Part I
From where President Mark Rocha sits, near the epicenter of the West Los Angeles College campus, all he has to do is practically swivel his chair to glimpse all six major construction projects underway on the lush green grounds near the intersection of Overland and Jefferson.
The school that has had to live so long with a feeling of temporariness is being reborn, to the rat-a-tat of gigantic, sometimes noisy, yellow construction machinery, before the eyes and ears of students and visitors to the showcase campus.
By late next year, the Parking Structure, Science Building, Math Building, Student Services Building and General Classroom Building — all talked about for years, without detectable progress — are scheduled to be completed,
This will round out the farthest-reaching infrastructure transformation, $180 million worth, in the history of Culver City’s community college, just in time to squeeze under the umbrella for West’s 40th anniversary celebration.
Built to Last
For the first time since 1969, Dr. Rocha notes, “the school will have permanent college buildings,” a staggering accomplishment. “All those bungalows out there, which were built in the ‘80s as temporary buildings, have been there 25 years. In a sense, what we are doing is making the college permanent.
“We’ve never had conventional food service.
“We’ve never had a one-stop student services center.
“Up to know, most of our classroom buildings have been temporary bungalows.
“The real change is transforming from a college that was temporary to a college
that is a permanent part of the community.”
Another Entrance
The other fantasy of previous administrations — a second access road into the campus that seemed to ignite neighbors’ tempers anytime it was thought of, let alone mentioned — presently is within one step of reality.
Toward the end of summer, construction should start on a three-quarter-mile access roadway off Jefferson at Leahy, where there is a signal light, on the northerly side of the grounds. It should be ready for use by next spring.
“And they are not close to being finished. Dr. Rocha was glowing. “My Board of Trustees recently authorized, for the November ballot, a new construction bond for the district that will allocate $300 million to West to finish the job, to completely build out the Master Plan,” he said.
These are the good times at West, an optimistic observation that has been uttered, epigramatically, since 1969, probably born more from wishing than witnessing.
But even the skeptics and pessimists should be coming around these warm days to see that the so-called step-child of community colleges has blossomed into a handsome full-blooded sibling.
The construction distractions are undeniable. But temporary conveniences have been created to ferry visitors and others through the labyrinth of jigsaw-puzzle construction, and business is proceeding as usual.
Harmonizing
Certainly the president appears to be breezing through this interlude.
Vivid and summery casual in a dark, short-sleeved sportshirt worn on the outside of matching slacks, Dr. Rocha, at the juncture of his 2-year anniversary has hit his stride. After a brief adjustment period, not only are in and the college enviably in sync, West L.A. College seems to be blooming as never before.
Inspecting the grounds as a patriarch would survey his family, Dr. Rocha says, “We have done fairly well in building a college and running a college at the same time. No real problems during this time. More than anything, there is a sense of real excitement.
“The attitude I have heard is, ‘Oh, my goodness, I didn’t think we would ever get going. And now look where we are.”
Dr. Rocha, in his prime as he reaches his mid-50s, is relaxed because he feels at home. The man and the college, touting the theme “Your Success Begins Here,” are a fit.
Changing Eras
Welcome to new times at West. There is peace at home because the war with surrounding residents seems to have ended. “Our neighbors,. The homeowners we used to fight with, are now our friends,” the president says.
What happened?
“Partly, we needed to do our own work and make sure the mitigation plans of the environmental impact report, that is the things that would protect homeowners from noise and dust, were actually done.”
Turning to a nearby map, Dr. Rocha pointed to the northeastern section of the West campus, close to townhomes where sound blankets and a grove of trees should keep neighbors and noise separate. “We have also straightened out our relationship by meeting with homeowners every other Wednesday,” the president said. “We review where we are and where we are going. When we make mistakes, we own up to them and correct them.”
Part of the problem before he came to West 2 years ago this month, said Dr. Rocha, “was that the neighbors never felt they were being listened to. When they would have meetings, senior administration would not come. The neighbors would just be in the dark. Since I have been here, with a few exceptions, we meet every other Wednesday, and I am there.”
Dr. Rocha measured the progress: “When I first came here, we were enemies. Now we are allies because the homeowners see what the value-added is of a beautiful community college, as long as we put in the safeguards to assure them of peace and quiet.”
(To be concluded)
