BUCCO/DIMAIO CALL FOR JOINT HEARING ON RUTGERS’ DECISION TO CAVE TO PROTESTERS

May 6, 2024

Today, Senate Republican Leader Anthony Bucco (R-25) and Assembly Republican Leader John DiMaio (R-23) joined calls to hold legislative hearings into Rutgers’ decision to cave to protester demands.

“Rutgers’ decision to negotiate, let alone surrender, to the demands of protesters in a time of elevated antisemitism is deeply concerning. The line was long crossed when protesters interfered with the rights of students by resorting to violence and aggression that far overstepped the boundaries of peaceful assembly and should never be tolerated,” said Bucco (R-25). “The recent discourse from the university administration further empowers this unacceptable behavior and they should have never given any credibility to the anti-Semitic hate speech exhibited from our students. As a state university, I believe it is the legislature’s responsibility to take immediate action and, as my colleagues have proposed, hold hearings to rectify this situation as swiftly as possible.”

“The actions of the Rutgers University administration last week were cowardly and shortsighted,” DiMaio (R-Warren) said. “Seeing as negotiations happened behind closed doors, legislative hearings will provide the transparency we need and help answer important questions. Did the Murphy administration or attorney general’s office play a role in the discussions that led to the concessions? How much will meeting these demands cost taxpayers? What did the administrators promise in the way of future compromises?”