Despite resounding ‘No,’ board leaves door open to further discussions, alternative options
By Tara Nurin
Battle lines were drawn Thursday, when the Rutgers board overwhelmingly voted to oppose severing Rutgers-Camden from the rest of the university. At the same time, it affirmed that it was committed to Rutgers-Camden and its students. The proposed transfer of the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and other units of UMDNJ to Rutgers University should be considered on its own merits, according to the strongly worded resolution that was approved by the trustees 32-4.
Nevertheless, the resolution appears to position the Rutgers board to negotiate with Gov. Chris Christie, who wants the reorganization to occur by July 1, since the board said it was open to alternative proposals — as long as Rutgers-Camden remains part of Rutgers University.
Representatives of Rutgers and Rowan University met recently in the governor’s office to discuss options. Sources privy to the discussion say the talks have stalled.
In what appears to be a direct rebuke to Christie’s promise to unilaterally impose the merger by executive order, the trustees included direct references to The Rutgers Law of 1956, which requires any proposed amendment or substantial alteration to Rutgers properties, funds, and trusts be approved by both the Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors. Trustees also reaffirmed the law’s provision that charges them with conducting due diligence before voting on fiduciary matters, regardless of externally imposed deadlines.
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