Rutgers Faculty Protest Condoleezza Rice As Graduation Speaker Due To War Role
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- 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 and national security adviser under President George W. Bush $35,000.
But the New Brunswick school's 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 told the Home News Tribune newspaper Rice bears responsibility for the war as a member of the Bush administration.
However, professor Haim Baruh told the paper 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 also said it makes Rutgers look bad.
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