Monday Minutes
Mauricio Higuera
Monday Oct. 31, 2011
Attendees:
Alex Ruiz, Art Dushi, Camilo Cadena, Diego Salazar, Isabel Higgins,
Micah Hesse, Mitali Saha, Mitchell Schuessler, Nico Libeyre, Noemi
Bilger... and new members who's names I do not have. Camilo has them.
Minutes:
Mauricio proposed the primary initiatives that the committee will
discuss, develop and work on:
1) Educating ourselves using the resources of the school, most
specifically expertise, advice, mentorship from the faculty and other
entities.
2) 3 Statements:
A) To present to the Administration, including a budget (priority)
B) A statement of intent, recruitment, etc... to publish for the
Cooper Community. This statement is to be published by the Cooper
Pioneer.
C) A statement or letter for the package that will be given to
potential donors.
3)Video telling "The Cooper Story".
4)Recording booth open to the Cooper Community to produce a video
diary or compilation of stories.
Mauricio emphasized that these initiatives are a record that can be
used for multiple things, that it is important to have a diffuse and
democratic record of statements from the student body, alumni,
faculty, etc... and that it is an alternative to an agreed upon
ideological statement regarding Cooper.
Camilo proposed a project to develop a financial statement telling the
actual financial standing of the Cooper Union to be able to present to
NPR and other media outlets. Given that the statement that was shown
during the President's Forum meets the requirements that Camilo had
proposed, he decided to get it from the president's office. Camilo
also proposed an audio project documenting the financial problems and
overall sentiment.
Mauricio discussed having reached Sara Jane Stoner and Walid Raad as
mentors. Sara Jane will help us with our writing and brainstorming.
Walid Raad agreed to give us a workshop on researching and contacting
people of means, THIS WORKSHOP IS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY NOV. 15 12-2PM
@ the video screening room #535 in the foundation building.
Mauricio and Katheryn are discussing which room to book for weekly
meetings. Note: room 535 has video and internet access but it is only
available to video students to book. I have to talk to Zach Poff to
see if I can book this room weekly.
It was discussed and AGREED that weekly meetings should be during club
hours Tuesdays 12-2PM.
Sara Jane is available from 4:15PM and up on Tuesdays which means that
whoever decides to be in the writing part of our committee will have
to meet with her then or at any of her other available times:
Sara Jane's Available times
Tuesday from 4:15-whenever
Wednesday before 11am
Thursday from 1-6pm
4 or more members discussed their family's personal contacts as
potential donors. It was discussed that it is important to have an
attitude that sees our present resources as "what we've got" and what
we will work with. In other words, if we are few, if we don't know, if
we don't have....Then we will work harder, we will learn more, and we
will get what we need. Having good work ethics is important to our
success. However, we should pace ourselves and keep our own workload
and responsibilities in perspective... otherwise we are bound to burn
out, get overwhelmed and fail.
After introducing the initiatives, Mauricio proposed that everyone
think of what project each of the members wants to be involved with
and that minutes will be kept in turn by each member (in Alphabetical
order?).
Tomorrow there will be a walk out. Today The New York Times and Wall
Street Journal published articles from their interview with Jamshed
Barucha.
Katheryn will inform us when we will meet next week, possibly at the
Peter Cooper Suite.
katheryn bajo
Nicolas Libeyre
Mauricio Higuera
Jesicka Labud
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:
WE ARE LOOKING FOR A FEW TALENTED PEOPLE FROM THE COOPER COMMUNITY. ALUMNI, STUDENTS, FACULTY- ALL ARE WELCOME. READ ON.
Who are we? Three people who have developed and refined a startup idea, and it’s happening now, but we need to expand our core team and we’re looking for two people to join us.
We want this to be a cross section of the Cooper Union and what we’re capable of. One of the core missions of this startup will be dedicated to preserving the legacy of our beloved Cooper Union. We need to keep this team intimate, intense. We know exactly who we are looking for. We just haven’t found them yet. Could it be you?
We need to meet you right away. Below, I’ve included descriptions of who we are looking for right now. If you feel that we are talking about you, then please contact us IMMEDIATELY!
*FOREWORD TO THE DESCRIPTIONS: Please read the descriptions carefully before you respond. Right now, we are in the process of creating a core development team. At some point in the future we will need the help of the greater Cooper Union community. We will keep you posted on our progress and our needs.
IS THIS YOU?
You are an engineer whose passion lies in programming, with a focus on the web
You eat code for breakfast. In fact, lunch and dinner too. You are “an artist” in what you do. You have high standards. You are a perfectionist and you are not afraid to explore and expand beyond common concepts. You are fiercely passionate about what you do, and how you do it. You are able and willing to talk about your field of expertise in a way that non-programmers can understand you. (We’re looking for transparency.) YOU ARE A TEAM PLAYER. You deeply care about the user experience. You have a broad range of software and web development skills. You are capable for developing in multiple platforms and languages. In other words, you are confident that you could help to create a product with us that can operate on a highly sophisticated level.
You are an interdisciplinary artist who LOVES the internet
You design with the user in mind. You make designs that stimulate all five human senses and more. You’re a uniquely business oriented artist and have a strong feeling and idea of what sells. Your art responds and interacts with the market constantly. You are flexible and you can reinvent yourself. Perhaps you have already created your own brand, or several brands. You have in-depth experience with social media and blogging. But most important: You have fun in what you do, and your optimism is contagious. Of course, you have a portfolio to back it up!
____________________________________
We are not “hiring’ people, we are on the quest for teammates. We’re thinking more “attitude” than “resume.” Of course, we need talent but we believe that when we find the right persons, the rest will take care of itself.
___________________________________
TO BE CONSIDERED SEND AN EMAIL TO < Cooper...@gmail.com > which includes the following-
A Statement of Interest – which answers the question: Why You?
Background Information – Basic stats about you. Anything you want to tell us in addition to the statement of Interest.
Links to some work samples that back up your Statement of Interest.
And feel free to ask us questions about this announcement using this email address.
______________________________________________________________________________
Make no mistake; this is a chance of a lifetime. And the people you’re about to meet will change your life; as we searching for somebody who will change ours.
You’re willing to get out of your comfort zone. You’re willing to dedicate the next few months (possibly more) of your life solely to PRESERVING THE PETER COOPER LEGACY.
Mauricio Higuera
Mauricio Higuera
katheryn bajo
Lou
I haven't caught up with all of your discussions, so please bear with
me if I say something that has already been said:
Fundraising is the only way we have a chance of securing the school's
philosophy, philanthropy and ideals. There is no simple or
'realistic' solution to balancing Cooper's budget that excludes
tuition. I believe the administration is looking only for an solution
that has a revenue stream that is as accountable as tuition.
President Bharucha Monday night said that we cannot pretend that we
can save the school through philanthropy alone. I say we must trust
our guts, and hold onto our ideals as we ride the bumpy road until the
day the school is run via philanthropy alone. It can be done and must
be done.
I strongly believe we must not underestimate our ability to raise
unbelievable amounts of capital through proper channels to wealthy
philanthropists. But there is a problem that we must tackel: few of
these philanthropists know who Peter Cooper is nor do they know what
The Cooper Union is. Yes, some engineers, artists and architects
think very highly of the school and yes there are some people who, by
chance, have learned of the school and its history, but I am certain
their are thousands of wealthy philanthropists ready and willing to
give who have never even heard the Cooper name. We must find them and
educate them on what our school has done for its students and what
it's alumni have done for the world.
We are a small school, whose community is filled with many leaders
with big hearts. I am not certain, but believe many of our graduates
have gone on to produce work that is by its very nature is beneficial
to their neighbors, community and globe. We must find proof of that
assertion and share it with those that do not know.
I believe by organizing and sharing this history the Cooper community
can raise all the money needed, for the endowment, to prevent the
school from ever having to worry about the issue of tuition.
What does that mean? We need to raise enough money that when donated
to Cooper, for perpetuity, will produce enough interest to run the
school for the forceable future. In other words: the interest from
The Cooper Union endowment must become tens of millions of dollars.
For this to happen donations, to the endowment, totaling around half a
billion dollars must be pledged very quickly. I don't believe our
school's administrators think this is possible. If they don't, we
must, and must prove them wrong.
I want to find the donors--with the Cooper student-alumni-faculty
community--and have then pledge to donate to The Cooper Union
endowment under two conditions: 1. that a goal of XX dollars is pledge
by XX date by the donors we communicate with; and 2. that the school
can only access this money if its mission to education only student's
that are accept on merit and receive a full tuition scholarship is not
changed--if they ever break this bond the money and interest donate by
these donors becomes inaccessible to the institution.
Whoever is interested in doing something like this please include me
in the discussion.
Thanks,
Lou Lipson, Arch '13(914 400 3151)
On Nov 3, 2:37 pm, katheryn bajo <katherynb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hey Mauricio
> I didn't get this email until just now, therefore, I was unable to meet at
> Nico's desk at that time. I will ask Nico what happened and if someone
> could post it on the forum, that would be great.
>
> Cheers
> Katheryn
>
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> > Katheryn,
> > Thank you for your work and ideas. Please come to the meeting tomorrow so
> > that you can present these initiatives to the group. Thanks again!
>
> > On Nov 2, 2011, at 9:42 PM, katheryn bajo wrote:
>
> > When is this upcoming meeting? And can we make sure we are all clear on
> > the structure of the meeting?
> > As soon this is known, I can post fliers around the school to inform the
> > rest of the student body when/where/why this upcoming meeting is happening.
> > I also proposed to the webmaster of free as water and air that the forum
> > for the Cooper Union Student Fundraising Committee is directly connected to
> > the official website. I think the first concern is to have a place to
> > archive a collection of ideas. Secondly, that this committee is widely
> > known and there generates more participation.
>
> > Thank you
> > Katheryn
>
Nicolas Libeyre
katheryn bajo
to be more formal, I agree with everything you said. It has been established that this student-ran subcommittee is dedicated to raising money for the institution if the free-tuition philosophy is preserved.
Be sure to come to our next meeting this upcoming Tuesday November 8th in Room 715 at 12 o'clock. We will be meeting there to discuss ideas to generate revenue as wells as possibilities of donors. At One o'clock we will be then going to the Department of Development to discuss with them how to structure the financial gifts in a secure way, not only because the gifts we will be receiving are in large sums, but secure also meaning by maintaining the philosophy of a free-tuition scholarship.
Best,
Katheryn