What's Happening at '500'? / Qué Pasa Con la Toma de 500?
Item
2MATIONAL BULLETIN NO.
APR SEL 718
ae Happening at ‘500 2
On Thursday, March. 30th, amidst the
coneueane climax of a general assembly,
a group of students and faculty mem-
bers seized the 500Grand Concourse
huilding and began to put it to use
for the entire college. Although a
clear amjority of those in attendence
did not support the immediate takeover
of the building, it should not be over-
looked that’ the overwhelming majority
did support the tactic of a takeover.
The only question was one of timing:
whether it should be implemented im-
mediately or the following week, when
clarification of potential strikes
against the Transit Authority and the
New York Times and Daily News was ex-
pected,
the State
‘ormitory Authority, which manages
building, threatened to evict, with
the use of police force, all those
students and faculty members from the
building. Nowever, thanks to a show of
r by community residents,
cler oymen, faculty members and espe-
clally the Student Government, the
Nominican Student Organization, the
South ue case Student Ogganization,
the Puerto Rican Student’ Organization
well as many others, the threat was
% the following day,
the
the movement to obtain
building has been
Preparations for classes
and cultural activities rapidly pro-
fressed, In fact, some teachers have
caueht their classes there and have
pledged to continue to 40 so. Motre-
the takeover ee attracted public
tion to Hostos' lack cf space and
struggle to overcome that probleh.
‘audio >tations -- WHN, WINS, and WCBS
-- uarried hourly reports on the take-
vve1 and the goal of Hostos United,
while WMPW TV, Channel 5 did an indepth
nositive report on our fight for ade-
quate facilities and space.
AS. a result,
and use the 500
strenothened,
While many criticize, with some
justification, how >the takeover was
conducted, the fact remains, it has
survived and grown. The pressing
question now is how to respond to
that reality. Can we afford to ig-
nore the stand taken by our fellow
students and faculty? Can we afford
to allow political style, personality
conflicts and different student organ-
izational loyalities overshadow. the
progress we have made the last six
weeks? Can we permit throwing the
bahy out with the bathwater, that
is, disregarding the struggle for
the building because of the less than
ideal way the takeover was imple-
mented?
Our answer to these questions will
determine the success of our move-
ment and the survival of our college
Consider them carefully and recall
the slogan -- HOSTOS UNITED WILL
NEVER BE DEFRATED!
JOIN THE TAKEOVER! If not now,
as soon as you are ready to, so that
Hostos can cladm what is rightfully
ours: the 500 Grand Concourse
building.
HOSTOS UNITED FOR ''500"
The Takeover Committee of
HOSTOS UNITED
APR SEL 718
ae Happening at ‘500 2
On Thursday, March. 30th, amidst the
coneueane climax of a general assembly,
a group of students and faculty mem-
bers seized the 500Grand Concourse
huilding and began to put it to use
for the entire college. Although a
clear amjority of those in attendence
did not support the immediate takeover
of the building, it should not be over-
looked that’ the overwhelming majority
did support the tactic of a takeover.
The only question was one of timing:
whether it should be implemented im-
mediately or the following week, when
clarification of potential strikes
against the Transit Authority and the
New York Times and Daily News was ex-
pected,
the State
‘ormitory Authority, which manages
building, threatened to evict, with
the use of police force, all those
students and faculty members from the
building. Nowever, thanks to a show of
r by community residents,
cler oymen, faculty members and espe-
clally the Student Government, the
Nominican Student Organization, the
South ue case Student Ogganization,
the Puerto Rican Student’ Organization
well as many others, the threat was
% the following day,
the
the movement to obtain
building has been
Preparations for classes
and cultural activities rapidly pro-
fressed, In fact, some teachers have
caueht their classes there and have
pledged to continue to 40 so. Motre-
the takeover ee attracted public
tion to Hostos' lack cf space and
struggle to overcome that probleh.
‘audio >tations -- WHN, WINS, and WCBS
-- uarried hourly reports on the take-
vve1 and the goal of Hostos United,
while WMPW TV, Channel 5 did an indepth
nositive report on our fight for ade-
quate facilities and space.
AS. a result,
and use the 500
strenothened,
While many criticize, with some
justification, how >the takeover was
conducted, the fact remains, it has
survived and grown. The pressing
question now is how to respond to
that reality. Can we afford to ig-
nore the stand taken by our fellow
students and faculty? Can we afford
to allow political style, personality
conflicts and different student organ-
izational loyalities overshadow. the
progress we have made the last six
weeks? Can we permit throwing the
bahy out with the bathwater, that
is, disregarding the struggle for
the building because of the less than
ideal way the takeover was imple-
mented?
Our answer to these questions will
determine the success of our move-
ment and the survival of our college
Consider them carefully and recall
the slogan -- HOSTOS UNITED WILL
NEVER BE DEFRATED!
JOIN THE TAKEOVER! If not now,
as soon as you are ready to, so that
Hostos can cladm what is rightfully
ours: the 500 Grand Concourse
building.
HOSTOS UNITED FOR ''500"
The Takeover Committee of
HOSTOS UNITED
Title
What's Happening at '500'? / Qué Pasa Con la Toma de 500?
Description
Hostos United/Hostos Unido issued this bulletin in April of 1978 to explain the occupation of the 500 Grand Concourse building. The bulletin not only encouraged members of the Hostos community to participate in and assist with the effort, but it also alluded to conflict between activists over the timing of the actual takeover. This bulletin encouraged community members to move beyond such conflict to strengthen their efforts. To draw more 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 allow 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 allow 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
April 3, 1978
Language
English
Spanish
Rights
Obtained from Contributor - Copyright Unknown
Source
Hostos Community College Archives
Original Format
Flier / Leaflet (1 or 2 page handout)
Hostos United/Hostos Unido. Letter. “What’s Happening at ’500’? Qué Pasa Con La Toma De 500?.”, CUNY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE, accessed March 10, 2026, https://stephenz.tailc22a4b.ts.net/s/cdha/item/681