O’Toole: Financial Investigation Into Rutgers Athletic Department Needs to be Released as Soon as Possible

November 24, 2008

Contact: John Gorman / (609) 292-5199
Senator Kevin J. O'Toole (R-40)

Senator Also Calls for a Special Legislative Hearing

After a critical report came out last week faulting Rutgers University for its handling of its Athletics Department budget, Senator Kevin O’Toole (R-40) is urging the State Comptroller to release the results of its investigation of Rutgers Athletics Department as soon as possible. The comptroller’s office has sought documents detailing the finances of the school’s Athletics Department to determine if an audit is warranted.

“A damning 35-page report came out last week criticizing Rutgers University for gross mismanagement of the finances of its Athletics Department,” O’Toole said. “At a time when tuition is rising exponentially, the number of course offerings are being slashed and entire school programs are being eliminated, we need to make sure any waste of Rutgers’ resources is thoroughly investigated and stopped.”

Over the summer a commission was formed at the request of Rutgers President Richard McCormick to scrutinize the school’s Athletics Department. It was during this time that a number of critical newspaper accounts questioned the expenses of the Athletics Department and, in particular, the football program.

“The results of the Comptroller’s investigation needs to be released and a special legislative hearing should be convened to ensure there is oversight and accountability at our state’s largest institution of higher learning,” O’Toole continued. “This issue is too important to students and taxpayers to let fall by the wayside without real, substantive reform taking place.”