On Tuesday, January 7, 2014,
American Federation of Teachers, Local 1904 at Montclair State University
hosted a pizza party for students who live on campus and didn’t go home during
the winter break. At the party, faculty, professional staff and librarians
provided 20 pizzas and distributed 100 care packages to students in the
multi-purpose room in The Machuga Heights. This year representatives from the
Health Promotions Department were also on hand to give out goodies and information on how
to live a healthy life to students.
“For a variety of reasons, some students remain on campus during the
winter break. Sometimes it's too costly go to go home, some are student
athletes who stay and continue to train and compete with their teams, and for
others the University is the place they call home,” says Alexander
Sperling, Chair of AFT Local 1904’s Community Outreach Committee. Mr. Sperling explained, “Our members wanted
to do something for these students to show them our support and to continue our
tradition of making campus a welcoming place.”
Union members paid for the care packages for
students: a plastic shoe box that contained things such as: playing cards, UNO
cards, Sudoko books, cocoa, Cup-a-Soup, granola bars and other snacks,
tissues, gum, and AFT-branded items such as Post-it notes, pencils, pens, and
luggage tags. “It‘s our hope that these packages will brighten the time
students spend on campus during the intersession,” said Rich Wolfson, President of AFT Local 1904.
The students were grateful for the support from the
Union and many were unaware that the faculty, professional staff, and
librarians who work on campus are unionized employees. Students were also
excited to learn about the $500 scholarships that AFT Local 1904 funds every
year. Dr. Wolfson said, “AFT Local 1904 is committed to supporting our students
in every way possible.”