_Mmnvtes of Meetin
ayCUen 17, 1978" HOSTOS UNITED/HOSTOS UNIDO

The meeting began with an update of the situation concerning
ne Security Mutual Building. The State Dormitory Authority is
still refusing to sell fonds for the renovation of the building,
although a bank is willing to buy them, because they say that there
is a moritorium on construction in CUNY until a Master Plan through
1990 is completed. In addition, Hotos has been asked to reduce the

rojected $6,000,000 budget for renovating the building by $770,000
teasiasing the construction of a new gym and other necessary facilities).

Virginia Paris from the Admissions office reported that the Board of

Higher Education is trying to limit Hotos to an enrollment of 2,500

students, Last semester, we had 2,700 students, After discussing

details of the current situation, it was generally agreed that the
xurvival of Hostos is at stake and that the building is the most
important issue at present,

It was reported that a committee to support Hostos was being
formed in the South Bronx community of people active in education,

In discussing the general situation inside Hostos, people men-
tioned the general lack of information and apathy among students and
faculty. It was agreed that a number of activities need to be carried
out early in the semester to inform everyone about what the siutation
is, and to involve people in concrete activities, such as letter-writing
campaigns and the continuing petition drive. In addition, activities
that are more dramatic and can get publicity also need to be planned,
It was pointed out that we really only have February, March and April
to work with, since by May students are already involved in term papers
and exams. Faculty and staff involvement was generally considered
to be important.

Structure

It was agreed to form a structured organization, which will be
called Hostos United/Hostos Unido. There was some debate on the size
of the committee and the relative weight that different groups should
be given. How to involve and give representation to people not already
members of existing organizations was also discussed. The structure
finally adopted is:

1, Any student organization is eligible to have one voting member,
However, the organization must show some kind of commitment by
making a financial contribution from its budget. Exceptions will
be made on a case by case basis for organizations which cannot
contribute as much as others. The maximum number of student organi-

zations is 26, but since some of these are not functioning, the
actual representation is expected to be less.
Faculty and Staff will be represented in a ratio of 1 faculty or
staff member for each 2 student representatives. For instance, if
there were 10 student organizations participating, there could
be 5 faculty and staff representatives.
In addition, there will be five working committees (the five
suggested were: finance, propaganda, community relations, activities,
and press). Each committee will have one faculty or staff repre-
sentative and one student. Members of these work committees can
be members of existing organizations as well as unaffiliated stu-
dents, faculty and staff.
If the steering committee becomes too large for frequent and workable
meetings, it can decide to set up a smaller executive board. It was
decided to leave for the next meeting a discussion of how to set up
the work committees.