Students and Community Rallies Against Kean Layoffs
The Community in Support of Kean Students held rallies Friday, 12/3 and Saturday 12/4 opposing layoffs at Kean University impacting student services. Friday’s rally (see photos below) called on Senator Ray Lesniak to intercede to stop the layoffs. Saturday’s rally was held outside the Kean Board of Trustees’ meeting which gave Kean President Farahi $360,000 in personal cash bonuses in recent months.
Kean Federation of Teachers President James Castiglione charges that there is not a financial crisis at Kean necessitating the layoffs. He noted that there have been no layoffs at the state’s other colleges and universities and none were necessary at Kean.
Although the rally primarily consisted of Kean students, it was supported by the People’s Organization for Progress, the National Organization for Women and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Kean Federation of Teachers. Speakers at Friday’s rally noted that a majority of the layoffs targeted women and people of color.