Parolee arrested on campus Man threatens students and teacher in village

for a second arraignment yesterday, the Van Nuys public information officer said.

A 27-year-old parolee charged in the classroom intrusion in Village 8402 on Monday, Sept. 9, is being held on $85,000 bail in Twin Towers Correctional Facility while awaiting arraignment at Van Nuys Municipal Court, Division 100.

Branden Sileon Saighe failed to appear for his first arraignment on Monday, Sept. 16 because of a “miss out” – his transportation from jail to the courthouse was not available. He also failed to show up

The parolee, who is unaffiliated with Pierce College, attempted to take over the classroom by threat and intimidation.

“A non-student walked into the classroom, went to identified for safety concerns –arrived to start class. Students were followed into the classroom by two unknown adult males, the professor

The two made rude, odd and derogatory comments to students while standing in the back of the room, one of them singing to female students, the professor said.

The professor said that when she arrived in class, “everyone was weird and quiet,” and one large adult male dressed in orange was standing in an aisle and entering according to Oborn.

“He said that he felt concerned [that] he hadn’t really served as president,” she said. “He said that the faculty should choose their next leader.”

Additionally, Oborn emailed the members one day after Zayac’s initial email to the executive committee, saying that she was turning down the presidency due to conflicting responsibilities as chair of the professional development committee.

“After some long mental deliberation I will be turning down the senate presidency but will continue to be Chair of chairs. I have dept transition considerations and a brand new prof Dev system to roll out for fall. Whatever the group wants to do in terms of filling the presidency I am there 100% to help. You can count on me,” according to the email sent by Oborn to the executive committee members on Aug. 9.

Following the email, Vice President of Curriculum Margarita Pillado, whom the bylaws state is next in line for the succession of the presidency, emailed back to accept the responsibility of taking over the position. She sent in a written acceptance of duties on Aug. 12, according to a statement to the Roundup.

During a meeting that took place in the afternoon of Aug. 15, Pillado said that the executive committee “communicated to me their decision to disavow the process of succession that took place between Aug. 8 and Aug. 12,” and that “Prof. Oborn further indicated that she had rescinded her previous statement declining the presidency and therefore she was she was the incoming Senate President.”

At that point, Oborn said that she was able to find someone who was willing to take

[See SENATE, pg. 3]

Where: Art Hill, Room 3300

Admission: Free

Begins: Thrusday, Sept. 19

Ends: Wednesday, Oct. 23

Opens at 7 p.m.

-Letter to the Editor-

An open letter to Gus Sandoval, president of the Associated Students Organization, by David Schamus, Academic Senate Senator-at-Large

Yesterday (Sept. 9) was a very dark day for the faculty of Pierce College. The faculty Academic Senate is a primary shared governance body on this campus. It is meant to be the place where we, as faculty, are meant to come to together -- to discuss, in an open and collegial forum, the great issues that face us as community college educators. It is a place where we have an opportunity to be leaders.

The bright light that in the past has been Pierce faculty’s ability to create consensus that empowered us to work toward student’s success, reaffirmation of our accreditation and manage the difficult budget crises we faced, was not just dimmed yesterday, it came dangerously close to being extinguished. It was a sad day for this campus and it was a sad day for me personally.

Fortunately, in the midst of the darkness of our Monday meeting, one bright light emerged. One leader, and only one leader emerged -- and it was you. The students, and this campus as a whole are lucky to have you here as a leader. The sign of a good leader is not just about winning a debate or controlling the flow of a meeting; -- it is about doing the right thing and gathering successful action through consensus.

I hope your words will inspire our faculty to remember that we are here to serve our students and the community. And I hope that the next time you address the Academic Senate it will be to congratulate them on one of the many things in which we have collectively created success. You inspired me and I thank you.

Sincerely,

David Schamus

Thumbs up & Thumbs down

UP: Harvest Festival

The 9th year of the Pierce Farm Center’s Halloween Harvest Festival on the corner of De Soto Avenue and Victory Boulevard will run Sept. 27 through Nov. 3.