Speakerless, PCC Board Publicly Invites Dustin Lance Black to Commencement

The Pasadena City College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to authorize Superintendent-President Mark Rocha to invite Dustin Lance Black to deliver the address at Commencement on May 9.

In a press release, PCC’s Interim Public Relations Director Dr. Valerie Wardlaw wrote that “The Board earnestly hopes that Mr. Black will accept its invitation to speak and to begin to heal the breach in our relationship with an alumnus whom the Board greatly admires.

“Commencement is about celebrating the graduation of our students and the importance of higher education,” said Dr. Mark Rocha, PCC Superintendent-President said.

Black’s participation would be an opportunity for further education and a healing act of community, Rocha said.

In the event Black is no longer available, the Board authorized the Superintendent-President to conduct the 2014 Commencement exercises in a manner “friendly to the graduates and their families” but with no outside speaker.  The Superintendent-President also received authorization by the Board to consult as appropriate and to make all final decisions with respect to conducting the commencement exercises in this manner.

Dustin Lance Black is an alumnus of Pasadena City College, class of 1994.  He has distinguished himself as a film producer and champion of equal rights and protections for all regardless of sexual orientation.

Wardlaw said “the Board of Trustees and college administration deeply respect Mr. Black, his work and his causes.  The Board also sincerely apologizes to Mr. Black for any actions that may have caused hurt.”