Help Prevent Student Loan Rates from Doubling

The deadline for Congress to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling is almost here, and it's time for Congress to take action. Congress must take action before July 1 to keep interest rates from doubling. Both Democrats and Republicans have supported the one-year extension that would keep interest rates on student loans from doubling; it's time to get it done.

We're racing against the clock. Send your members of Congress a message today.

The doubling interest rates on new federal student loans, called Stafford loans, will affect more than 7.4 million students as well as those who are college-bound, increasing their costs by an average of $1,000.

Urge your elected officials to keep college affordable. Write your members of Congress today.

Students are already swimming in a rising sea of debt, graduating from college with an average of $25,000 in loans to repay. For recent grads, the burden is especially daunting. They face higher rates of unemployment because of the current economy, and low entry-level wages if they are lucky enough to find jobs. Most agree that there could hardly be a worse time to double the interest rates on student loans.

The deadline is approaching. Write your members of Congress today!

A high-quality public education is the gateway to the middle class, and preserving the American dream means keeping college affordable and accessible.

Board of Trustees Statement

On June 7, 2012, Rich Wolfson gave a statement at the Board of Trustees meeting.  The statement can be read by clicking here.

Election Results

Results of the Officer and Delegate elections for AFT Local 1904, for the term of May 17, 2012 through April 30, 2014, are listed below. Complete vote tallies are available on the Local 1904 website.

We congratulate the officers and delegates elected, both those newly elected and those continuing in office, and trust they will do their best in representing our members, locally at Montclair State University and with the State, in these difficult times.

AFT Local 1904 2012 Elections Committee:

Grover Furr

Jack Gaynor

Susan Hagen

Matthew Pierce

A. David Trubatch, Chair

Elected Officers:

President                                                                        Rich Wolfson

Internal Vice President                                                    Jennifer Higgins

External Vice President                                                   Bill Sullivan

Associate VP Personnel                                                    Kathy Hughes

Negotiations Coordinator                                                 Ken Brook

Professional Staff Negotiations Leader                             Dana Natale

Treasurer                                                                        Mike Heller

Secretary                                                                        Neeraj Vedwan

Librarian Coordinator                                                      Mei Ling Chow

Professional Staff Coordinator                                         Betsy Montanez

Elected Council Delegates in alphabetical order:

Rebecca Goldstein

Mike Heller

Jennifer Higgins

Amy Krenzer

Naomi Liebler

Betsy Montanez

Dana Natale

Bill Sullivan

Neeraj Vedwan

Bill Vincenti

Draconian Cuts to Higher Ed & Unbalanced Coverage

Rich Wolfson's Letter to the Editor about cuts to higher education and NJTV's unbalanced coverage of our Day of Action on April 25th ran in The Clifton Journal today.