Sweeney: Details still scarce on Rowan, Rutgers-Camden merger

By Jessica Bautista and Jessica Driscoll

More than a week after a Trenton proposal to merge Rutgers’ Camden campus into Rowan University was made public — much to the chagrin of Rutgers-Camden faculty and staff — state Senate President Steve Sweeney, D-3, of West Deptford, admitted the manner in which the idea was revealed could’ve been handled better.
020212 rutgers 13.jpgView full sizeStaff photo by Lori M. NicholsRutgers University-Camden Chancellor Wendell Pritchett listens to students, staff and alumni speak their concerns over the campus merging with Rowan University.

Following an advisory committee’s recommendation that Rowan acquire Rutgers-Camden — including the perks of its law and business schools — and thereby attain the much-coveted designation of research university, Gov. Chris Christie offered his full endorsement.

But the governor spoke without disclosing details of the proposed merger, perhaps putting the cart before the horse, some have said, and creating a panic.

“When they made the announcement, of course people were up in arms,” Sweeney told South Jersey Sunday. “I would be, too, because they don’t know the details and they haven’t been worked out.”

The specifics of the proposal “needed to come along with the announcement,” the senator suggested. “So, I think they screwed up a little bit on the way it was rolled out. I’m sure there’s thousands of people angry right now.”

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