KOCE-TV sale brings out some protesters

Deepa Bharath

In anticipation of a community college district trustees meeting,

more than 25 people demonstrated outside Orange Coast College

Wednesday afternoon against the district’s selling KOCE-TV, a public

television channel.

The protesters held signs that read “Save KOCE,” “Keep KOCE in

OC,” and “Don’t sell KOCE.”

Coast Community College District officials are considering selling

the station, which has been broadcasting educational programs from

Golden West College in Huntington Beach for the last 30 years,

because of state budget cuts. The station costs the district more

than $2 million every year, officials said.

The district is looking at five bids, four from televangelists,

including Costa Mesa-based Trinity Broadcasting Network. The fifth is

a joint bid from the KOCE Foundation and L.A.-based public television

channel KCET.

OCC student Binh Truong, who stood on the sidewalk holding a sign,

said he and his family have watched the channel for years.

“We love it,” he said. “It’s Orange County’s voice.”

Several others said the district must not sell to religious

groups.

“When you have special interest groups taking over local

interests, that’s just wrong,” Judy Courdy said. “This is about

keeping local control.”

Among the protesters were several teachers. Lori Musick, who

teaches middle school science at Saddleback Unified School District,

said teachers such as her count on KOCE to provide resources they

lack.

“I can get free instructional programs for my classes with teacher

guides,” she said. “It’s like bringing a guest speaker to the

classroom.”

More than 100 people, including the protesters, attended the

college district’s board meeting Wednesday night. At least 70 spoke,

a majority in support of keeping KOCE.

Board members were also divided on the issue. Trustee George Brown

said he supports the kind of programming KOCE has to offer but that

he does not want to fund television with taxpayer money.

“I don’t want to spend student money on it,” he said. “The public

needs to come forward with the funds. The school can’t do it.”

But trustee Jerry Patterson said he believes the district must

fund KOCE.

“We’re not diverting funds by funding KOCE,” he said, evoking

thunderous applause from the audience. “It’s a tremendous asset for

us and it is performing educational functions and providing learning

experiences.”

Among the speakers were Raul Luna, spokesman for Congresswoman

Loretta Sanchez, and UC Irvine Chancellor Ralph Cicerone, both of

whom spoke in support of the district keeping KOCE.

There were a few in the audience who said they believe the

district must sell the station.

“With the money crisis, we can’t afford it anymore,” said Ann

Holliday, a teacher for Coastline Community College. “It needs to be

sold so that we can fund academic programs that were cut because of

the financial crisis. Students are not getting the education they so

desperately need.”

Trustees are expected to decide on the issue during the board’s

Oct. 1 meeting.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.