Save Rutgers: Rowan Hiring PR Firm to Push the Rutgers Merger

When something you want is so unpopular that polar opposites and a vast majority of citizens are against it, it is probably a good time to take a look at your messaging. Well that is what Rowan University intends to do with those hard earned tuition dollars they take from students semester after semester!

Rowan has put out an RFQ, for those of you who have lives and don’t bog yourself down in government acronyms, an RFQ is a “request for qualifications.” Essentially, Rowan has recently put out a “help wanted” advertisement in an official form asking public relations firms to submit bids to become the official mouthpieces of Rowan University in this who merger mess they have found themselves in.

The RFQ actually cites strong opposition and reports from Rutgers officials, faculty, students, and members of the media nationwide for creating the urgent need for a professional PR strategy. So good work everyone!

To me, this means one thing, that the anti-merger movement is going to need to hone its skills a little bit. There are a ton of us out there fighting this thing, but we really do not work together enough or help to promote each other in the way that we should. I have heard some refer to the efforts to stop this merger as akin to the occupy protestors, running around without a goal or direction. I think that is silly, at best. Occupy had no real goals, this movement does. The goal is simply and plainly to stop Rowan University from taking over Rutgers Camden and all it encompasses. But just because we have a focus does not means we are acting efficiently. It may be time to brush up on our communication skills.

After all, it looks like we may going up against professionals, paid for by Rowan students’ tuition. If you would like to read the 9 page RFQ, I have attached it here for your viewing pleasure.

Brian McGovern
About Brian McGovern 748 Articles
Brian McGovern wears many hats these days including Voorhees Township GOP Municipal Chairman, South Jersey attorney, and co-owner of the Republican campaign consulting firm Exit 3 Strategies, Inc.

4 Comments

  1. AND NOW THE GOVERNOR IS QUOTING TH PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER'S EDITORIAL BOARDS RECOMMENDATION. TYPICAL REPUBLICAN PLAYBOOK (SEE DICK CHENEY) PLANT SOMETHING IN THE MEDIA AND THEN CITE IT AS TRUTH.

  2. The 'stop the merger' activity has been impressive, but it is time to kick it up a notch. PR is a specialty. If dollars can be found, we need to counter by hiring a top firm to deliver our message and coordinate our activities.

  3. The one thing that the anti-merger crowd seems to have going for them is that their message comes from all sides, while the pro-merger people seem to be surrounded.

    I don't know if better messaging can fix that. Sounds like a waste of money, especially for something that is supposedly inevitable.

Comments are closed.