Students To Hold Rally Over Plans To Merge Rutgers-Camden With Rowan

Governor Christie's plan to merge Rutgers-Camden with Rowan University is not sitting well with students and faculty.

The Governor's plan would break up the state's medical univesrity and make it Newark based University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and create a major new public research campus at Rowan University.

Rowan would take control of the Rutgers-Camden University including its law school. Christie said the reorganization is vital to job growth and economic development.

Tomorrow members of the Rutgers-Camden community will discuss the proposed takeover during an open forum to be held on campus.

Michael Weldon, a sophomore business major at Rutgers-Camden said the merger would take away the school's identity.  "If our campus goes...then there will not be a Rutgers facility in south Jersey..just the two in the northern part of the state."

Jessica Sailey, a senior at Rutgers-Camden, said she was very upset at the Governor's proposal.  "I think the Rutgers name is so invaluable to have.  Our name is really international...a lot of schools know who we are and we want to keep that."

Rachel Hodge, a freshman biology major said they are not holding rallies to attack students from Rowan.  "That is not our case. We are just against becoming Rowan because we are Rutgers."

Sailey said if the plan were to move forward she hopes the administration would consider the students feelings.  "There needs to be some discussion on this. It affects students, faculty, alumni, taxpayers, and I think we need to have our voices heard."

The open forum takes place Thursday from 12:20 to 2 p.m at the Gordon Theater, main level, Fine Arts Complex on the Rutgers-Camden campus.   Thousands are expected to attend.