Los Angeles City College, Presidential Inauguration, October 22, 1998.

On October 22, 1998, Los Angeles City College's 70th anniversary, Dr. Mary Spangler was inaugurated as the 12th president of the college. In this, her message to faculty, staff, and family attending the event, Spangler revisits the college's past, citing historical highlights from each decade. She also focuses on the present state of the college, directing attention to its recognition by the Los Angeles Times as the only community college named in a recent article on college costs, listed with 18 major 4-year colleges and universities. With a population that is 14% African American, 21% Asian, 23% Caucasian, and 42% Hispanic, the 15,000 students at Los Angeles City College compose the most ethnically diverse community college in the country. Notable changes at present include organizational restructuring, block scheduling, workshops on hiring, strategic planning to prioritize needs, and program review. In looking at the college's future, Dr. Spangler cites "Vision for 2001," a declaration of commitment for cooperative learning established in 1996 at a college retreat to chart the direction for the next 5 years. Dr. Spangler's energies as president will focus on several key issues: expanding quality programs, improving the physical environment, decreasing dependence on state funds, and maintaining a sense of community. (AS)