Friction Between Norcross Brothers Over Rowan-Rutgers Merger?
By David Madden
CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) -- Amid all the debate over the controversial proposed takeover of Rutgers University's Camden campus by Rowan University (see related story) comes what could be a serious difference of opinion within one of South Jersey's most powerful political families.
Many observers believe that insurance magnate George Norcross is backing the merger to help establish the new Rowan medical school in Camden.
But George Norcross' brother Donald, a New Jersey state senator, notes the major consternation at Rutgers-Camden, and suggests in a recent newspaper op-ed piece that a compromise might be in order.
The Norcross brothers don't normally differ like this in public, but Daniel Douglas (right), director of the Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton College of New Jersey suggests you not read too much into that.
"There are a number of groups with different points of view and they want to express their views. Perhaps out of those discussions you may see a coming together. But no, I don't see it as a feud," Douglas tells KYW Newsradio.
And Douglas says he believes an issue this complicated will take time to sort out -- perhaps months.
