Alleged prank results in student confusion

Kat Mabry/ Roundup

According to KTLA-Channel 5 Sunday evening newscast, Pierce College would be closed due to weather and rain causing floods and unsafe classrooms the following day.

Not quite.

With close to a record-high inch count totaling approximately 5.5 inches in Woodland Hills, some classrooms were affected but Pierce College as a whole was open for classes Monday.

Precipitation totaled at a record-breaking 6.57 inches Nov. 29, 1970.

Though the campus was open Monday, select classrooms were closed due to flooding.

Three classrooms in the Behavioral Science building and one Village trailer were temporarily unavailable to students Monday morning.

“There is too much rain damage,” said Dr. Nicolas Habib, adjunct professor of philosophy. “Class will resume on Wednesday, but it’s just too dangerous now.”

The three classrooms in the Behavioral Science building: 1309 -1311 were cleaned up and reopened by 11 a.m., according to Paul Nieman of Plant Facilities.

As a result of the misinformation provided by KTLA, the Pierce College Sheriff’s Department received more calls than normal Sunday and half a dozen calls Monday before the first classes of the day.

Facebook exploded with comments from students attempting to confirm the news they had heard from what they knew to be a reliable source.

It wasn’t until the automated message came from Admissions that confirmed the falsehood surrounding the KTLA briefing.

According to emails between Pierce College Public Relations and KTLA management, the source who shared the information was never checked for clarification.