THE BLiCK AND PUERTO RICAN STUDENT COMMUNITY

THES UNIVERSITY .OF HaRLEM -
133rd Street and Convent Avenue os

New York, N.Y. 10031

—_—-

TO: THE FACULTY AND STUDENTS OF CITY COLLEGE FOR RELEASE: 12: 00 noon April 26

This is the first in a series of connunications to the City College and the conmunity
at large which will ‘clarify our position and possibly shed light onto the question, ‘Why

oe

_ this Liberation of South Campus by the Black and Puerto Rican Student Connunity (BPRSC)

We are conmitted to make this college more relevant to the community. The Adminis-
tration,: through its inaction, implicitly declares itself hostile to the community. Given
the geographical position of the College, it is illogical for them to nove in such a sui-
cidal manner. Although they have not openly declared their hostility to the community,
there has been only tokenism and evasive action taken to conceal this hostility. Thus,
as representatives of the community, we have taken the initiative. In our eyes, this
part of the campus belongs to the community and we have hamed it accordingly, The Univer-
sity of Harlen. ‘The renaning of ouildings will occur today.

We have fed and sheltered the hungry ‘and the sick of Harlen, giving them the use of
our medical staff, sleeping facilities and preparing neals for them.’ Members of the
community are constantly coming onto the campus to examine what we are doing and to give
support. The community at large has received us openly and warnly. Many individuals
have taken it upon thenselves to collect food and money for continuing our work. Once
inside, these guests are free to participate in classes held by the students. Most of
these sessions, led by students, are political and social analysis of, what is happening

, ”
in this country. .The courses include Political Pressure and Social Change, Evolution
vs Revolution, Black Nationalism, etc. The first classes of the new University of Ear-

lem began in H. Rap Brown Political Science Building (once Wagner Hall) in room 09 at

11:00 A.M.
Tutoring wakes up a major part of the educational activity that is going on now.
Those students who are proficient in certain areas, have nade themselves available as

tutors. Members of the Black and Puerto Rican Faculty hav said that they will also
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hola tutorial classes whenever possible. Any person from the community can get free
tutoring in any subject and many have taken advantage of this.

An attenpt was made to relate our entire position to the faculty on Wednesday morning
but it should be’ nade clear that we took it as a personal affront that neither the Prosi-

dent nor the Faculty arrangenents Committee contacted us to help develop the agenda

the College-wide meeting. We see it.as a tactic to conceal Administrative hostility “to-

wards the community. The hidden reason is a lack of desire to nake the school relevagt

t¥ the connunity.
An attempt has been made by the Administration through the use of the nedia, to make
us appear 'the irresponsible extremists', but we are the ones involved in positive action,

:

they are not. We suggest that they follow the leacership of the Student Senate and de-

clare themselves adversaries of the contaund ty « In this manner, they would stop dece4y

if
ving the connunity and also those students who have a sincere commitment to their pegple.

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