #Piercewomen.
Performing Arts Building reopens with Some families ripen with age. “pungent comedy” Some just stink.
A pungent comedy
The Performing Arts Building will be home to “pungent” comedy Mar. 27 - Apr. 5, 2015 “Cheese” from Friday, March 27 Dow Arena Theatre through Sunday, AprilTix-By-Phone: 5. 818-719-6488 “Cheese” is the PAB’s first show since the building reopened this semester after three years of renovations. The Laurel Ollstein-directed comedy is about a cheese sculptor, his wife and a “wannabe Hollywood actress” in Tillamook, Oregon. Tickets are $12 for teachers and students and $15 for general admission. Call (818) 719-6488 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com for tickets and more information. Share your thoughts about “Cheese” and the reopening of PAB on Facebook and Twitter with #Piercetheater. written & directed by Laurel Ollstein
6201 Winnetka Avenue, Woodland Hills, CA Tickets online:brownpapertickets.com
SBCC ends Bullsʼ five-game win streak................Page 7