PISCATAWAY, New Jersey, February 8. IN another successful strike for those fighting to save men's swimming across the collegiate spectrum, New Jersey's Assembly Higher Education Committee today UNANIMOUSLY passed AR 233 urging Rutgers to reinstate the six cut teams notwithstanding an appearance today and plea by University spokesperson Sharon Ainsworth, Director of State Relations, in opposition to the Resolution. <\/p>\n
Every single Committee member spoke out in favor of the Resolution. Members of the Committee reminded Ainsworth that Rutgers needs to come before their Committee in the future, and that the University needs to weigh that in deciding whether or not to reverse their earlier decision.<\/p>\n
This is a big triumph for the Coalition to Save Rutgers Sports as this Resolution followed hours of testimony in October before the Committee at a public hearing relating to this decision, at which time Athletics Director Robert Mulcahy spoke at length on behalf of the Rutgers Athletics Department and the University, defending the decision to eliminate these teams. He was afforded every opportunity to present the University's case, even precluding some team supporters from speaking because of the amount of time his testimony consumed. <\/p>\n
The Coalition is on record as stating that is "owes a great debt of gratitude to the Higher Education Committee, its Chair, Patrick Diegnan, and to its members, for recognizing Rutgers' decision for what it really was; for giving the high-achieving and dedicated student-athletes on these teams and the team alums the respect they deserve; and for preserving opportunities for those in high school engaged in these sports. Let us hope that such wisdom \u2013 along with a sense of compassion, equity, integrity and honesty \u2013 prevails tomorrow at the Board of Governors meeting."<\/p>\n