Statement from Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg on Rutgers’ Golden Parachute Payouts to Terminated Athletic Department Personnel

The recent NJ Advance Media story detailing how Rutgers University paid more than $11.5 million over the past 10 years in settlements to numerous outgoing Athletic Department personnel, many of whom were fired, raises serious questions about how the state university is using taxpayer dollars.

During this time period, there were numerous national scandals involving leadership within the Athletic Department. It is one thing to pay what is contractually mandated if a contract is terminated, it is quite another to giving golden parachutes to any employee fired with cause, or to enter into agreements that encourage exiting employees to remain unemployed so they can continue to receive paychecks and benefits.

Meanwhile, tuition rises and students struggle to pay. Put in perspective, $11.5 million would cover the tuition and fees of nearly 800 in-state students.

Rutgers University President Robert Barchi needs to explain to the Legislature these payouts.

We need to hear what was contractually obligated and what was not. We need to know exactly how these lucrative contracts come into existence and how employees terminated because they failed to execute their jobs at the required level are entitled to any parachute – golden, silver or nylon.

And we need transparency.

I am concerned that $11.5 million may be just the tip of the iceberg. Rutgers is playing fast and loose with taxpayer money. It’s time to blow the whistle on the game.