ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 102

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED MARCH 13, 2014

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  HOLLY SCHEPISI

District 39 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblywoman  MARY PAT ANGELINI

District 11 (Monmouth)

Assemblywoman  CAROLINE CASAGRANDE

District 11 (Monmouth)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Expresses disapproval of the resolution adopted by the Rutgers University New Brunswick Faculty Council opposing the selection of Dr. Condoleezza Rice as 2014 commencement speaker.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

 


An Assembly Resolution expressing disapproval of the resolution adopted by the Rutgers University New Brunswick Faculty Council opposing the selection of Dr. Condoleezza Rice as the 2014 commencement speaker.

 

Whereas, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, an accomplished political scientist, diplomat, scholar, and author, became the 66th Secretary of State of the United States in 2005, just the second woman and the first African-American woman to hold that position; and

Whereas, Prior to her selection as Secretary of State, a position which she held from 2005-2009, Dr. Rice served as National Security Adviser from 2001-2005, making her the first woman to serve in that position; and

Whereas, Prior to joining the federal government, Dr. Rice had a long and prestigious career in academia as a professor of political science at Stanford University, winning the 1984 Walter J. Gores Award for Excellence in Teaching and the 1993 School of Humanities and Sciences Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching; and

Whereas, Dr. Rice also served as Provost of Stanford University from 1993-1999, during which time she was the institution’s chief budget and academic officer; and

Whereas, Born in Birmingham, Alabama at a time when the South was segregated, Dr. Rice overcame the challenges associated with segregation by earning a baccalaureate degree in political science, cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Denver, a master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, and a doctorate from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver; and

Whereas, In recognition of her commitment to public service and diplomacy, along with her contributions to academia, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, recently announced that it had invited Dr. Condoleezza Rice to serve as the 2014 Rutgers University commencement keynote speaker; and

Whereas, Despite her incredible array of accomplishments and  distinguished record of public service, the Rutgers University New Brunswick Faculty Council recently passed a resolution calling on the institution’s board of governors to rescind its invitation to Dr. Rice because of her association with the war in Iraq; and

Whereas, Rutgers University is widely regarded as a premiere institution of higher education and regularly attracts some of the brightest students from around the world; and

Whereas, Students who attend Rutgers University not only receive a world-class education, but, upon graduation, often go on to hold positions of authority and influence in a wide range of fields and professions; and

Whereas, One of the goals of any institution of higher education should be to expose its students to varying points of view in order to educate the students about those views and to provide a forum for critical analysis; and

Whereas, Faculty members of public institutions of higher education should uphold, promote, and defend values essential to the protection of higher education, including academic freedom and respect for the rights and opinions of others; and

Whereas, Dr. Rice’s lifelong commitment to public service is reflective of Rutgers University’s mission statement, which includes, “performing public service in support of the needs of the citizens of the State and its local, county, and State governments”; and

Whereas, Any effort to rescind Dr. Condoleezza Rice’s invitation to serve as the 2014 keynote commencement speaker will harm the reputation of Rutgers University as an open institution in which differing opinions, philosophies, and points of view can be analyzed and debated; does a disservice to the students, faculty and staff of the university; and prevents future leaders of American business, industry, and politics from hearing the viewpoints of a critically-acclaimed diplomat and scholar; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    This House expresses its disapproval of the resolution adopted by the Rutgers University New Brunswick Faculty Council opposing the selection of Dr. Condoleezza Rice as the 2014 commencement speaker.

 

     2.    This House also supports the decision of Rutgers University to reaffirm the selection of Dr. Condoleezza Rice as the 2014 commencement speaker, and applauds the university’s unwillingness to succumb to the pressure mounted by the Rutgers University New Brunswick Faculty Council.

 

     3.    Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Chairman of the Board of Governors and the President of Rutgers, the State University, and the chairman of the Rutgers University New Brunswick Faculty Council.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This resolution expresses the General Assembly’s disapproval of the resolution adopted by the Rutgers University New Brunswick Faculty Council opposing the selection of Dr. Condoleezza Rice as the 2014 commencement speaker. The resolution also supports the decision of Rutgers University to reaffirm the selection of Dr. Condoleezza Rice as the 2014 commencement speaker.

     Dr. Condoleezza Rice, an accomplished political scientist, diplomat, scholar, and author, became the 66th Secretary of State of the United States in 2005. She is just the second woman and the first African-American woman to hold that position. Prior to her selection as Secretary of State, a position which she held from 2005-2009, Dr. Rice served as National Security Adviser from 2001-2005, making her the first woman to serve in that position. Prior to joining the federal government, Dr. Rice had a long and prestigious career in academia as a professor of political science and Provost at Stanford University. In recognition of her commitment to public service and diplomacy, along with her contributions to academia, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, recently announced that it had invited Dr. Condoleezza Rice to serve as the 2014 Rutgers University commencement keynote speaker.

     Any effort to rescind Dr. Condoleezza Rice’s invitation to serve as the 2014 keynote commencement speaker will harm the reputation of Rutgers University as an open institution in which differing opinions, philosophies, and points of view can be analyzed and debated; does a disservice to the students, faculty and staff of the university; and prevents future leaders of American business, industry, and politics from hearing the viewpoints of a critically-acclaimed diplomat and scholar.