May 23, 1968, meeting minutes of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Coalition on Educational Needs and Services (B-SCENS) Steering Committee
Item
May 23, 1968
f{EMOK A XN DUM
To: SLEGC WP Committee Members of Bedford-Stuyvesant Coalition
From: Al Vay, Chairman
Re: Summary of-Coslition Meeting of May 18
ae Sleen Paha FGETS 6 3
So that our Es 5g can function effectively as a unit, compe-
tently in negotiating with City University, and maintain adequate
and accurate communication with our community, the suggestions
listed below were made in order to define the relationship of the |,
Steering Committee to the community's members of the Bresidential /le
ADA Seeteh Conmnittee as manifested through these procedures: CAL
Stee rtrne Cetsirs lA, /
1, The vadtords -Stuyvesant Goalitiom will set policy and make
decisions on the behalf of the community regarding all
aspects of the proposed college number 7 in their delibera-
tions with City University.
Sle G Sree ones
a. The Coalition wilt provide direction, and, when possible,
approve of all decisions that the conmunity's representa-
tives to the Presidential Search Comnittee must make in
their negotiations.
b. The chairman is responsible for executing the decisions
of the Coalition. ,~
c. Removal of chairman or other Roiicien member. ’
d. Replacing or adding to the Goalition Shu p Oiinuwtl
2. The community's members to the Presidential Search Committee
are responsible to the Steering Committee of the Bedford-
Stuyvesan= Coalition on Educational Needs and Services.
a. They will keep the Coalition informed of the progress
of the Presidential Search Committee and will offer
recommendations as to direction and courses of action.
b. Whenever possible, the community representatives will
get the approval of the Coalition before making any
major decisions.
c. The community's representatives to. the Presidential Search
Committee will be xesponsible for whatever staff is obrained.
(d. The chaz.cman of the community's representatives to the
-~ Presidential Search Committee is responsible for executing
the decision of his committee.
e. This committee of the Coalition should have two alternates
(one more to be elected) who will sit at all committee
meetings and at the discretion of the chairman when the
total Presidential Search Committee meets.
The Steering Committee will meet every 2nd and 4th Thursday of
the month, beginning with May 23,.1968 at the. Salvation Army Center
at 7:30 p.m. This center is located at 601 Lafayette Avenue,
Brooklyn.
The community's members of the Presidential Search Committee will
of course mcet with the Coalition, but also in their committee on
the lst and 3rd Thursdays of the month at a place and time to be
determined.
AV /op
May 23, 1968 : | eS
A. Salvation Army
The Coalition Steering Committee was .called to order by
Chairman A. Vann and attention directed to the memorandum.
that had been distributed. There was no roll call---an
attendance sheet was circulated. (The attendance sheet
is attached.) “. :
Discussion was inaugurated by Judge Jones in the form of
the following questions: .
{ What’ is the Coalition?
) Is the public einded from Steering Committee
meetings?
What is the nature of the Steering Committee?
Does anyone have the right to come to a meeting
of the Steering Committee, make a contribu-
tion to our effort and have a vote?
The discussion encompassed these questions, other areas
were voiced, explored and clarified.
Mr. Easton expressed the opinion that any person had a right
to voice his opinion but no vote.
The question of the role of alternates was voiced. Judge
Jones responded that Mr. Easton was only present to help him
to keep track of what was going on but had no power as long
as he was present.
t
Mr. Easton proposed the following motion:
| Any individual or person representing any group
_ has the right to sit in any Steering Committee
| meeting and participate in that meeting. The
I Steering Committee reserves the right to go into
executive session to reach decisions,
Mr. R. Bryant seconded the motion. Discussion on the motion
followed.
Question on motion - none,
a a Pe CR ae
: iN : § ns j al
eee eee ee ee eS
ne ap nr nn pre aan Hn emergent tee one ptr eas at ae ne ene
= Din
“Vote on motion 7 yes ~
‘L abstention (Mr. Whitlock)
Motion carried. 4
The chairman then redirected the attention of the Steering
Committee to the memorandum items 1C and 1D.
He then appointed a subcommittee of three to devise methods
and procedures to deal with the aforementioned items.
The Procedural Committee was to be comprised of the follow-
ing Steering Committee members;
Mrs. Williams
Mr. Easton
Mr. Patterson
This subcommittee is to report back to the committee at the
meeting to be held on Thursday, June 13, 1968.
.
The suggestion was made to change the language of the memo-
randum specifically to change "community's representatives"
to "negotiating team of the coalition."
This suggestion was adopted unanimously.
The budget attached to the memorandum was examined by the
Committee.
Chairman Vann explained that in a meeting with Mr. Chandler,
Mr. Bowker and Mr. Shenker of the Board of Higher Education
that they expressed a willingness to assist us and supply
some of the needs that were indicated on the budget. The
reasons for the budget were then explored and clarified.
Full accountability and fiscal responsibility were discussed.
Other areas for funds were then mentioned and explored.
Mr. Pinkston: Motion that the report of the negotiating
team be accepted forthwith.
Seconded and passed unanimously.
Ae et ee I RE Rg ne NRE A te eee eR eRe epee
se
Mr. Pinkston: Motion that a treasurer be elected from the
Steering Committee.
Discussion concerning the necessity of a treasurer.
fotion seconded by Jack Pannigan. Passed unanimously.
Discussion concerning role of treasurer in respect to Steering
Committee, Negotiating Team.
Judge Jones: Motion that the Treasurer must be a member of
the Negotiating Teen.
Second: Mrs. Delores Minot. Motion defeated.
Recommendation by Mr. Rudy Bryant that the Treasurer be elected
from the general body of the Steering Committee.
Voice approval of this recommendation.
Mr. Robert Carson nominated Mr. Walter Pinkston as temporary
Treasurer.
Second: Mr. Rudy Bryant
Mr. Walter Pinkston unanimously elected temporary Treasurer,
Meeting (A)
Respectfully submitted,
H. Patterson
cee
A te K Par {be i
Oh
os () pete (Se
LOd 4 ~— ~rnw bs
wiinron, Ns White
Yu Aon titec
an :
Bare Qy :
f{EMOK A XN DUM
To: SLEGC WP Committee Members of Bedford-Stuyvesant Coalition
From: Al Vay, Chairman
Re: Summary of-Coslition Meeting of May 18
ae Sleen Paha FGETS 6 3
So that our Es 5g can function effectively as a unit, compe-
tently in negotiating with City University, and maintain adequate
and accurate communication with our community, the suggestions
listed below were made in order to define the relationship of the |,
Steering Committee to the community's members of the Bresidential /le
ADA Seeteh Conmnittee as manifested through these procedures: CAL
Stee rtrne Cetsirs lA, /
1, The vadtords -Stuyvesant Goalitiom will set policy and make
decisions on the behalf of the community regarding all
aspects of the proposed college number 7 in their delibera-
tions with City University.
Sle G Sree ones
a. The Coalition wilt provide direction, and, when possible,
approve of all decisions that the conmunity's representa-
tives to the Presidential Search Comnittee must make in
their negotiations.
b. The chairman is responsible for executing the decisions
of the Coalition. ,~
c. Removal of chairman or other Roiicien member. ’
d. Replacing or adding to the Goalition Shu p Oiinuwtl
2. The community's members to the Presidential Search Committee
are responsible to the Steering Committee of the Bedford-
Stuyvesan= Coalition on Educational Needs and Services.
a. They will keep the Coalition informed of the progress
of the Presidential Search Committee and will offer
recommendations as to direction and courses of action.
b. Whenever possible, the community representatives will
get the approval of the Coalition before making any
major decisions.
c. The community's representatives to. the Presidential Search
Committee will be xesponsible for whatever staff is obrained.
(d. The chaz.cman of the community's representatives to the
-~ Presidential Search Committee is responsible for executing
the decision of his committee.
e. This committee of the Coalition should have two alternates
(one more to be elected) who will sit at all committee
meetings and at the discretion of the chairman when the
total Presidential Search Committee meets.
The Steering Committee will meet every 2nd and 4th Thursday of
the month, beginning with May 23,.1968 at the. Salvation Army Center
at 7:30 p.m. This center is located at 601 Lafayette Avenue,
Brooklyn.
The community's members of the Presidential Search Committee will
of course mcet with the Coalition, but also in their committee on
the lst and 3rd Thursdays of the month at a place and time to be
determined.
AV /op
May 23, 1968 : | eS
A. Salvation Army
The Coalition Steering Committee was .called to order by
Chairman A. Vann and attention directed to the memorandum.
that had been distributed. There was no roll call---an
attendance sheet was circulated. (The attendance sheet
is attached.) “. :
Discussion was inaugurated by Judge Jones in the form of
the following questions: .
{ What’ is the Coalition?
) Is the public einded from Steering Committee
meetings?
What is the nature of the Steering Committee?
Does anyone have the right to come to a meeting
of the Steering Committee, make a contribu-
tion to our effort and have a vote?
The discussion encompassed these questions, other areas
were voiced, explored and clarified.
Mr. Easton expressed the opinion that any person had a right
to voice his opinion but no vote.
The question of the role of alternates was voiced. Judge
Jones responded that Mr. Easton was only present to help him
to keep track of what was going on but had no power as long
as he was present.
t
Mr. Easton proposed the following motion:
| Any individual or person representing any group
_ has the right to sit in any Steering Committee
| meeting and participate in that meeting. The
I Steering Committee reserves the right to go into
executive session to reach decisions,
Mr. R. Bryant seconded the motion. Discussion on the motion
followed.
Question on motion - none,
a a Pe CR ae
: iN : § ns j al
eee eee ee ee eS
ne ap nr nn pre aan Hn emergent tee one ptr eas at ae ne ene
= Din
“Vote on motion 7 yes ~
‘L abstention (Mr. Whitlock)
Motion carried. 4
The chairman then redirected the attention of the Steering
Committee to the memorandum items 1C and 1D.
He then appointed a subcommittee of three to devise methods
and procedures to deal with the aforementioned items.
The Procedural Committee was to be comprised of the follow-
ing Steering Committee members;
Mrs. Williams
Mr. Easton
Mr. Patterson
This subcommittee is to report back to the committee at the
meeting to be held on Thursday, June 13, 1968.
.
The suggestion was made to change the language of the memo-
randum specifically to change "community's representatives"
to "negotiating team of the coalition."
This suggestion was adopted unanimously.
The budget attached to the memorandum was examined by the
Committee.
Chairman Vann explained that in a meeting with Mr. Chandler,
Mr. Bowker and Mr. Shenker of the Board of Higher Education
that they expressed a willingness to assist us and supply
some of the needs that were indicated on the budget. The
reasons for the budget were then explored and clarified.
Full accountability and fiscal responsibility were discussed.
Other areas for funds were then mentioned and explored.
Mr. Pinkston: Motion that the report of the negotiating
team be accepted forthwith.
Seconded and passed unanimously.
Ae et ee I RE Rg ne NRE A te eee eR eRe epee
se
Mr. Pinkston: Motion that a treasurer be elected from the
Steering Committee.
Discussion concerning the necessity of a treasurer.
fotion seconded by Jack Pannigan. Passed unanimously.
Discussion concerning role of treasurer in respect to Steering
Committee, Negotiating Team.
Judge Jones: Motion that the Treasurer must be a member of
the Negotiating Teen.
Second: Mrs. Delores Minot. Motion defeated.
Recommendation by Mr. Rudy Bryant that the Treasurer be elected
from the general body of the Steering Committee.
Voice approval of this recommendation.
Mr. Robert Carson nominated Mr. Walter Pinkston as temporary
Treasurer.
Second: Mr. Rudy Bryant
Mr. Walter Pinkston unanimously elected temporary Treasurer,
Meeting (A)
Respectfully submitted,
H. Patterson
cee
A te K Par {be i
Oh
os () pete (Se
LOd 4 ~— ~rnw bs
wiinron, Ns White
Yu Aon titec
an :
Bare Qy :
Title
May 23, 1968, meeting minutes of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Coalition on Educational Needs and Services (B-SCENS) Steering Committee
Description
On May 23, 1968, the Steering Committee of the newly-formed Bedford-Stuyvesant Coalition on Educational Needs and Services (B-SCENS), a network of education advocacy groups and community-based organizations, met to discuss how they would represent their community in negotiations over a new public college planned in and for central Brooklyn. City University of New York (CUNY) officials had announced the establishment of “Community College 7” three weeks earlier, and had agreed to collaborate with the Central Brooklyn community in recruiting and hiring a president for the new college. At this meeting, the Steering Committee members outlined the processes by which they would be elected, and their specific responsibilities and procedures for communicating with and representing the demands of their constituents.
In February 1968, the City University of New York (CUNY) announced plans to establish a new “Community College 7 in or near Bedford-Stuyvesant. . . oriented to the Bedford-Stuyvesant Community and operated in consultation with the community.” Representatives of a broad network of Central Brooklyn community organizations engaged in an 18 months-long negotiation with CUNY Board of Higher Education officials over CUNY’s plans for its newly announced “Community College 7,” including discussions about the proposed school’s curriculum, who would lead it, and what role the community would play in the school’s governance. The role of the Bedford-Stuyvesant community in planning and determining the leadership of the college remained a central point of controversy between Central Brooklyn’s educational and civil society leaders and CUNY officials in the negotiations that followed.
Contributor
Woodsworth, Michael
Creator
Patterson, H
Date
May 23, 1968
Language
English
Source
Donald Watkins Collection (Brooklyn Public Library)
Original Format
Notes / Minutes
Patterson, H. Letter. “May 23, 1968, Meeting Minutes of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Coalition on Educational Needs and Services (B-SCENS) Steering Committee.”, CUNY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE, accessed March 10, 2026, https://stephenz.tailc22a4b.ts.net/s/cdha/item/2011