TRENTON, N.J. – Sen. Parker Space, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia, and Assemblyman Michael Inganamort from the 24th Legislative District have called on Rutgers University to prioritize the interests of state taxpayers over radical protestors. The lawmakers have presented their demands while criticizing the university’s handling of recent protests.
Rutgers University administrators reportedly conceded to eight of the 10 demands made by protestors, such as providing scholarships for students from Gaza, establishing an Arab cultural center, and hiring more staff specializing in Middle East studies. These actions have sparked concerns among the lawmakers about the university’s approach to the situation.
During a recent state budget testimony, Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway estimated that meeting protestors’ demands would cost around $175,000.
“The right to protest ends when you fundamentally disrupt campus safety and university operations, and 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,” Fantasia (R-Sussex) said. “We are recommending the university rescind its offer to pay for protestor demands, such as tuition for ten students from Gaza. 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 Thursday, Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway said meeting the demands of the protestors should cost approximately $175,000. Rutgers University receives more than $1 billion in state aid toward its annual budget.
Following the negotiations, the House Committee on Education and Workforce called on Holloway to testify on May 23. Rutgers was already facing increased federal scrutiny over acts of antisemitism on its campuses.
“A public university that agrees to shift taxpayer funding to appease agitators deserves public scrutiny. 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,” Inganamort (R-Morris) said. “Rutgers must be held accountable for its disconcerting actions.”
On Thursday, Holloway confessed he did not attend the negotiations personally, but instead sent a representative from his cabinet. He also claimed the urgency of the meeting and escalating developments on campus meant he did not feel obliged to include diverse voices in the discussions.
“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,” the lawmakers said.
This revelation comes as Rutgers faces heightened federal scrutiny over incidents of antisemitism on its campuses.