Bill Text: NJ AR36 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges the Board of Governors of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey to reinstate certain athletic teams.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee [AR36 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-AR36-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CONNIE WAGNER
District 38 (Bergen)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Oliver, Assemblymen Diegnan, Gusciora and Giblin
SYNOPSIS
Urges the Board of Governors of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey to reinstate certain athletic teams.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Assembly Resolution urging Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey to reinstate athletic teams eliminated in June 2007.
Whereas, On July 14, 2006, the Board of Governors of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey approved the elimination of six Olympic sport teams as of June 2007; and
Whereas, The teams eliminated were lightweight and heavyweight men's crew, men's swimming and diving, men's tennis, and men's and women's fencing; and
Whereas, Prior to the teams' elimination, athletes who participated on the teams consistently achieved some of the highest grade point averages and graduation rates of any group of students at Rutgers University while achieving conference championships, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) medals, and All-American and Olympian status; and
Whereas, The cost savings attributable to the elimination of these athletic teams does not justify the negative impact the elimination has had on the student-athletes who engaged in these programs, including forcing Rutgers students who participated on the eliminated teams to either forgo this aspect of their overall educational experience or transfer to other schools to continue participation in their sport of choice; and
Whereas, The negative impact of the elimination of these sports also affects the approximately 12,000 high school students throughout the State who are engaged in fencing, swimming, rowing, and tennis and who are now forced to eliminate Rutgers as a university of choice if they wish to compete at the highest intercollegiate level as NCAA Division I athletes; and
Whereas, It is in the best interest of the State to urge the Board of Governors of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey to reinstate lightweight and heavyweight men's crew, men's swimming and diving, men's tennis, and men's and women's fencing, which elimination has had a tremendous negative impact and will result in the future loss to the Rutgers community of academically talented prospective students; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges the Board of Governors of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey to re-establish lightweight and heavyweight men's crew, men's swimming and diving, men's tennis, and men's and women's fencing as sports offered at the varsity level at Rutgers University.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the Board of Governors, President, and Athletic Director of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This Assembly resolution urges the Board of Governors of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey to re-establish the intercollegiate sports teams eliminated in June 2007. Under the university's FY 2007 budget lightweight and heavyweight men's crew, men's swimming and diving, men's tennis, and men's and women's fencing were eliminated as sports offered at the varsity level.
Historically, members of the eliminated sports teams were scholar-athletes in the truest sense, who often performed in front of sparse crowds for pure love of competition, and consistently achieved some of the highest grade point averages and graduation rates of any group of students at Rutgers University. The elimination of these sports teams has had a negative impact on the university and will result in the future loss to the Rutgers community of academically-talented prospective students.
