By Jim Namiotka/The Star-Ledger
Cory Booker
Mayor, Newark
Our work, deliberation and debate over the current higher education reform efforts must remain focused — not on simply parochial interests, but on what will make an already strong Rutgers even stronger. What will make New Jersey stronger. What will make our state more competitive and a leader in education, health care and research.
Susan Cole
President, Montclair State University
From the perspective of Montclair State University, the state’s second-largest university, educating 18,500 students, graduating 4,262 a year, offering outstanding programs in the sciences, humanities, business, education and the arts, attracting millions in government grants, I wonder where we fit into this interesting plan.
Frank Lautenberg
U.S. Senator (D-N.J.)
Rutgers University’s heritage and history predate our state. It is our flagship state university and a source of great pride for students, alumni, faculty and people from every corner of New Jersey.
George Norcross
Executive chairman, Conner Strong & Buckelew
After a decade of false starts, New Jersey is poised for a major breakthrough that will elevate higher education to a level that greatly improves our children’s chances to compete in the global economy and fuels an economic renaissance in Camden, Newark, New Brunswick and their surrounding regions.
Linda Stamato
Co-director, Center on Negotiations and Conflict Resolution, Bloustein School of Public Policy; former chair, Rutgers Board of Governors
A resounding “no” to the legislation and to any iteration that would dismantle Rutgers. The state university, more than the sum of its parts, has grown from a cluster of colleges to a major state university with an international reputation as a center for research, learning and service.
Joseph Vitale
State Senator (D-Middlesex), co-prime sponsor of higher education reorganization bill
Merging Rutgers University with UMDNJ, and forging a strong affiliation between Rutgers and Rowan University are both timely and courageous. For more than a decade, we have recognized the need to transform our academic and medical education. Building consensus had been painstaking, contentious, difficult and a failure. But, armed with this newest vision, now is the time to finally act.
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