The flood of negative stories stemming from a videotape showing Rutgers basketball coach Mike Rice abusing players is having an impact on the alumni community. While most are outraged by Rice’s behavior, some are deeply troubled by the administration’s handling of the scandal. Sen. Nellie Pou (D-35), a Rutgers graduate, serves as vice chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee. Pou told NJ Today Managing Editor Mike Schneider she was shocked that behavior such as that exhibited by Rice could go on during a time of heightened sensitivity to bullying, especially in light of the Tyler Clementi tragedy.
“I was appalled by it,” she said. “I just couldn’t believe that this was going on and it was going on as long as it was.”
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“When we think in terms of the bullying that’s been going on throughout and the focus that not only our state but all throughout the country has really placed on something like this, it’s surprising that something as difficult as this, as concerning as this, as troubling as this, that it would not have immediately taken the attention to the president,” said Pou.
If she were presented or informed of the videotape, Pou said she would have viewed it immediately.
“I’m surprised that [Robert Barchi] didn’t take that approach. I think that would have been the better approach to consider at the time rather than waiting five months later and only viewing [it] after a great deal of the media outreach took place.”
Pou is not alone in questioning Barchi’s actions. Last Friday, Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver told NJ Today that she intends to conduct a legislative hearing to look into Rutger’s decision-making process. A hearing wouldn’t be a bad thing, she said.
“I think there will be a lot of information that might be learned from these hearings,” she said. “I do think that in light of the fact that there are new developments coming out each day that President Barchi, still in my opinion, the jury is still out … he has more questions to answer.”
Pou added that Rutgers’ reputation as an institute of higher learning is taking a hit as more details emerge about what took place.
“It is unfortunate that we are still talking about this because Rutgers University is an incredible, respectable institution, one that we have nothing but high regards for and something like this is very problematic for us.”