Diary of a Shoobie: The Scarlet Knights Wear the Scarlet Letter of Corruption
By Alex Smith | August 20, 2008
The Rutgers corruption investigation just got uglier.
Internal audits released by Rutgers University yesterday reveal a long train of abuses within the state schools, including reports of no-bid contracts and clandestine deals. The review was done about six months ago, and mainly criticized the hundreds of thousands of dollars in spending that was not included in the Rutgers budget. The audit, which was obtained from a source by The Star Ledger after the University refused to release it, especially singled out the athletic department's lack of oversight for its spending.
According to The Star Ledger:
"Auditors found the athletic department subsidized the travel costs of boosters and other VIPs who accompanied the Scarlet Knights on charter flights to post-season bowl games the past three years, at a time when the university was hiking tuition and cutting academic budgets. It also discovered that the department understated its expenses for those games in reports to the administration and concluded the athletic department lacked the ability to collect and reliably report critical financial information "to the president, CFO, the board and the public."
The audit also focused on the university's partnership with a sports marketing company that had exclusive rights to handle radio and television advertising and promotions, funneling millions of dollars into the athletics department."
It's unfortunate that a team that has slowly become a source of hope for a better Jersey has now become the latest target in the corruption that infects the Garden State. A massive misuse of taxpayer dollars involving a bunch of college kids just trying to play ball-- only in New Jersey.
You know, as a Philly fan (Eagles, Phillies, you name it), I am well-acquainted with the concept of post-season blues. Too bad Rutgers' nearly 50,000 students and fans will know that feeling before the first game is even played.
The Rutgers corruption investigation just got uglier.
Internal audits released by Rutgers University yesterday reveal a long train of abuses within the state schools, including reports of no-bid contracts and clandestine deals. The review was done about six months ago, and mainly criticized the hundreds of thousands of dollars in spending that was not included in the Rutgers budget. The audit, which was obtained from a source by The Star Ledger after the University refused to release it, especially singled out the athletic department's lack of oversight for its spending.
According to The Star Ledger:
"Auditors found the athletic department subsidized the travel costs of boosters and other VIPs who accompanied the Scarlet Knights on charter flights to post-season bowl games the past three years, at a time when the university was hiking tuition and cutting academic budgets. It also discovered that the department understated its expenses for those games in reports to the administration and concluded the athletic department lacked the ability to collect and reliably report critical financial information "to the president, CFO, the board and the public."
The audit also focused on the university's partnership with a sports marketing company that had exclusive rights to handle radio and television advertising and promotions, funneling millions of dollars into the athletics department."
It's unfortunate that a team that has slowly become a source of hope for a better Jersey has now become the latest target in the corruption that infects the Garden State. A massive misuse of taxpayer dollars involving a bunch of college kids just trying to play ball-- only in New Jersey.
You know, as a Philly fan (Eagles, Phillies, you name it), I am well-acquainted with the concept of post-season blues. Too bad Rutgers' nearly 50,000 students and fans will know that feeling before the first game is even played.
Posted by Alex Smith at 8/19/2008 11:35 PM and is filed under uncategorized 
Very good post Ms. Smith, keep up the good work.
J Kromkowski
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