BARONI AND BECK CALL ON RUTGERS OFFICIALS TO REJECT ELIMINATION OF DOUGLASS COLLEGE

INVITE DEMOCRATS TO JOIN THEM IN BIPARTISAN EFFORTFebruary 28, 2006
Assemblyman Bill Baroni/609-631-9988
Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck/732-772-1571
Assembly Republican Office/609-292-5339

BARONI AND BECK CALL ON RUTGERS OFFICIALS TO REJECT ELIMINATION OF DOUGLASS COLLEGE

INVITE DEMOCRATS TO JOIN THEM IN BIPARTISAN EFFORT

Assemblyman Bill Baroni and Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck today said that they hope to work with their fellow members of the Assembly Higher Education Committee to convince Rutgers University officials to reject proposals that Douglass College be eliminated as a separate four-year women's college.

"This issue is very important to me and I believe that all of the members of this committee feel strongly that Rutgers should reject this proposal," said Beck, R-Monmouth, Mercer. "I have contacted the Democrat members of the committee and am inviting them to join me in a bipartisan effort."

Baroni and Beck said that they have asked all the members of the Higher Education Committee to sign-off on a letter to Rutgers University President Richard L. McCormick in which the committee will express its bipartisan position that Douglass College should not be eliminated as a separate four-year women's college.

The letter is in response to reports that Rutgers officials are considering the elimination of Douglass as a separate entity as a result of recommendations from the Rutgers University Task Force on Undergraduate Education.

"We know that unfortunately women are underrepresented at higher levels of academia and government," said Baroni, R-Mercer and Middlesex. "Douglass College has generated some of this country’s finest women leaders and it continues to provide the type of environment in which women can be nurtured to become future leaders of our state and our nation."

Baroni noted that a distinguished list of Douglass graduates includes Carol Christ, President, Smith College, Janet Norwood, National award winning economist, Candy Torres, a NASA Engineer, Terrie Williams, Antarctic explorer and one of Discover Magazines top 50 women in science and engineering, Jeanne Fox, President of the BPU and Jaynee LaVecchia, a New Jersey State Supreme Court Justice.

Beck pointed out that graduates of the Douglass College have been among the most loyal and generous alumni of Rutgers University donating $29 million during the school’s last capital campaign.

"If this plan goes forward, and Douglass is eliminated as a separate entity, its financial contribution to the university will be lost," Beck said. "I think it is clear that this recommendation should be rejected and I believe that the Legislature and the Governor should do everything within their power to stop this plan."

Baroni and Beck said that they believe members of both parties would be willing to express this sentiment to the leadership at Rutgers, and they hope there will be bipartisan support for this initiative.

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