The opposition party in Treton was unusually united this week in calling for cuts to Rutgers University’s state aid after the university system agreed to several of the Pro-Hamas demonstrators’ demands.
Some of the demands put forth by the protesters included:
- “Divest[ing] from any firm or corporation materially participating in, benefitting from, or otherwise supporting the state of Israel’s settler colonialism, apartheid, and genocide of Palestine and the Palestinian people…”;
- “Terminat[ing] its partnership with Tel Aviv University…”;
- Giv[ing] out scholarships to Gazan students with taxpayer funding; and
- “…releas[ing] a statement from the Office of the President acknowledging the ongoing genocide against Palestinians….”
“Any capitulation whatsoever to antisemitic, anti-Israel, pro-Hamas protesters is absolutely disgraceful,” said Congressman Chris Smith (R, NJ-04).
Congressman Tom Kean Jr. (R-07) called for the university president to resign:
It is time for President Halloway to resign.
Rutgers University should never have negotiated. We don’t submit to hatred like this in America, we stand up to it. The Rutgers Administration has proven they are no longer willing to protect a safe campus environment for all…
— Congressman Tom Kean (@CongressmanKean) May 3, 2024
Meanwhile, state legislators and gubernatorial hopefuls called for tougher action against protesters by the university and a reevaluation of state funding; the university receives hundreds of millions of dollars annually from state taxpayers:
Rather than being negotiated with, students violating school policy should have been removed from campus & expelled. Those breaking the law should have been arrested. When I’m Governor, I can promise you that the Rutgers Administration won’t be acquiescing to any demands.
— Jack Ciattarelli (@Jack4NJ) May 4, 2024
It’s outrageous that @RutgersU negotiates w/ anti-semitic protestors much less conceded to them interrupting other students’ education. No #nj taxpayer should fund the salaries of such people. NJ should withhold university funding until every person involved is removed. pic.twitter.com/FE0hRbnx0V
— Douglas Steinhardt (@DSteinhardtEsq) May 3, 2024
To quote @declanoscanlon
“If Rutgers divests from Israel…the State should ‘divest’ from Rutgers.”
There was no reason to cave to protesters interfering with the academic operations of the college. Period. @NJAsmGerry https://t.co/1KLj3PfkkU
— Victoria Flynn (@AswVickyFlynn) May 3, 2024
The legislature must schedule a hearing to review the decision of Rutgers to accept the demands of protesters. The agreement requires spending of taxpayer dollars. I will submit legislation to prevent these payments and a resolution rejecting the decision of the University.
— Jon Bramnick (@JonBramnick) May 5, 2024
