Hundreds Gather To Oppose Takeover of Rutgers-Camden By Rowan U.

February 2, 2012 3:13 PM

(Credit: David Madden)

Reporting David Madden

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By David Madden

CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) — Students, faculty, and alumni at the Camden campus of Rutgers University met today to vent their frustration over a state plan to merge the school with Rowan University (see related story), and they are vowing to do everything they can to stop it.

Merging the schools means more than just a name change to students like Cody Miller.

Having Rutgers, as opposed to Rowan, on a résumé carries a lot more weight in the quest for employment, he says. And meaning no disrespect, he says, “”Rowan has a chance to be great. But it can’t be at the expense of Rutgers University.”

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rutgers pic 2 maddenimg01193 Hundreds Gather To Oppose Takeover of Rutgers Camden By Rowan U.

(Credit: David Madden)

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One faculty member suggested the proposed change was meant more to shore up Rowan’s bond rating, not to mention the new Rowan medical school now under construction.

Wendell Pritchett, chancellor at Rutgers-Camden, who also opposes the merger, urged everyone to put the heat on decisionmakers at the state capital. Buses of students will travel to Trenton next week for a state senate hearing. The school’s board of governors meets in mid-February.

And then, of course, there’s Governor Chris Christie. Many say they’ve tried to contact his office but haven’t gotten very far.

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Hundreds Gather To Oppose Takeover of Rutgers Camden By Rowan U.

Stephanie Palmer

NJ needs to get serious about its schools. But I’m surprised that Christie would start with colleges. NJ, small as it is and as few people as there are living there has more school districts by far than PA. Every one of those school districts has its own administrative costs. Why are the people of NJ willing to pay school taxes for individual school districts. Why don’t they join school districts together as happened in PA back in the 60′s? What is the point in paying school taxes for a bunch of paper pushers?
johnw

This was an inspiring gathering at Rutgers-Camden. I’m on the faculty there, and there is more or less 100% opposition on the campus to the merger plan. Why would anyone want to merged into someone else, especially when you are already a thriving, research-oriented, growing, exciting institution?
Slappy Carmichael

@ Dave – It’s probably lame because he is a Rutger’s grad. “Wahhhh, having Rutger’s on my resume was as good as Harvard or Yale. Now I will have to have Rowan on there. I might as well start dealing drugs now because I’ll never get a job with Rowan! on my resume!”