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THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE |
BEDFORD-STUYVESANT COALITION ON EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND SERVICES

c/o The African-American Teachers Association
1064 Fulton Street - Brooklyn, New York - 11238

April 15, 1968

Mr. Porter R. Chandler
Chairman

Board of Higher Education
City University of New York
535 East 80th Street

New York, New York 10021

Dear Mr. Chandler:

I, and the Steering Committee, received Dr. Burkhardt's letter of
April 3, 1968 in which the resolutions made by the members of the
Board of Higher Education, at their regular monthly meeting of
March 25, 1968, regarding the proposed Mid-Brooklyn College Number
Seven and the concerns of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Coalition, were
presented.

After careful review of our meeting with you on March 14, 1968,
and after careful evaluation of the Board's resolutions presented
in Dr. Burkhardt's letter, the Steering Committee is beginning to
feel that you, apparently, did not seriously consider our just
demands nor our dedicated commitment to those demands. In fact,
Mr. Chandler, your Board did not address itself specifically to
our most intimate and irreversible concerns: a four year college
that is community controlled. :
We understand, and appreciate, that the members of the Board of
Higher Education have attempted to initiate a process of develop-
ing a college that is different from your traditional way with
the hope of involving the community, and thereby providing a
college that will meet the needs of the community. It is with
deep conviction, and with thorough knowledge of the ineffective-
ness of City Colleges vis-a-vis the Black and Puerto Rican com-
munity that we reiterate our just demand for community control
of the proposed college for Central Brooklyn, and that it be an


Mr. Porter R. Chandler -2- April 15, 1968
institution offering baccalaureate degrees.

Sir, only by community control can this college be made 'legiti-
mate."" That is, it will be in accord with the values of the
people in the community, it will meet our needs, it will thereby
realize the aspirations and goals of the people it purports to
serve. The only alternative to "legitimacy" is "alienation."
One cursory glance at the lower school system in New York City
will attest to the widespread and chronic "alienation" which has
produced chaotic and deplorable conditions.

I think that our community representatives are caught up in the
spirit emanating from the impact and tragedy of our beloved
Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. which has prompted us to
approach you again as an ally to help us bring about smoothly the
necessary changes to fulfill the community's earnest demands.

The Steering Committee of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Coalition on Edu-
cational Needs and Services will meet on Monday, April 29, 1968

to be followed by a mass community meeting within a couple of days.
It is imperative, Mr. Chandler, that you respond in writing to the
Steering Committee indicating the mechanism whereby the community
can be assured of a "legitimate" college: community controlled,
bachelor degree conferring institution---so that we can report
positive progress at this mass community meeting.

Thank you, in advance, for your consideration and prompt atten-
tion to our plight.

Peace and unity,

(Ubed Vor

Albert Vann
Chairman
The Steering Committee

AV/pp

cc: Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller
Senator Robert F. Kennedy
Mayor John V. Lindsay
Commissioner James E. Allen
Dr. Frederick H. Burkhardt