Friday, December 2, 2022 | Vol. 5, No. 15, Fall 2022 Semester

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT DAISY COCCO DE FILIPPIS

My Dear Colleagues and Students,

I share with you my brief remarks from the Campus Healing Workshop we conducted earlier this week on Monday, November 28 in the Savoy Multi-Purpose Room, aptly titled, Love is Louder. I wish to recognize colleagues for coordinating this activity and for the campus coming together to rejoice in all that is beautiful about our sacred institution.

Good morning to all, and welcome.

Thank you Ms. Jeffers and members of the Office of the President staff for making today’s event possible. I know we are all looking forward to hearing from Ayanna Behin and Lynne Echenberg of the New York Peace Institute who will be conducting our peace circle this morning, so I will be brief in my remarks. I would like to open my remarks today with a moment of silence for the five lives lost last week when a gunman opened fire at an LGBTQI+ venue in Colorado Springs. We mourn with families, friends and communities for those who have lost loved ones due to this act of horrific violence.

Approximately two weeks ago, the Hostos community was shocked when a staff member was the target of antisemitic and homophobic graffiti. I know I speak for all at Hostos when I condemn this shameful and cowardly attack.

Hostos is justifiably proud of the diversity of its students, faculty, and staff. We rejoice in our differences and celebrate our unique and individual selves; we always have, and we always will. The College will not tolerate any behavior that seeks to hurt, harm or diminish any member of our community on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual identity, or place of origin. Our shared humanity unites us, and this is why an act of hate towards one member of our community is an act of hate against us all.

Today’s workshop provides us with the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to creating a world in which all are welcome, all are safe; find solace in each other’s company; and learn how to best deal with such deplorable hate crimes.

May the power of love and understanding drive away the forces of bigotry and hatred. It starts with us. Right here. Today.

Mil gracias y bendiciones, Daisy

Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D.

President

A POEM TO EMBRACE OUR JEWISH BROTHERS AND SISTERS

Half the People in the World

By Yehuda Amichai  

Half the people in the world love the other half,

half the people hate the other half.

Must I because of this half and that half go wandering

and changing ceaselessly like rain in its cycle,

must I sleep among rocks, and grow rugged like

the trunks of olive trees,

and hear the moon barking at me,

and camouflage my love with worries,

and sprout like frightened grass between the railroad

tracks,

and live underground like a mole,

and remain with roots and not with branches, and not

feel my cheek against the cheek of angels, and

love in the first cave, and marry my wife

beneath a canopy of beams that support the earth,

and act out my death, always till the last breath and

the last words and without ever understanding,

and put flagpoles on top of my house and a bomb shelter

underneath. And go out on rads made only for

returning and go through all the appalling

stations—cat,stick,fire,water,butcher,

between the kid and the angel of death?

Half the people love,

half the people hate.

And where is my place between such well-matched halves,

and through what crack will I see the white housing

projects of my dreams and the barefoot runners

on the sands or, at least, the waving of a girl's

kerchief, beside the mound?

“The Poetry of Yehuda Amichai.” Edited by Robert Alter. Farrar Straus and Giroux. copyright 2015.

CAIMAN CLUES

The “Caiman Clues” for the  Fall ’22 semester | Week 13

Dear Students,

Here are the Caiman Clues: 

As you prepare to wrap up the fall semester, the next few days require your relentless drive and determination to finish up your coursework and get ready for finals! With this in mind, we want to share these clues with you:

• Flash Tutoring – Need an immediate review of your writing assignments? The Writing Center, located in C-596, has drop-in opportunities daily Monday – Thursday. Contact them at 718-518-6678.
• Getting Prepped for Finals – In order to have greater success on your final exams, we encourage students to schedule tutoring hours with the Hostos Academic Learning Center. Research Librarians are also available for one-on-one sessions to support your progress in your research projects. To schedule a meeting, complete this interest form. 
• Registration for Winter 2023 Workshop is now open! – Complete your developmental math or/and writing requirements and save time and money. Sign up for a FREE winter workshop using your CUNYfirst schedule builder. MA 10, MA 20, and/or EN 93 Workshops will be offered in-person and online. Click here for more details. 
• Transfer Services Office – Visit the Transfer Services Office for college catalogs, applications, reference books, and information for four-year institutions. Complete this interest form to set up an appointment or attend their Walk-in Wednesday in the D-Building, Room 101. 

Every week, for the Academic calendar year, read the Caiman Clues for helpful tips and reminders.

Caiman Clues —Your Hostos Helping Hand to Success

Follow our Facebook (@HostosCC), Twitter (@HostosCollege) and Instagram (@HostosCollege) for helpful hints you can use all year round.

PRESIDENT’S INITIATIVES

Submitted by Sofia Oviedo, Ph.D., Research Programs Director  

Dear Students and Colleagues,

I hope that you had a restful and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday reconnecting with family and friends. As we wind down the fall semester and look to the new year, I am excited to announce the new grantees of the Ms. MacKenzie Scott’s Gift: President’s Initiatives RFP that will be leading three new initiatives designed to significantly enhance the learning experience for our students. Congratulations to all the awardees! We look forward to the successful implementation of these new projects in the upcoming year.

1. Project Title: Hostos Student Symposium | Award Amount: $10,000

Project Lead: Dr. Andrea Fabrizio, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs

Project Description: The Hostos Student Symposium will be a college-wide celebration of our students in Spring 2023 designed to build community, promote faculty and student engagement, and provide a valuable academic experience to our students. Students in all departments and programs will be invited to share their research, art, essays, performance and other academic achievements with the college community. Students and faculty mentors will be recognized at the Symposium luncheon and closing ceremony; students’ families are welcome to attend. Student work will be disseminated on Hostos social media and through Hostos publications; assessment will focus on impact on presenters’ graduation and retention.

2. Project Title: Caiman Direct: Virtual Student Support | Award Amount: $15,320

Project Lead: Ms. Marsha Milan-Bethel, Student Services Specialist

Project Description: One of the most important factors in student success is the quality of service provided by its faculty and administrators. Therefore, the Student Development and Enrollment Management division (SDEM) is excited to announce the expansion of the Caiman Direct virtual student center. Caiman Direct is a tiered collaborative effort between SDEM offices to streamline essential student services to increase engagement, enrollment, retention, and graduation rates while providing immediate customer service support. With the assistance of the College Advocate Interns as well as identified unit liaisons, Caiman Direct will ensure virtual services mirror in-person best practices.

3. Project Title: Hostos Language Lab | Award Amount: $19,903

Project Lead: Dr. Humberto Ballesteros, Asst. Professor and Unit Coordinator, Modern Languages, Humanities Dept.

Project Description: The Hostos Language Lab will serve as a dedicated space and technological platform to support students’ development of foreign language skills, allowing them to work at their own pace, and facilitating direct interaction between students and the instructor. Best practices in foreign language instruction strongly recommend the use of audio-visual materials and interactive activities in a language-lab context, particularly for students in elementary and intermediate levels. The Hostos Language Lab will meet a critical need by providing the equipment and language-learning software to improve students’ linguistic abilities and support language instructors with a versatile, high-impact tool for foreign language instruction. 

New Announcements for Ms. MacKenzie Scott’s Gift: President’s Initiatives

The Hostos Research Center (HRC) and Committee for Sponsored Programs and Grants (CSPG) are hosting two important activities this month. The Grant Writing Workshop Series is hosting a panel discussion with successful faculty and staff from across the campus community who will share their experiences and strategies for securing major grants from public and private funders.

How a Tiny College in the South Bronx Wins the Big Bucks in Public and Private Grants!

Thursday, December 8, 2022

2 – 3 p.m. via Zoom

Meeting ID: 869 2082 3231

Passcode: 183473

A new Call for Proposals for ADELANTE Projects 2023 has been issued. The HRC and CSPG will award grants of up to $10,000 to faculty and staff seeking to develop ADvancing Excellence in Liberal Arts, scieNces, Technology and Engineering Project proposals to address research, need-based, and/or creative/transformative interventions in all disciplines including the Arts and Humanities, Behavioral and Social Sciences, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The application deadline is February 3, 2023.

For those interested in learning more about this grant opportunity, please join us for a virtual Office Hours on Thursday, December 8, 2022 at 3 p.m. The announcement and link will be sent via email.

The Educating for Diversity Initiative is back for Spring 2023! We are inviting applications from students, faculty, and staff for mini-grants to support cultural, social, and educational activities that will address the interests of our students and Hostos community members in advancing issues of social justice, racial equity, diversity and inclusion. Grants will range from $1,000 - $2,000 and submissions are welcome from any individual or group at Hostos. All proposed events/activities must occur during the Spring 2023 semester.

The Educating for Diversity application deadline is Friday, December 16, 2022. Awards will be announced by January 6, 2023.

To access the Educating for Diversity application, click here (use CUNY login to access).

A Virtual Information Session was held earlier this week that you can view here to learn more. Passcode: A6i&#F1E

For more information about the Ms. MacKenzie Scott’s Gift: President’s Initiatives, please email or call Sofia Oviedo at soviedo@hostos.cuny.edu | Tel: 718-518-4309.

INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, RESEARCH AND ASSESSMENT

Submitted by Dean of Academic Affairs, Institutional Effectiveness,

Research, and Assessment Babette Audant, Ph.D. 

Hostos’ Accreditation Cycle (aka we’re always in Self-Study mode)

Hostos was preparing the final draft of our Self-Study report this time last year. That focused, intense work, and the campus-wide preparation for the Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE) visiting team visit in March, seems like a distant past.

And yet: the Self-Study report included recommendations for continuous improvement. These recommendations (commitments, really) were affirmed by the visiting team, who met with various campus constituents and listened to faculty, students and staff speak about what we do, and how we can do better.

The college-wide strategic planning process was initiated by President Cocco De Filippis within weeks of the Self-Study visit; the six working groups, and the Steering Committee, have kept these Self-Study recommendations in mind while drafting the framework for a 2023–2028 Strategic Plan. Incorporating the recommendations carries on the Self-Study process and ensures intentional achievement and assessment of goals we set for ourselves. When the campus reviews the draft strategic plan framework in the spring, address of these recommendations will be among the considerations to keep in mind.

Additionally, MSCHE recently reviewed its policies considering federal policies governing accreditation of institutions of higher education: Already, the accreditation cycle shifted from 10 years to 8 years. Now, a mid-point report that was once named the Periodic Review Report (PRR) and was renamed the Mid-Point Peer Review (MPPR), has been eliminated. Hostos is no longer required to commit resources to what was essentially a mini-self-study report. And, it requires us to keep the MSCHE standards and expectations — and our Self-Study recommendations — close at hand throughout the eight-year cycle. The strategic plan will be implemented through annual operational plans, and progress toward goals will be assessed. And, in years 3–4, as per the President, the college will undertake an accounting, a mini-self-study, to make sure we’re on track, up to (renewed, revised) standards as we approach the next steps in our cycle of self-study and reaccreditation. 

Submitted by Director of Governmental and External Affairs Eric Radezky, Ph.D.

New York City Landlords Required to Provide Heat and Hot Water from October 1 through May 31

This week’s update comes from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) about heat and hot water laws in the upcoming cold months. See details below.

From HPD (non-NYCHA residents)

By law, New York City has an eight-month-long “heat season” from October 1 to May 31 during which all residential building owners are required to maintain indoor temperatures at 68 degrees when outdoor temperatures fall below 55 degrees during the day. Indoor temperatures must also be a minimum of 62 degrees overnight, regardless of outdoor temperatures. Building owners are legally required to provide hot water at 120 degrees year-round.

If an apartment lacks appropriate heat and/or hot water, tenants should first attempt to notify the building owner, managing agent or superintendent. If service is not restored, the tenant should register an official complaint by calling 311 or downloading and using the 311 mobile app. Hearing-impaired tenants can register complaints via a Touchtone Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (212) 504-4115. Be sure to write down and keep your 311 complaint number.

HPD responds to heat and hot water complaints as quickly as possible. Tenants can monitor HPD Online to learn the result of the complaint. If a landlord fails to provide heat entirely, HPD’s Emergency Repair Program or Housing Litigation Division will intervene to seek the restoration of heat. Multiple complaints from a particular building are often the result of one condition in need of repair.

Low-income property owners having trouble maintaining heat in their homes should contact the Home Energy Assistance Program at 1-800-692-0557. Eligible households can learn more information about assistance in paying heating bills or repairing heating equipment.

For NYCHA Residents

NYCHA residents follow a different procedure. Those residents experiencing issues with heat or hot water should call the NYCHA Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771 or report the issue via the MyNYCHA mobile app or web version. They should also contact NYCHA when: 

• The apartment temperature is out of range.
• They have hot pipes and cold radiators. 
• A window is not closing properly.
• Steam is leaking into the apartment.
• The building’s front entrance door does not fully close.

View this NYCHA Journal entry for a list of helpful tips to keep apartments warm during the winter season. 

Submitted by Writing Center Director Professor Tram Nguyen

Writing Center 

The Writing Center is pleased to announce the opening of a new Study Space: The Writing and Reading Sanctuary, located in C-596F (inside of HALC). The Study Space is open M-W 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. and TH-F 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. This is a quiet place for students to prepare for class, study, complete homework, or breathe. We invite faculty to introduce students to The Sanctuary by walking their classes over to C-596F in the last 5 minutes of class.

Submitted by Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Andrea Fabrizio

Carrol and Milton Petrie Foundation Awarded to Support Supplemental Instruction

Congratulations to Dr. Silvia Reyes. The Carrol and Milton Petrie Foundation has awarded $160,512 to support "Supplemental Instruction and Peer Leaders in Gateway Math Courses." This grant will fund the continuation of Hostos Community College’s Supplemental Instruction and Peer Leaders in gateway math courses, which trains peer leaders to provide weekly study sessions to support students in pivotal gateway math courses.

Nursing Industry Summit – A convening to celebrate and discuss the future of nursing

On November 18, President Cocco De Filippis, with support from the divisions of Continuing Education and Workforce Development (CEWD) and Office of Academic Affairs (OAA), kicked off the first Hostos Industry Summit focused on Nursing. The Hostos Industry Summit will be a twice-annual opportunity to convene employers, government, faculty, staff and students, each to be focused on a different industry sector and is emblematic of the President’s commitment to supporting career and academic pathways that lead to family-sustaining wages.

The value of such a convening cannot be understated: bringing stakeholders together provides opportunities to strengthen programs and pathways to employment. It creates an organic space in which stakeholders listen and make connections on a human scale that lead to improved opportunities for students.

Hostos Community Advisory Council co-chair Elias Alcantara served as master of ceremonies at the event, which drew more than 80 participants from Montefiore-Einstein, Sun River Health, and the US Department of Health and Human Services. Among the attendees were Dara Kass, MD, the Regional Director for Region 2 ​of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Dr. Walid Michelen, ArchCare, and the son of Dr. Nasry Michelen, Hostos’ first president.

Among the many recommendations and action items shared by employers, students and faculty in attendance:

• Hostos should continue to formalize Nursing graduates’ opportunities to transfer (immediately) to four-year colleges.
• Industry partners emphasized the importance of developing students’ career skills including: communication skills, person-centered care (aka customer service), critical thinking skills, cultural competency, and leadership skills.
• Hostos could provide more opportunities for Nursing students to practice and develop basic skills (in a lab, and in the clinical setting) to help students learn what it feels like working in the clinical environment.
• Hostos should consider providing students with opportunities to learn about the financial aspect of medical facilities/operations.

A number of employers offered their time and expertise, demonstrating their commitment to Hostos students’ career success. For example, a representative from Montefiore’s Human Resources offered to mock interview students and help them write their CVs. Another representative from Montefiore offered to provide resources and speakers to address cultural competency. Hostos students praised the faculty’s support and rigor and alumni cited the strong foundations provided by training received at Hostos. 

In all, it was a successful, informative and engaging event that reminded us all of the many resources available to our students at Hostos and from the community around us. There is significant buy in from employers and industry; we’re looking forward to keeping them engaged and invested in our continued success.

The Nursing Summit was a first. We’ll build on the success of this event and in spring 2023, there will be a Summit focused on IT subsectors including cybersecurity and data analytics. 

NEWS FROM THE DIVISION OF STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

Submitted by VP of Student Development and Enrollment Management (SDEM) La Toro Yates, Ph.D.

Student Services

SDEM has relaunched the Caiman Direct virtual student center to support students in navigating the many facets of campus life while providing the tools necessary to continue and complete their educational journey.

Caiman Direct streamlines student services, making it easier for students to complete the processes required to maintain their active student status. The virtual office has implemented a new student-centered business model designed to eliminate students visiting or calling multiple offices. Caiman Direct will improve the transmission and receipt of concise messages that are accurate, timely, and helpful to students. Those seeking information from the following offices can visit Caiman Direct for immediate assistance. 

• Financial Aid
• Registrars
• Health and Wellness
• Student Life

Live support is available through the Caiman Direct page, which contains updated hours with appropriate zoom and additional links. For more information, contact Marsha Milan-Bethel, Student Services Specialist at 718-664-2765 or via email at mmilanbethel@hostos.cuny.edu.

Congratulations to four Hostos Community College finalists for the Kaplan Leadership Program.

• Andre Watson, Criminal Justice
• Fatimah Bah, Civil Engineering
• Yassine Gaye, Chemical Engineering
• Jose González, Accounting

Student Enrollment Information 

Enrollment for Spring 2023 is open now! Log in to your CUNYfirst account to register for classes using Schedule Builder. For navigation assistance, click here. If you need assistance, you can make an appointment with your ASAP Advisor or College Discovery Advisor or Student Success Coach. You can call Student Services at 718-518-4385.

CUNY Edge

CUNY EDGE Budgeting 101 Workshop:

• Last week, we held our CUNY EDGE Budgeting 101 Workshop in collaboration with our new partners the Neighborhood Financial Trust Partners Organization (NFTP). During the workshop, students learned information related to understanding, creating, and balancing a budget; strategies on how to save money, and much more. The NFTP financial counselors who presented during the workshop, also shared their contact information with our students so that they can have access to their own financial counselor who can provide them with further individual financial advice free of charge.

Children’s Center

Partnership Finalized with Chances for Children and the Children’s Center

• The Children’s Center will benefit from working with the non-profit organization, Chances for Children, a community-based mental-health group that will provide us with a bilingual Mental Health Counselor on site, one day a week, to work with families, children, and staff; and to also provide, as needed, weekly Parent-Child Dyadic Therapy on-site. Chances for Children will collaborate with us on our PACT program (Parents and Children Together grant — through the US Department of Education) and work closely with the mental health specialist that we have identified to work under the grant.

College Discovery

The Office of College Discovery has hosted the following workshops and collaborations:

• As chair and presenter of the Mental Health Committee, Eric Rodríguez presented the "Conscious Self-Care" workshop on November 17. This is the third of five mental health workshop series offered CUNY-wide throughout the semester to all registered CUNY students. This series aims to engage students in conversations about their mental health and provide a safe space in which students can feel supported and validated. The workshop was supervised by Eric Rodriguez, a certified mental health clinician, and other clinicians from other CD/SEEK programs.
• In addition, Catherine Hilyard (Licensed Mental Health Clinician) presented "Coping with Grief and Loss" on November 14. This workshop allowed attendees to learn about grief, how to cope with it, and support others who are struggling.
• ASAP and CD collaborated on a cross-divisional workshop on November 16, called "Do you know your resources?” This workshop provided students with an opportunity to discuss any obstacles they encountered, and the presenters used those examples to provide the resources available in the College.

Financial Aid

NYC Program-Health Care Workers for Our Future Initiative

• The New York City Council has designated $400,000 towards an initiative with the goal of providing $700 ($350 per semester) scholarships (modeled after Peter Vallone) to 571 students majoring in health fields with a focus on mental health, human services, and nursing majors for community colleges. More details about the scholarship criteria will be shared as they become available.
• 2023-2024 FAFSA & TAP applications are AVAILABLE as of October 1.

Scholarships

TheDream.US National Scholarship is now open! This scholarship is for highly motivated undocumented students who want nothing more than to get a college education but are unable to afford the cost. You may be eligible for our National Scholarship if you: Are undocumented and enrolled in a community college or university. Read more about the eligibility criteria below:

• Our scholars have what it takes to succeed in college and in life. While we consider your GPA, we place great emphasis on your commitment to community service and your demonstrated ability to overcome the barriers and challenges that undocumented students face each day.
• Our National Scholarship Award will cover your tuition and fees up to a maximum of $16,500 for an associate degree and $33,000 for a bachelor’s degree at one of our partner colleges.

You can renew the award each year, so long as you meet the continuing eligibility criteria.

Important Dates

• November 1, 2022 – Application Opened
• February 28, 2023 – Application Closes
• Late April 2023 – TheDream.US Awardees Notified

For more information or assistance, contact Marina Esquilin at 718-518-4166 or at mesquilin@hostos,cuny.edu.

HISPANIC FEDERATION: UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT SUPPORT FUND

The Hispanic Federation (HF) seeks to empower and advance the Hispanic community, support Hispanic families, and strengthen Latino institutions through work in the areas of education, health, immigration, civic engagement, economic empowerment, and the environment. Continuing its commitment to serve and support New York City’s young immigrant population, the Hispanic Federation is proud to provide support funds to aid eligible undocumented students. HF is awarding student support funds to eligible students in the form of tuition support or grocery assistance. 

Student Eligibility:

• Enrolled in at least 6 credits.
• Earned a degree from high school or obtained a GED.
• Not eligible to apply for federal financial aid.
• Falls within the 400% federal poverty guidelines.
• Attend in one of the 5 NYC boroughs. 
• Open to all undocumented students regardless of country of birth.

Poem submitted by VP La Toro Yates

An Hymn to the Morning

By Phillis Wheatley

Attend my lays, ye ever honour'd nine,

Assist my labours, and my strains refine;

In smoothest numbers pour the notes along,

For bright Aurora now demands my song.

Aurora hail, and all the thousand dies,

Which deck thy progress through the vaulted skies:

The morn awakes, and wide extends her rays,

On ev'ry leaf the gentle zephyr plays;

Harmonious lays the feather'd race resume,

Dart the bright eye, and shake the painted plume.

Ye shady groves, your verdant gloom display

To shield your poet from the burning day:

Calliope awake the sacred lyre,

While thy fair sisters fan the pleasing fire:

The bow'rs, the gales, the variegated skies

In all their pleasures in my bosom rise.

See in the east th' illustrious king of day!

His rising radiance drives the shades away-

But Oh! I feel his fervid beams too strong,

And scarce begun, concludes th' abortive song.

NEWS FROM THE DIVISION OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

More than 40 CEWD students enrolled at Hostos in Fall 2022

This semester, 42 former CEWD students joined the Fall 2022 Hostos freshman class. These students participated in a variety of CEWD programs. The majority (18) completed Medical/Health occupational certificates, followed by GED (7) and English for Speakers of Other Languages-ESOL (5). We wish these students success as they continue their educational journey at Hostos.

Spread the Word

Please share information about CEWD’s current scholarships and no-cost programming opportunities, which can be found by clicking here and selecting the scholarships and tuition assistance programs link in our online course catalog. 

For additional information, please encourage prospective students to sign up for one of CEWD’s upcoming summer Virtual Information Sessions by visiting here. 

Thank you for your CUNY Tuesday Support!

November 29 was CUNY Tuesday, and the Hostos family, once again, showed its love for our students by giving generously of themselves. So far, Hostos has raised more than $56,000 to support scholarships, and we extend our special thanks to Michael Potack and Stuart and Randi Feiner for their inspiring $15,000 matching gifts. We are grateful to all those who gave, as well as the 40+ students who participated in our Thank You campaign. Keep an eye out for their notes in the next week.

If you forgot to give, it’s not too late! You can still go to the CUNY Tuesday website to set up your recurring or one-time gift. 

New Alumni Fund Available for CUNY Tuesday Gifts!

The Office of Alumni Relations is pleased to announce the Hostos Alumni Fund for Student Transfer Scholarships. The intended fund gives alumni a way to honor the impact of their Hostos degree by providing empowering support to current students who want to further their academic career at a four-year institution. If you’re an alum, consider allocating your CUNY Tuesday gift toward the Hostos Alumni Fund for Student Transfer Scholarships using this link.

BRAVO NEWS

SGA, SLA, PTK Members and Campus Staff Hand Out Thanksgiving Meals

On November 22, 2022, the Health and Wellness–One Stop office handed out Thanksgiving meals, including chicken, to over 150 students. In addition, the Division of Institutional Advancement secured food vouchers from the New York Yankees that students can use to supplement the Hostos Food Pantry offerings.

President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Senior Vice President Esther Rodríguez-Chardavoyne, and Vice President of Student Development Enrollment Management La Toro Yates greeted students who received their food bags and vouchers and gave them some positive encouragement while wishing them a happy holiday.

About 30 students from the Student Government Association, Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, and the Student Leadership Academy volunteered during the event.

SGA Senator Nasrin Akter commented on the event, saying, "This is an outstanding experience meeting new people and helping each other. I am looking forward to volunteering next year."

Family of Late Professor and Administrator Isabel Li Pledges $50,000 to Establish an Intended Endowed Memorial Scholarship

Isabel Li, a beloved professor and the director of the Hostos Academic Learning Center, was a treasured part of the Hostos family since 1983. To honor her commitment to academic achievement and student success, her family has worked with the Division of Institutional Advancement to establish an intended endowed scholarship in her memory. In addition to the $50,000 pledge, the gift qualifies for a match of $12,500, bringing the total intended endowment to $62,500. The College extends its gratitude to the family of Isabel Li, including her sisters, Juana Chu and Esther Li; niece, Stephanie Chu; and nephew, Jonathan Chu, for all of their collaboration through this process. 

Campus Hostos: Love is Louder: A Campus Healing Workshop

On Monday, November 28 the Office of the President and Office of Compliance and Diversity hosted a college-wide gathering in response to a recent incident of hate. Below are the remarks shared by Prof. Manuel Livingston who brought greetings on behalf of the College’s Campus Civility Committee.

Thank you all and I am honored to be here as the Chairperson for the College Civility Committee to address you all on this platform.

Eight years ago, when I first arrived at Hostos, I was amazed by the diversity of our campus. Like a tapestry of vivid colors and textiles weaved into an art form, our community was also intertwined into a flowing band of respect, consideration, and acceptance.

The Hostos familia in all its spectrum of nationalities, sexual orientations and belief systems blended into a subculture of social intelligence and maturity through programs of awareness with discussions on various social topics both in and outside the classroom.

But unfortunately, there is an aura of external darkness that creates ignorance, it creates hate and promotes divisions within our peaceful existence, not only at our college, but our society. This is uncivil behavior — which generates negativity.

A recent Marist/NPR poll states that incivility is a major problem Americans worry about. Biases and bigotry are bellowed out on social media platforms that nourish illiteracy, fear and anger. The country's civility crisis is deepening, and most Americans fear it will lead to violence. It is a sad state of events we often hear about almost daily on the news.

In a world full of ideological politics, abstract ideals, and nihilistic outlooks, we tend to forget the human spirit of forgiveness, love, and respect. We are poisoned by inflammatory remarks on social media that infect weak-minded souls looking for purposeful means of being heard in a tumultuous sea of social anarchy.

How can everyone be right when everyone think/ everybody is wrong? As a society we tend to be complacent and lose our civility. That abates the progressiveness of our civilization.

It is unfortunate that there have been pockets of this darkness affecting our campus like a virus. While small, we are here to ensure this metastatic plague is addressed and shown for the cowardice that it is. Hostos is better than this!

So, what is civility?

It comes from the Latin root civilis, meaning befitting a citizen. Civility is often associated with norms of etiquette and politeness. It implies to speak and act in ways that comply with these norms. It means to display a commitment to the public good and not just to one’s personal or sectarian interest, in a nutshell it is treating others as equals.

And while, yes, it can refer to politeness, it may also cause issues when personal agendas come into play. Civility is a comfort to some and repressive to others.

For example, when American football player Colin Kaepernick began to kneel during the national anthem as a protest against racial and social injustice, then US President Donald Trump viewed the action as uncivil and a disrespectful act. Trump suggested: "you have to stand proudly for the national anthem or you shouldn’t be playing, you shouldn’t be there, maybe you shouldn’t be in the country." He went on: "that was a total disrespect of our heritage.” Either side can argue that their beliefs are within the norm, but there are thin lines drawn between respect and personal biases we need to understand.

Civility is the baseline of respect that we owe one another in public life without spilling into harmful words or acting violently against each other when we have a different opinion!



The key word is “RESPECT.”

We must deeply consider this term in order to move forward.

This means respecting others’ opinions, attitudes and identity.

Each one of us has a story, a unique experience with deep roots that drive our principles and values. This is what makes us who we are. We carry this in our thoughts and actions. When you leave this meeting, ask yourself "what can I do to spread civility and end biases and bigotry?"  

 Look towards the person to your left and/or right, now. You may know them or not. Start initiating a small introduction to this individual. Just simply say “I respect myself and I respect you.”

This is a start; you are in essence introducing yourself to another self. Ladies and gentlemen, we are all the same / the same desires to live / the same desires to find happiness / and the same desires to enjoy love from someone special in our lives; from the president of our college to any enrolled student.

And yes, LOVE, it is a four-letter word. Do not be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

As a former full-time healthcare worker, I often and sadly saw remorseful patients display acceptance, respect, and the desire to love again, at the end of their lives when it was too late. Will you also wait to find remorse until then?

Amid the horror of recent events, there is solace — there is something deeply satisfying about doing things in the world with other people. The immediacy of a war such as in the Ukraine, death of someone special, or a natural disaster collapses the barriers between us because it is so clear what must be done. And while nothing redeems any acts of destructive social behavior, there is at least some comfort in the solidarity that emerges from it. Just look at where we are at today.

I must tell you this though, the problem is that solidarity often slips away in the mechanics of everyday life.

But! the empathy and love fueling that desire to help in a crisis is a constant possibility.



That is the purpose of this congregation today. Where we are united to address our thoughts, outlooks and desires in creating pathways of healing.

Let us go placidly amid the noise and the haste of incivility, and remember what peace there may be through our kind acts, even a simple act of a smile or simple acknowledgment to a stranger. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons on your path. [Excerpt from Desiderata, Translated by Max Ehrmann, 1927]

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Fall 2022 Hostos English Club Writing Competition

Deadline: December 9, 2022

Prizes include gift cards and publication in ¡Escriba!



Submit your poem or short story (2500 words or less) to amilsom@hostos.cuny.edu or your English Professor. 

Abua Yala: Structural Origins (Recurring Notice)

October 5–December 21 | The Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos

Kwanzaa Annual Celebration and Feast

Thursday, December 8 | 7 p.m. | Hostos Repertory Theater

All College Meeting: End of Semester Gathering and All Talent on Deck! 

Wednesday, December 14 | 3:30 p.m. | Hostos Repertory Theater

Refreshments will be served!

Alumni Mixer

December 15 | 5:30 p.m. | A-Atrium

Come join alumni, faculty and staff at a holiday mixer. Light refreshments will be served, so stop by for an evening of connection and conviviality before the holidays. If you wish to attend, please RSVP using this link by December 9. If you have trouble with the link, please try opening it on the Google Chrome browser or contact Felix Sánchez directly.