CUNY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE

In this letter to the chairman of the Board of Higher Education in 1974, Hostos English professor, and Chapter Grievance Counselor, Wilfred Callender describes the inadequacy of the facilities at Hostos, pointing out how poor infrastructure has damaging effects on the quality of education a student can receive under such conditions. Professor Callender copied major newspapers on his letter to Chairman Alfred Giardino in an effort to draw attention to what he claimed was a clear expression of discrimination in how CUNY campuses were funded.

This letter was part of the first iteration of organizing on behalf of the school. In 1974, students, faculty, the Professional Staff Congress, and community members came together to acquire the 500 Grand Concourse building for Hostos—the first of three distinct efforts to support the school in securing needed resources and keeping its doors open for the South Bronx community.