Garden State Times

TRENTON, N.J. – Senator Parker Space, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia and Assemblyman Michael Inganamort, representing the 24th Legislative District, have voiced their concerns about Rutgers University's handling of recent protests. They assert that the university should prioritize state taxpayers over protestors. In light of ongoing negotiations with these protestors, the lawmakers have outlined a list of demands.

“By caving to protesters' demands, Rutgers only gave the anti-Israel demonstrations more credibility and their failure to control the situation is very concerning. From postponing finals and making students feel unsafe to agreeing to spend taxpayer money on ridiculous demands, there are still many questions that are left unanswered, and I fully support legislative hearings so we can understand the entire scope of what happened and how we can ensure that this never happens again,” said Space (R-Sussex).

News reports indicate that administrators agreed to eight out of ten demands made by protestors. These include offering ten scholarships for students from Gaza, establishing an Arab cultural center, and hiring additional administrators and faculty who specialize in Middle East studies, Arabs, Palestinians and Muslims.

“The right to protest ends when you fundamentally disrupt campus safety and university operations," said Fantasia (R-Sussex). "I am appalled at the lopsided approach embraced by the leadership at Rutgers University. Jewish students should not be marginalized or fear for their own safety.” She continued: “We are recommending the university rescind its offer to pay for protestor demands... Our state university should be uplifting disadvantaged New Jerseyans and Americans. Rutgers must make a concerted effort to restore public confidence by protecting all students and taxpayer dollars.”

During state budget testimony on Thursday, Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway estimated that meeting protestors' demands would cost around $175,000. It's worth noting that Rutgers University receives over $1 billion in state aid towards its annual budget.

Following these negotiations, Holloway has been summoned to testify before the House Committee on Education and Workforce on May 23. This comes as Rutgers faces increased federal scrutiny over alleged acts of antisemitism on its campuses.

“A public university that agrees to shift taxpayer funding to appease agitators deserves public scrutiny," said Inganamort (R-Morris). "We applaud the decision of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce to compel Holloway’s appearance this month and support state legislative hearings.”

Holloway admitted he did not personally attend the negotiations, instead sending a representative from his cabinet. He justified this by citing the urgency of the meeting and escalating developments on campus, which he felt did not require him to include diverse voices in the discussions.

The lawmakers concluded: “We are not asking a lot of Rutgers University. We want the institution to make a public commitment to their standards and do better going forward so that we can repair its reputation.” They also requested that Rutgers rescind its agreement with protestors, commit to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of its 6,400 Jewish undergraduates, and enforce the Rutgers University Code of Student Conduct.