State Sen. Wayne Bryant has long been considered an advocate for public higher education, but following his indictment on Thursday his legacy on college and university campuses across the state may be reduced to a cautionary tale of what not to do.
“This is a shot across the bow in terms of its potential impact on Rutgers and other public institutions,” said David J. Harris, a former member of the Rutgers University board of governors. “It’s a clear reminder of what the nature of our business should be and that we should not have to cozy up with questionable characters like Wayne Bryant in order to do the public’s business.”
The 20-count federal grand jury indictment calls into question little or no-work jobs Bryant held in exchange for pensionable income at the Rutgers University campus in Camden and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey campus in Stratford.
Bryant was hired by outgoing Provost Roger Dennis as a guest lecturer at Rutgers-Camden in 2002, collecting the first paycheck of his $30,000 salary three months after the then chairman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee helped steer $11 million in funding to the campus for a new law school building.
Bryant, who serves parts of Camden and Gloucester counties as a Democrat legislator, tacked on another part-time job in higher education in March 2003 when he was hired as a $35,000-a-year program coordinator at UMDNJ’s Stratford campus by Dean R. Michael Gallagher.
Gallagher, who has since left the university, was also named in the federal indictment.
Bryant earned $234,220 in total pay from the two institutions between 2002 and 2006. Bryant also earned a $4,000 stipend in 1997 and $2,000 stipend in 1998 from Rutgers, which is across the street from his now former law office.
Ray Kohler, a retired Gloucester County College political science professor, said he thinks the indictment could have a “chilling effect” on the higher education community.
“I think it may make those in power think twice before they do it in the future,” said Kohler, a Mantua Township resident who has been an outspoken critic of political appointments in recent years at GCC. “It was done so blatantly I think the people who did it probably didn’t think they would get caught.”
Harris said what pains his most about Bryant’s relationship with Rutgers is the man who hired him.
“Provost Dennis is a bright guy, a great leader and he’s done some great things for the Camden campus, but this was a clear lack of judgment, this entanglement with Wayne Bryant,” Harris said. “You can’t love Rutgers and bring in money using tactics we would flunk our students for. This is a blemish on a bright record.”
Dennis, who was recently appointed founding dean of Drexel University’s College of Law, was not mentioned by name in the indictment.
Drexel University officials maintained their support for Dennis on Thursday, calling him the “perfect leader.”
“He has outstanding academic and administrative credentials and experience, and as dean of our law school he will be returning to his own academic specialty after a decade of outstanding service to Rutgers-Camden,” said Philip Terranova, vice president of university relations.
Rutgers-Camden officials declined to comment Thursday citing the ongoing “legal phase” of the case.
A distinguished alumni of Rutgers-Camden, Bryant was instrumental in establishing the New Jersey Student Assistance Rewards Scholarship (STARS) which awards free community college tuition to top-performing high school students. Subsequent legislation enacted last year extends the tuition award to students continuing at four-year schools in the state.
“He was and has been a stalwart advocate for higher education,” said Paul Shelly, spokesman for the state Association of State Colleges and Universities. “His presence will be missed.”
Source: www.nj.com
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