Rutgers, the saga (and an era) ends

At their meeting on 02 April 2009, the Rutgers University Board of Governors voted to accept the recommendation of the School of Communication, Information and Library Studies to change their name to the School of Communication and Information. Read their press release. See also my earlier posts on the subject.

After the vote, Renee Swartz, Chair of the Rutgers SCILS Program Associates (an advisory group) issued the following statement:

Today the the Rutgers University Board of Governors heard as an agenda item the issue of the name change for the School of Communication, Information and Library Studies. Following a presentation by Dean Schement, speakers presented their opinions in the public session. Speaking for keeping Library Studies as part of the name were myself, Betty Turock, Mary K. Chelton, Mitch Friedman, and Pat Tumulty. After these comments there was further discussion and then a vote of the Board. The new name of the school will be the School of Communication and Information.

Those addressing the library point of view made a strong statement for keeping Library Studies in the name and did an admirable job in presenting their views. This was a noble effort, and all involved should be congratulated for standing up for what they believed to be a valid and substantial contribution for the library community. I was pleased to be an active participant.

Let us hope the new name will bring the same luster and national recognition to Rutgers University as did SCILS in the twenty-five years it was a vibrant and vital member of that community.

c. The following are my personal observations

I believe those who spoke against the name change did so because of a deep commitment to this program. I was very troubled when one of the board members ( at least I assume he was a board member and not part of the Rutgers Administration) characterized us as “external forces ( or a term very similar to that.) I do not know how you can call former faculty members, noted alumni, a representative of the largest library association in the state and, most importantly, students as external. We are stakeholders in this school and this program. But perhaps he was right. We all have been “external” to this decision from the very beginning.

I came away today, however, hopeful. The two co-presidents of LISSA ( the student association at Rutgers) Mary Fran Daley and Laurie Feistammel, were present at the meeting. Mary Fran presented a resolution on behalf of the students opposing the name change. I do not know what the future holds for the Rutgers library program but I believe our profession will be well served in the future with leaders like these.

In conclusion, let me again quote President McCormick “This change will help the residents of New Jersey and the nation’s academic community better understand the strengths at Rutgers’ School of Communication and Information.” Well, maybe they have already been proven wrong. This afternoon I received an email from a colleague who I know professionally from serving on the board of another statewide organization. I have never spoken to this person regarding the situation at Rutgers. Here is what they requested of me. “Some day you'll maybe explain to me the reasoning behind the name change and the removal of "library" from the name of the program? Weird...”

I guess the reason for the name change is not that obvious to those outside of academia.

I wish I could explain it. Yes, my friend, weird- indeed.

--end of statement--

Thank you, Renee, for your continued leadership in NJ.

Rutgers, the saga (and an era) ends