Hostos United/Hostos Unido March 1978 Press Release
Item
EONS OmommeU me Nimean luce) HEOMSiy ln Omon a Um Nim lig Om O)
OFFICE OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT
475 GRAND CONCOURSE,
BRONX, NEW YORK 10451
PRESS RELEASE: MARCH 31, 1978
HOSTOS UNITED - HOSTOS UNIDO, A COALITION OF UNION AND STUDENT
ORGANIZATION HAS CONDUCTED A CAMPAIGN TO SECURE BETTER
FACILITIES FOR HOSTOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THE ONLY BILINGUAL
COLLEGE THIS SIDE OF THE MISSISSIPI. HOSTOS HAS THE WORST
FACILITIES OF ANY INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE
STATE OF NEW YORK. 98 PER CENT OF HOSTOS STUDENTS ARE HISPANIC
AND BLACK. THE TAKE-OVER OF THE 500 GRAND CONCOURSE BUILDING
IS THE FINAL STEP OF THE CAMPAIGN TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION
OF THE PUBLIC AND THE POWERS THAT BE, THE UNIQUE NEGATIVE
FACILITIES SITUATION OF HOSTOS. HISTORICALLY, HOSTOS HAS
BEEN THE MOST NEGLECTED OF THE C.U.N.Y. COLLEGES. THEREFORE,
HOSTOS DEMANDS FAIR AND EQUAL TREATMENT WITHIN THE CUNY SYSTEM.
OFFICE OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT
475 GRAND CONCOURSE,
BRONX, NEW YORK 10451
PRESS RELEASE: MARCH 31, 1978
HOSTOS UNITED - HOSTOS UNIDO, A COALITION OF UNION AND STUDENT
ORGANIZATION HAS CONDUCTED A CAMPAIGN TO SECURE BETTER
FACILITIES FOR HOSTOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THE ONLY BILINGUAL
COLLEGE THIS SIDE OF THE MISSISSIPI. HOSTOS HAS THE WORST
FACILITIES OF ANY INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE
STATE OF NEW YORK. 98 PER CENT OF HOSTOS STUDENTS ARE HISPANIC
AND BLACK. THE TAKE-OVER OF THE 500 GRAND CONCOURSE BUILDING
IS THE FINAL STEP OF THE CAMPAIGN TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION
OF THE PUBLIC AND THE POWERS THAT BE, THE UNIQUE NEGATIVE
FACILITIES SITUATION OF HOSTOS. HISTORICALLY, HOSTOS HAS
BEEN THE MOST NEGLECTED OF THE C.U.N.Y. COLLEGES. THEREFORE,
HOSTOS DEMANDS FAIR AND EQUAL TREATMENT WITHIN THE CUNY SYSTEM.
Title
Hostos United/Hostos Unido March 1978 Press Release
Description
In March 1978, Hostos United/Hostos Unido issued this press release about the decision to occupy the 500 Grand Concourse building. To draw public attention to their cause and to demand needed funding to complete renovations to the building, students and faculty occupied the property to run classes and activities to pressure Mayor Koch and other officials to enable bond sales and renovations to proceed.
By 1977, the third part of the campaign to save Hostos Community College had picked up momentum. Having extremely poor facilities, the college had acquired a second building across the street from its original location that would offer the opportunity for Hostos to expand. However, the 500 Grand Concourse building needed renovations to be useable but the college had been denied the funds necessary to prepare and occupy their second building. A fresh wave of organizing by students and faculty drove efforts to enable Hostos to continue to be a hub of opportunity for residents of the South Bronx.
By 1977, the third part of the campaign to save Hostos Community College had picked up momentum. Having extremely poor facilities, the college had acquired a second building across the street from its original location that would offer the opportunity for Hostos to expand. However, the 500 Grand Concourse building needed renovations to be useable but the college had been denied the funds necessary to prepare and occupy their second building. A fresh wave of organizing by students and faculty drove efforts to enable Hostos to continue to be a hub of opportunity for residents of the South Bronx.
Contributor
Meyer, Gerald
Creator
Hostos United/Hostos Unido
Date
March 31, 1978
Language
English
Rights
Obtained from Contributor - Copyright Unknown
Source
Hostos Community College Archives
Original Format
Report / Paper / Proposal
Hostos United/Hostos Unido. Letter. “Hostos United Hostos Unido March 1978 Press Release.”, CUNY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE, accessed March 10, 2026, https://stephenz.tailc22a4b.ts.net/s/cdha/item/679