NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.—Rutgers University officials are standing by their decision to invite Condoleezza Rice to speak at the school’s commencement in May.
The school’s Board of Governors voted to pay the former secretary of state under President George W. Bush and national security adviser $35,000.
But the school’s New Brunswick Faculty Council has approved a resolution calling for Rutgers to rescind the invitation because of Rice’s role in the Iraq War.
Associate Professor Deepa Kumar tells the Home News Tribune Rice bears responsibility for the war as a member of the Bush administration.
However, Professor Haim Baruh tells the newspaper the faculty is misguided to oppose an invitation to a distinguished scholar and public servant who was the first African-American female secretary of state. Baruh says it makes Rutgers look bad.
