Pair of NJ Senators Call For Leadership From Governor, Rutgers

Gov. Chris Christie's likely opponent in November's election and a Senator who has been outspoken on the issue criticized the governor's handling of the scandal involving the Rutgers University Athletic Department on Wednesday, May 29. At the same time, a Republican Senator supported Christie's decision not to get involved in the matter, and said there are more important issues facing the state.

Christie will not be getting involved in the scandal involving incoming Rutgers University Athletic Director Julie Hermann, the governor said Tuesday night on the “Ask the Governor” radio show on 101.5 FM. He gave Rutgers University President Robert L. Barchi a vote of confidence.

“I wasn’t involved in vetting Julie Hermann as I shouldn’t be,” Christie said. “I’m the governor of New Jersey, not a recruiter for Rutgers University.”

Hermann was named athletic director at Rutgers after former AD  Tim Pernetti resigned over the scandal involving head basketball coach Mike Rice.

Rice was fired from Rutgers after a video surfaced showing what was termed “abusive behavior” toward his players during practice.

Since Hermann was announced as the new AD, she has come under fire for alleged abuse of University of Tennessee volleyball players when she was the Lady Volunteers’ coach; discrimination against a former assistant volleyball coach after that coach announced she was pregnant; and for her role in a sexual discrimination lawsuit when she was an administrator at the University of Louisville.

"Each day that passes with the situation at Rutgers remaining unresolved is simply unacceptable.  Governor Christie is showing an appalling lack of leadership with this latest failure to address the clear problems wafting down from President Barchi's office,” said Sen. Barbara Buono (D-18), who is contending for the Democratic nomination for this year’s gubernatorial race. “He testified in front of the state Legislature that he was unclear about how much the campus merger plan would cost and he continues to defend the indefensible when it comes to the months long reality show programming emanating from the Rutgers athletics department.  As an alumnus, and as a New Jersey taxpayer, I have lost all confidence in President Barchi's ability to effectively guide our state university.  If the Board of Governors will not take action then Governor Christie has a responsibility to take the appropriate action to ensure that this taxpayer funded institution does not continue to fall even further off course."

“The governor had no problem laying in when Tim Pernetti resigned,” said. Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-20), who called for Pernetti’s reinstatement when the scandal came to light earlier this week. “ … Pernetti deserves to be reinstated. When you make someone into a scapegoat and then wipe your hands clean of the situation, and that’s what happened here, that shows a lack of leadership.”

On April 5, Christie called Pernetti’s resignation “appropriate and necessary.”

“I commend President Barchi for his decisive leadership in coming to an agreement with Mr. Pernetti to have the Athletic Department of Rutgers University come under new leadership,” Christie said at the time. “This entire incident was regrettable and while it has damaged the reputation of our state University, we need to move forward now on a number of fronts which provide great opportunities for Rutgers’ future.”

Lesniak said Barchi should admit he made a mistake. He also said Barchi put Pernetti in a situation where he either had to resign or be fired.

“That doesn’t cut it for me, for the State of New Jersey or for the leadership of a great university. I’m very troubled by Barchi’s lack of forthrightness and courage, and I have concerns about how Rutgers can move forward from this.”

On Wednesday afternoon, Sen. Richard Codey (D-27) told ESPN's "Outside the Lines" the responsibility for the scandal falls on Barchi and the search committee he says "didn't properly vet her." He also said he would call for hearings on the matter "ASAP," and that she should "stay at Louisville."

Sen. Samuel Thompson (R-12) supported the governor’s decision, but also said there are more pressing issues facing the state.

“I have no problem with the governor’s decision not to get involved,” Thompson said. “This whole brouhaha is not my priority. We have other problems in the state that need to be dealt with. We have budget problems, revenue problems, employment problems. We need to take care of getting the shore rebuilt.”