Category: News

The college president on Monday announced the appointment of a replacement for Vice President of Administrative Services Rick van Pelt who was placed on leave Thursday after Los Angeles County District Attorney’s agents served a search warrant on his office and home.

The Associated Students of Pasadena City College announced late Sunday night that it is seeking an audit of all district acc

Students with final exams scheduled this morning found themselves taking them outside of their classrooms, as power is cut off to half of the campus. The electricity also is out beyond the campus, with traffic signals not functioning up and down Colorado Boulevard.

College President Mark Rocha has just finished an on-camera interview with two Courier editors regarding the bribery crisis.

President Mark Rocha is now overseeing the Facilities Services Department after two senior officials with responsibility for its operations were placed on administrative leave in connection with the bribery probe.

The events of Wednesday, June 6 became one of the most intense and frustrating reporting experiences I have had, until the following day. On Thursday morning, as I was helping to fill up the Courier newsstands, I handed a paper to a worker who mentioned there were “suits” on campus at 5 am that morning. On my way back to the newsroom, at about 8:45 a.m., I saw Dowell and President Mark Rocha walking into the police station.

Members of the campus community are shocked and saddened by revelations of a criminal investigation into allegations of bribery on campus. Students, faculty and staff  were stunned by Thursday’s announcement that search warrants issued by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office targeting Vice President of Administrative Services Richard van Pelt and Facilities Supervisor Al Hutchings had been served at both men’s homes and offices.

A trustee on Friday defended the Board holding an “open” meeting behind closed doors as the Board did on Wednesday evening.

Members of the Associated Students Board were angry Friday that they weren’t quickly informed of the District Attorney’s investigation into allegations of bribery against the vice president of administrative aervices and a Facilities Services Department supervisor.