CARDENAS' COLLEGE CRITICISM OFF THE MARK; CAMPUS SUCCESSES DESERVE MENTION.

Byline: Willian E. Norlund Local View

I am disappointed at the tone and content of Assemblyman Tony Cardenas' article, ``Speak up to save Mission College,'' in the May 25 Daily News. In the past, I have always been reluctant to comment on political criticism. However, the time has come to respond for the college.

The district and college administration have always treated Cardenas with respect and given him credit for help he has provided in numerous areas of the college. No less respect and credit should be accorded the Los Angeles Community College District, and Mission College in particular.

Cardenas gives the impression that the land acquisition project was a simple task of purchasing a plot of land. In reality, it was a process of attempting to salvage a project that was inordinately complex, involving the county, city and federal government, as well as community and special interest groups. And it was not just bureaucrats in the various public entities but the elected officials as well that were unable to bring the project to fruition.

What the assemblyman did not mention is the fact that the college and district have worked diligently from the moment it was determined that the project would not be completed to develop an alternative project (a building) to return the funds to the community. The funding for the building is currently included in the legislative budget through the hard work of many, including individuals within the college, district and community, as well as Cardenas, D-Panorama City, and state Sen. Richard Alarcon, D-Van Nuys.

While the aforementioned building project satisfies an immediate need, the college has never stopped focusing on the need to expand the campus. Since January, the college has held a strategic planning session and several meetings in the community to receive input and ideas for the campus expansion. The college administration and consultant are developing a report, evaluating the concepts presented at these meetings.

As it is likely that the more feasible concepts will include a partnership with the county, we are also maintaining open communication with Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky's staff. Once such a concept is accepted as a viable project by the community and the county, the college will develop and submit a funding proposal to the state.

Other facts overlooked in the article were that when the current administration took over, the college had lost 20 percent of its full-time equivalent student enrollment during the previous three years. In the past four years, the college has increased these enrollments by over 50 percent, exceeding the previous highest enrollments by 25 percent. The college had over 300 graduates this year, the largest number in its history, and 20 percent more than last year. The college has had chronic budget problems, but this administration, through its success in increased enrollment and fiscal management, will finish the current year with a million-dollar balance. This increased efficiency has reduced the cost per student from the highest in the district to the second lowest in the past five years.

The above numbers do not reflect other areas of success achieved during the current administration's tenure. Despite the politically charged atmosphere, we designed and completed one of the most sophisticated learning resource centers in the state and developed several new instructional programs. These programs include multimedia, health sciences, Chicano studies, political science, sociology and food sanitation, as well as the expansion of the administration of justice and the child development programs, among others.

I am disappointed in the self-promotional approach taken by Cardenas, and in his failure to look at all components of the project, including the work the college and district did in developing the funding proposal for the building.