By Bob Bailie<\/p>\n
HOUSTON, Texas, May 4. WHERE the Board of Governors (“BOG”), the University President, and the Athletic Director have obstinately rejected every word spoken or written against their swords that are cutting six Olympic teams at the end of this semester, including Men’s Swimming & Diving, Women’s & Men’s Fencing, Men’s Lightweight & Heavyweight Crew, and Men’s Tennis.<\/p>\n
With their heels in concrete and blind to all of the words written in the print media throughout the State, this small group needs to remove the ear plugs and begin to listen. It needs to listen to the ever-growing LARGE group that has supported reinstatement of these teams as expressed by the Rutgers College Governing Association (“RCGA”) Resolution, the unanimous resolution of the Rutgers University Alumni Federation, the unanimous Resolution of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, the United State Olympic Committee, and in editorials published by every major newspaper in New Jersey, as well as by the New York Times.<\/p>\n
IT’S TIME . . . for this small and obstinate sword-wielding group to have a quiet sit-down meeting with a higher power. Would that be Governor Corzine? . . . or the members of the State Legislature who are opposing the BOG decision? . . . or the State Assembly’s Higher Education Committee?<\/p>\n
IT’S TIME . . . for this small group to act as public servants and in a responsive, representative, honest, and open manner; it is time for them to be accountable for decisions they make. It is time for them to serve the State, its citizens, and its students, and to preserve the collective 400 years tradition of excellence that these eliminated teams have brought to Rutgers. <\/p>\n
IT’S TIME . . . for ALL of the alumni of Rutgers University nationwide to support the on-going efforts of the Coalition to Save Our Sports and send a few words to those with clear vision (and no ear plugs). <\/p>\n
IT’S TIME . . . to let the University know that, with this decision, Rutgers has lost sight of its mission, no longer supports your values, and has therefore lost your support.<\/p>\n
IT’S TIME . . . to send the words of the small and obstinate sword-wielding group back to them with a quick e-mail to your choice among the higher powers that might start with . . .
\nBased upon the locked-in-concrete decision of the Board of Governors to cut six Olympic sport teams from the Rutgers Intercollegiate Athletic Program, my future support of and contributions to Rutgers University are dead and nothing can bring them back (1). And, as far as I’m concerned, the decision is final (2). I have reviewed ALL of the truths and un-truths associated with this matter and this decision has been made and we’re not going to revisit it (3). <\/p>\n
(1) – Board Chairman Al Gamper and President Richard McCormick.
\n (2) – Board Member Ron Giaconia.
\n (3) – Board Chairman Al Gamper.<\/p>\n
IT’S TIME . . . to “copy & paste” the above paragraph in italics into your e-mail and send it on its way to:
\n\tPresident McCormick (president@rutgers.edu)
\n\tAthletic Director Robert Mulcahy (rmulcahy@scarletknights.com)
\n\tBOG Chair Al Gamper (al.gamper@cit.com)
\n\tIntercollegiate Athletic Committee Chair Ron Giaconia (rgiaconia@aol.com)
\n\tScarlet R Director Jason Kroll (jkroll@winants.rutgers.edu)
\n\tRutgers Alumni Association President John Futey (John_R_Futey@alumni.rutgers.edu) and Alumni Relations Contact Keri DeMayo, (kdemayo@alumni.rutgers.edu)
\n\tRutgers University Foundation President Carol Herring (cherring@winants.rutgers.edu)
\nSend a cc. to:<\/p>\n
\tNJ Governor Jon Corzine (see e-mail link at www.state.nj.us\/governor)
\n\tSenate President Richard Codey (SenCodey@njleg.org)
\n\tGeneral Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts (AsmRoberts@njleg.org)
\n\tGeneral Assembly Budget Committee Chair Louis Greenwald (AsmGreenwald@njleg.org)
\n\tSenate Education Committee Chair Shirley Turner (SenTurner@njnleg.org) and Vice-Chair Joseph Doria (SenDoria@njleg.org)
\n\tSenate Budget Committee Chair Bernard Kenny (SenKenny@njleg.org)
\n\tState Commissioner of Higher Education Jane Oates (Jane.Oates@che.state.nj.us)
\n\tThe Coalition to Save Our Sports (“SOS”) at CoalitiontoSOS@patmedia.net<\/p>\n
AND, FINALLY . . . IT’S TIME . . . for all of the alumni who will be “back-on-the-banks of the old Raritan” for the up-coming Reunion Weekend to revisit this issue. This Varsity Swim Team Captain from the ’56-’57 season will be there with high hopes of helping to turn-the-tide. While I would never even attempt to throw a “Hail Mary” pass, I have anchored a few swim meet winning relays. Let’s see how fast this e-mail can be “relayed” (forwarded) about the Internet over the next 10 days. As a veteran U.S. Masters Swimming competitor in the 70-74 age group who has held a few National and World records over the past 20+ years, I know the long term benefits of this particular Olympic sport. I expect to continue to be an outspoken promoter of a sports-for-life lifestyle to achieve and maintain optimum health and longevity when I go “off-the-block” in the 100 Plus age group about 30 years from now. And, with your help, I am hopeful that will be long after we will have restored these six Olympics sports at Rutgers University.<\/p>\n
The time to embrace and support the longevity of the sports that are facing the sword is NOW! PLEASE Pass-it-on to any and all Rutgers Alumni near and far. DO IT TODAY!<\/p>\n
With the GREATEST RESPECT and APPRECIATION for ALL of the on-going efforts to fight this battle, this water-based creature will close with a LOUD & CLEAR . . .<\/p>\n
Updates Form the Coalition to Save Our Sports
\nSENATE RESOLUTION 93 urging Rutgers to reinstate the six eliminated teams will be introduced in the Senate Education Committee for a public hearing on Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 1:00 PM. The public session will take place in Committee Room 6, 1st Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ. Prime co-sponsors of this Resolution are Senators Tom Kean, Jr., and Senator Shirley Turner, both of whom deserve our sincere thanks for their support and efforts. We will keep you advised of details. Do plan to attend this hearing if you are able; we would love to see you!<\/p>\n
MEETING AT RUTGERS: There was in fact a meeting at Rutgers early this week between high level State and Rutgers officials. Rutgers has not officially replied to the legislative concerns expressed, and we will advise when we have more information or news. We are NOT asking for checks at this time, but hope to have to do so in the near future. It is NOT too late to consider a pledge.<\/p>\n
CONGRATS TO RUTGERS TWO-TIME ALL-AMERICAN AND FENCING CAPTAIN JASON HENDERSON, who is one of two RU recipients of an NCAA postgraduate scholarship (the other recipient is gymnast Beth Fittery). Per Bob Mulcahy, Rutgers Director of Athletics, who chose to cut fencing as a varsity sport, “… these two student-athletes are the highest example of achievement at this University.” <\/p>\n
A member of Cap & Skull and the National Collegiate Honor Society and a recipient of too many athletic and academic awards to list, Jason has been named to the Dean’s List each of his semesters at Rutgers, earning the Dean’s Award for Co-Curricular Excellence in 2004 and the Athletic Director’s Excellence Award in 2006. Jason will graduate from Rutgers in January, 2008, with a double major in Exercise Science & Sports Studies and Philosophy; he intends to pursue a joint MBA\/JD degree.<\/p>\n
Henderson and Fittery are the first Rutgers recipients of the NCAA’s Post-Graduate Scholarships since 2004. One of the two RU student-athletes to have received this award in 2004 was – no surprise – also from a team which Mulcahy and the Board of Governors chose to eliminate – Men’s Tennis (Balazs Galdi). Nothing like cutting excellence to achieve excellence- a unique Rutgers Athletic Department strategy. <\/p>\n
LOBBYING EFFORTS MUST CONTINUE: It is critical that Coalition members and supporters continue legislative lobbying efforts. Rutgers continues to resist even legislative recommendations to reinstate our teams. It argues for autonomy, a total hands-off approach. While Rutgers may have a certain autonomy, that does not give it the right to make decisions which disregard and undercut the legitimate needs and interests of NJ College students, particularly when those decisions are justified by nothing other than fallacy and misrepresentation. Rutgers is a State University supported primarily by public funds – for NJ residents, your tax dollars. It is therefore imperative that Rutgers act in a manner which is both responsive and representative. Decisions must be consistent with its Mission Statement, made with accountability and transparency, and with deference to standards of logic, reason and integrity. Rutgers exists for YOU, and its governing board and administrators are, and must act like, public servants. Rutgers is NOT a private business.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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