By Mike DeNardo

CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) — Students at Rutgers University in Camden took to the stage today to protest the planned merger of their campus with Rowan University (see related stories).

“Rowan will take over Rutgers-Camden…” intoned one actor as students used theatre to communicate their opposition to the proposed merger with Rowan.

Cooper Gorelick, a junior theatre-and-math major at Rutgers-Camden, wrote a play of six short vignettes opposing the move.

(Cooper Gorelick. Credit: Mike DeNardo)

“This whole political thing is just disrupting this campus so much,” Gorelick (right) told KYW Newsradio today.  “Academia is almost on a standstill.”

The over-the top villain in the play is “Gary Nearcross,” with any resemblance to New Jersey powerbroker George Norcross not so coincidental.

“More than being great theatre, we hope this is something that will provide a catalyst for people to take action,” says assistant theatre professor c who directed the play.

“Stop the Takeover!” was performed on campus on the eve of a meeting at which the Rutgers  board of governors was set to consider the merger.