Rutgers Prez Insists Future Of Camden Campus Is Secure
CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) - There are probably a lot of people at Rutgers-Camden breathing a sigh of relief after a visit from the University's President this week.
Robert Barchi was in town to herald the opening of a new home for the English Department, but couldn't help bringing up a bit of history that predated his arrival in 2012. There was talk of severing most ties with the main campus in New Brunswick in favor of a proposed merger with Rowan University.
"You know that four years ago there was a lot of pressure to rupture that union." Barchi told some 100 people outside the newly dedicated Writer's House on Cooper Street, "and four years ago there was a lot of support from all over the state to make sure that didn't happen."
It didn't, although a reform bill has Rowan and Rutgers-Camden collaborating on joint projects.
"I still hear rumors periodically about, oh well we're just fattening up Camden to sell it off," Barchi added. "I have to tell you nothing...nothing could be farther from the truth than that."
He said ongoing improvements in Camden are meant to improve Rutgers as a whole, and the ties with New Brunswick will remain in place. The announcement was greeted with applause by the crowd.
