Rutgers professors sue over $100million shifted to athletics.

[superfan01]

Getting ugly again on the banks.


The union representing professors at Rutgers University in New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against the school seeking an explanation of the transfer of $100 million to the athletics program.

The American Association of University Professors-American Federation of Teachers claims that the school has failed to honor public records requests to disclose details about the funds. The suit was filed July 17 in New Jersey Superior Court, according to the union, which provided it to Bloomberg.


The labor group says that since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the university has laid off 20% of its adjunct faculty, asked other unions to accept furloughs and declared a fiscal emergency while money is used to subsidize the athletic department.

“Rutgers Athletics has been a financial black hole for a long time, but in the past year, the university transferred more than $100 million in all to the athletic program, and they don’t want to say why or where the money came from,” Todd Wolfson, president of Rutgers AAUP-AFT, said in a statement. The union represents 5,000 full-time faculty and graduate workers at the public university.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...ors-sue-over-100-million-shifted-to-athletics

 

[e5fdny]

If it works, everybody wins.

If it doesn't....

 

[anon_ivydyf0amkzay]

They smell blood...given the shaky nature of sports at the moment...

 

[50 yd line RR]

We were almost out of the woods. Full BIG Membership, Schiano back, Pike on a roll, wrestling poised to take another step up. Women’s basketball with the best recruits in years. All the sports really stepping up.
The University is really in a tough spot now.

 

[newell138]

If it wasn't for sports the school would be in a worse mess, thank the BIG $$ for that

 

[e5fdny]

If it wasn't for sports the school would be in a worse mess, thank the BIG $$ for that

That's what I meant when I said if it works.

 

[Plum Street]

Based on a university’s mission, big time athletics as it exists should have no part at universities . But we like the games . So I hope this lawsuit fails and they pound sand!

 

[kapyoche]

I have to say the school looks a lot better than when I went there.

I had to attend classes in the barracks on Bush campus.
Busses would take forever to go from Bush to College Ave.
Alcohol drinking was rampant.
Porno movies were shown everywhere on College Ave campus.
Sex everywhere.
The football team was awful.
It was a bad place to go to college.

Now it looks a place where you want to send your kids.

 

[RUPsyched]

Sports tail wags the academic dog. That's just how it is these days at major state universities. One other thing that profs should understand. Given the complexity of all sports now, there are no stereotypical dumb jocks at Rutgers. Most, if not all, of Rutgers athletes take their academics very seriously. Finally, as a state school, Rutgers should be transparent in relation to that size of money transfer, so I understand that beef.

 

[newell138]

I have to say the school looks a lot better than when I went there.

I had to attend classes in the barracks on Bush campus.
Busses would take forever to go from Bush to College Ave.
Alcohol drinking was rampant.
Porno movies were shown everywhere on College Ave campus.
Sex everywhere.
The football team was awful.
It was a bad place to go to college.

Now it looks a place where you want to send your kids.

I do remember going to see a porno in one of the college ave bldgs, Scott Hall?? kind of weird when you think about it.

 

[JRZEER]

We were almost out of the woods. Full BIG Membership, Schiano back, Pike on a roll, wrestling poised to take another step up. Women’s basketball with the best recruits in years. All the sports really stepping up.
The University is really in a tough spot now.

Can’t catch a break.

 

[ddsmugs]

So what.....Rutgers budget is over 2 billion. Teaching can be done online with less professors....that is the real story.

 

[RUBOB72]

Once again Rutger’s proves that “ Higher” education and especially professors have an inflated opinion of their true value and worth in society. Most could never make it outside of their little protected teaching group . And as far as in trouble...when was Rutgers University not in dire financial straits ? When was the last ( it would be the first time ) these unionized self centered egotistical wet blankets did anything but complain about their bottom line. Don’t worry perhaps with anticipated cutbacks some of these folks will feel some of the pain of others not as fortunate.

 

[RU4Real]

Rutgers hasn't transferred $100 million to the athletic department budget within the last year. The athletic budget is roughly about $100 million / year. Obviously the whole thing isn't coming from the university. These guys have ALWAYS been really bad at math.

 

[Wolv RU]

Getting ugly again on the banks.


The union representing professors at Rutgers University in New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against the school seeking an explanation of the transfer of $100 million to the athletics program.

The American Association of University Professors-American Federation of Teachers claims that the school has failed to honor public records requests to disclose details about the funds. The suit was filed July 17 in New Jersey Superior Court, according to the union, which provided it to Bloomberg.


The labor group says that since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the university has laid off 20% of its adjunct faculty, asked other unions to accept furloughs and declared a fiscal emergency while money is used to subsidize the athletic department.

“Rutgers Athletics has been a financial black hole for a long time, but in the past year, the university transferred more than $100 million in all to the athletic program, and they don’t want to say why or where the money came from,” Todd Wolfson, president of Rutgers AAUP-AFT, said in a statement. The union represents 5,000 full-time faculty and graduate workers at the public university.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...ors-sue-over-100-million-shifted-to-athletics

It is notable that the lawsuit isn't going to stop the transfer of funds, they're just trying to find out who is responsible for the decision. Cash flow for the athletic department was/is going to be a huge problem this year. There's no way they were going to be able to survive in any fashion without a line of credit.

What I do wish is that these organizations would just be honest and say they don't want Rutgers funding any olympic / women's sports. That's where most of the financial loss happens.

 

[Wolv RU]

Rutgers hasn't transferred $100 million to the athletic department budget within the last year. The athletic budget is roughly about $100 million / year. Obviously the whole thing isn't coming from the university. These guys have ALWAYS been really bad at math.

Is it possible that Rutgers approved a line of credit in that amount to the athletic department in case there are close to zero revenues this FY? That possibility could happen if both football and basketball seasons are completely cancelled.

 

[RU4Real]

Is it possible that Rutgers approved a line of credit in that amount to the athletic department in case there are close to zero revenues this FY? That possibility could happen if both football and basketball seasons are completely cancelled.

It's possible, but it would seem like the sort of thing that Politi, et al, would have told us about in some detail well before the New Rutgers 1000 got around to filing a lawsuit.

Also, the Bloomberg article specifically mentions "subsidizing the athletic program by redirecting student fees". Student fees are not a mystery, and never have been. They have always existed as a sort of "athletics tax" in the tuition bill. Making that line item a talking point just screams "know-nothing nuisance."

 

[bigmatt718]

Those ungrateful eggheads should be thankful for athletics as without sports, most of them would be unemployed via layoffs right now.

 

[RU#1fan]

Sports tail wags the academic dog. That's just how it is these days at major state universities. One other thing that profs should understand. Given the complexity of all sports now, there are no stereotypical dumb jocks at Rutgers. Most, if not all, of Rutgers athletes take their academics very seriously. Finally, as a state school, Rutgers should be transparent in relation to that size of money transfer, so I understand that beef.

If this was brought up at another B1G school it would be comical.
Rutgers is a laughingstock.

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

It's possible, but it would seem like the sort of thing that Politi, et al, would have told us about in some detail well before the New Rutgers 1000 got around to filing a lawsuit.

Also, the Bloomberg article specifically mentions "subsidizing the athletic program by redirecting student fees". Student fees are not a mystery, and never have been. They have always existed as a sort of "athletics tax" in the tuition bill. Making that line item a talking point just screams "know-nothing nuisance."

I bet this is a play for headlines based on a BS figure simply to call attention to adjunct profs getting laid off. I suppose that the union head likely wants to keep his position.. so he needs to look like he is doing something.

I wonder what would happen if every prof had to justify how his or her subjects achieve any measurable good.

Maybe the profs just want to make sure athletics is totally cut before they have to be laid off. Such nonsense. I think the profs teaching the har sciences and more in-demand majors for employers should insist the fringe subject profs get laid off first.

 

[koleszar]

Rutgers hasn't transferred $100 million to the athletic department budget within the last year. The athletic budget is roughly about $100 million / year. Obviously the whole thing isn't coming from the university. These guys have ALWAYS been really bad at math.

The budget was $103.2 mil.. So according to Mr. Wizard Wolfson, Rutgers athletics made exactly $0 this past year. The only one who wins here is the lawyers and firm to do an independent study who will milk Rutgers for a million or two. Good job Mr. Wizard on wasting more valuable resources.

 

[RUScrew85]

Rutgers hasn't transferred $100 million to the athletic department budget within the last year. The athletic budget is roughly about $100 million / year. Obviously the whole thing isn't coming from the university. These guys have ALWAYS been really bad at math.

Well they're "professors". If they could do they would be DOing something else.

 

[e5fdny]

The budget was $103.2 mil.. So according to Mr. Wizard Wolfson, Rutgers athletics made exactly $0 this past year. The only one who wins here is the lawyers and firm to do an independent study who will milk Rutgers for a million or two. Good job Mr. Wizard on wasting more valuable resources.

Had to scroll up and read the link to make sure that wasn’t his real first name. LOL

 

[RUSJ73]

The Professors are paid way too much!

 

[RUBOB72]

Not all are overpaid but a large majority definitely are in those disciplines outside the sciences and mathematic fields.

 

[RUevolution36]

I have to say the school looks a lot better than when I went there.

I had to attend classes in the barracks on Bush campus.
Busses would take forever to go from Bush to College Ave.
Alcohol drinking was rampant.
Porno movies were shown everywhere on College Ave campus.
Sex everywhere.
The football team was awful.
It was a bad place to go to college.

Now it looks a place where you want to send your kids.

What's wrong with these two things?

 

[NorthernKnight]

Suing for what?

“They won’t give us information”.

 

[newwavedave1]

I'm so sick of RU professors complaining about the athletics budget. It's been nonstop for years. We're not in the Ivy League, we're in the B1G. Just get over it!

 

[anon_ivydyf0amkzay]

I'm so sick of RU professors complaining about the athletics budget. It's been nonstop for years. We're not in the Ivy League, we're in the B1G. Just get over it!

It seems they’re gonna be “butt/ginahurt” over it for YEARS!!!

 

[tico brown]

I knew it was too good to be true. The Big Pandemic hits the world as soon as Rutgers was going to start getting the full B1G share, Basketball gets to the tournament, Schiano comes back, Jersey Kids started to think about staying home...

Of course this happens.

 

[Plum Street]

Can’t catch a break.

We got a major break with ash being fired before corona . If corona hit in March 2019 instead of March 2020, ash would have been kept on longer because of no games and set us back even a few more years .

 

[e5fdny]

We got a major break with ash being fired before corona . If corona hit in March 2019 instead of March 2020, ash would have been kept on longer because of no games and set us back even a few more years .

Glass half full approach. And probably true.

I like it. :ThumbsUp

 

[RCBeta79]

If the professors don't like it....then go teach at a college or university that has little or no sports.....and see how much salary it translates to without sports and donors that have an annual giving relationship because of attending sports.

How about a study that defines how much revenue is generated and cost is associated with each Professor's classes?

Let's face it....universities would not exist without federal, state, alumni, alumni sports contributions, corporate, and foundation support. Where does the money come from for new buildings? Not from alumni that loved their professor....much of it comes from alumni that have a connection to sports!

 

[RUBOB72]

This is exactly why I will not donate anymore money to the school and I did for many years. First the Ash pile then this nonsense in a year that if there was no pandemic and Greg ‘s Rutgers team could play then my entire perspective changes . This unionized group of educators ( using term lightly) thinks of nothing but their pocketbooks. Overtime people understood about the Rutgers 1000 k was really Rutgers 10. Can’t wait until these clowns start getting lopped off with cuts.It’s coming and soon.

 

[srru86]

This will work just like all the successful lawsuits were unions representing laid off workers sued management because they spent money on acquisitions and stock dividends that could have gone into paying the impacted employees.

 

[RUBOB72]

This will work just like all the successful lawsuits were unions representing laid off workers sued management because they spent money on acquisitions and stock dividends that could have gone into paying the impacted employees.

No this will be much different as soon as the state goes belly up.