Rutgers University

The president of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia was named the 20th president of Rutgers University at one of the most controversial times in the flagship state school's history. Robert L. Barchi, a Philadelphia native who has run the health sciences university since 2004 and was due to step down this summer, was approved by both the Board of Governors and Rutger's board of trustees at a special meeting Wednesday morning on the main campus in New Brunswick. Culminating a nine-month search process, Barchi will begin at the more than 58,000-student Rutgers system on Sept.

Francis L. Lawrence, 75, who served as president of Rutgers University from 1990 to 2002, died Tuesday, April 16, in his Mount Laurel home, the university said Wednesday. A cause of death was not disclosed. Dr. Lawrence oversaw a period of sweeping changes at the state's flagship public university, including the implementation of the school's first long-term strategic plan, "A New Vision for Excellence," and the establishment of more than 50 new undergraduate and graduate degree programs and more than 45 research centers and institutes, the school said.

Rutgers University severed its ties to the sports apparel giant Adidas Group on Monday, responding to student concerns about the company's obligation to workers at a former Indonesian manufacturing plant. The company is no longer licensed to use the Rutgers name or logos, university spokesman E.J. Miranda said. After the campus bookstores' stock of Adidas gear is sold, it will not be reordered. Rutgers president Robert L. Barchi announced the decision in a letter to Rutgers United Students Against Sweatshops, which began an anti-Adidas campaign in August.

The NJSIAA boys' and girls' individual swimming championships will begin tonight at Rutgers University with the boys' preliminaries at 6 p.m. The girls' preliminaries are set for tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. Finals for both are slated for 5:30 p.m. The boys' diving championships are scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday at Trenton State College, the girls' competition for Thursday at 5 p.m. 200 MEDLEY RELAY. Cherry Hill West's boys will be chasing Hunterdon Central and Mountain Lakes.

Julius Lazarus knew what it felt like to be an outcast. He was a Jewish teenager in Austria in the '30s when Adolf Hitler came to power. His oldest brother was one of the first killed at the Nazi concentration camp in Dachau. So when he began a career as a photographer in New York, it was the unpopular causes and struggles that stirred his blood. He snapped images of Communist rallies to save Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who later were executed for selling atomic secrets to the Soviets.

Rutgers University will receive a $12.5 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to help cover the cost of integration into the school of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Rutgers announced Thursday. The cost, estimated most recently at $76 million over the next three years, will be borne by Rutgers under the proposed state budget for next year. President Robert L. Barchi has said a the lack of funding would mean delaying maintenance and the start of some programs, though he did not offer specifics.

Rutgers University assistant basektball coach Jimmy Martelli resigned Wednesday, the day head coach Mike Rice was fired, a university spokesman confirmed Thursday. The spokesman could not provide details of the resignation, saying he was not aware whether any reasons were cited in the move. Martelli is the son of St. Joseph's head coach Phil Martelli. He was also an assistant coach under Rice at Robert Morris University, before Rice hired him in 2010. Martelli was seen on video in at least one incident, ESPN reported Thursday, pushing a player and using an anti-gay slur.

JEFFREY DEITCH majored in psychology, but eventually became more fascinated by what goes on inside the brain than its emotional reactions. He was intrigued by the "miracle of this extraordinarily well-oiled machine - our brains," said his son, Caleb Deitch. This fascination led him to the main thrust of his scientific work, the study of the crippling disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and the search for a cause and cure. "He found his life's professional path and passion," his son said.

They call it spring semester, but whom are they kidding? Not students at Rutgers University in Camden. Nearing the end of a semester that started in the heart of winter, they put their hearts into annual Spring Day events yesterday.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - The firing of Rutgers University men's basketball coach Mike Rice on Wednesday had some activists and elected officials applauding an action they said was months overdue, and others suggesting the need for a wider investigation. "It was the right and necessary action to take in light of the conduct displayed on the videotape," Gov. Christie said in a statement. Thirteen faculty members went further, demanding the resignation of school President Robert Barchi, citing a slow response to the video showing Rice angrily hitting, shoving and throwing balls at players during practices, and using anti-gay slurs.

Rutgers University will receive a $12.5 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to help cover the cost of integration into the school of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Rutgers announced Thursday. The cost, estimated most recently at $76 million over the next three years, will be borne by Rutgers under the proposed state budget for next year. President Robert L. Barchi has said a the lack of funding would mean delaying maintenance and the start of some programs, though he did not offer specifics.

TRENTON - The costs of a scandal in the Rutgers University men's basketball program will not be pushed onto students through tuition increases, and the university is trying to come up with a fair formula to allocate state aid among its three campuses, the school's president told lawmakers Monday. President Robert Barchi faced questions on both issues when he appeared with other education officials at a state Senate budget hearing. Senators asked about the financial implications from Mike Rice's firing as basketball coach last month after a video was made public showing the coach pushing and kicking players and using antigay slurs as he berated them during practice.

TRENTON - Gov. Christie and Rutgers University's president believe a higher education merger can be completed on time, although nearly 2,000 items are still on the to-do list as the July 1 deadline approaches. Christie said he's confident that Robert Barchi, Rutgers' president, can complete the deal, which breaks up the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and gives most of it, including a coveted medical school, to Rutgers. The deal also links Rutgers-Camden with Rowan University for new academic collaborations, though it does not merge the two South Jersey schools as initially proposed.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - It is a marriage made somewhere south of heaven, miles closer to the hell that Rutgers University has been through this year. That explains the standing ovation Eddie Jordan received when he was introduced at a Tuesday afternoon news conference in the Barn - the very gym where he played for the Scarlet Knights in the mid-1970s. It also explains the nagging feeling that the ovation was the biggest cheer Jordan will get on a basketball court anytime soon. Maybe that's not fair.

TRENTON - Rutgers University president Robert Barchi inadvertently misspoke Thursday afternoon when he told members of the Assembly Budget Committee that he would not sign off on a severance payment for ousted basketball coach Mike Rice, a university official said Friday. Several hours later, the university issued a statement saying it would pay Rice $475,000 as part of a separation agreement. University officials now say Barchi meant that he would never agree to higher settlement figures that reportedly had been under discussion with Rice.

TRENTON - Hours after telling lawmakers that fired basketball coach Mike Rice was "not entitled to any severance," Rutgers University president Robert L. Barchi said Thursday night that Rice would receive $475,000 to settle the remaining two years of his contract. Rice was fired April 3 after a video went public showing him verbally and physically abusing players. Rutgers and Rice's representatives began negotiations two days later, a school spokesman said. "Tonight's agreement is in the best interests of the university, and I am pleased this issue has been resolved," Barchi said in a statement.

TRENTON - Hours after telling lawmakers that fired basketball coach Mike Rice was "not entitled to any severance," Rutgers University president Robert L. Barchi said Thursday night that Rice would receive $475,000 to settle the remaining two years of his contract. Rice was fired April 3 after a video went public showing him verbally and physically abusing players. Rutgers and Rice's representatives began negotiations two days later, a school spokesman said. "Tonight's agreement is in the best interests of the university, and I am pleased this issue has been resolved," Barchi said in a statement.

Francis L. Lawrence, 75, who served as president of Rutgers University from 1990 to 2002, died Tuesday, April 16, in his Mount Laurel home, the university said Wednesday. A cause of death was not disclosed. Dr. Lawrence oversaw a period of sweeping changes at the state's flagship public university, including the implementation of the school's first long-term strategic plan, "A New Vision for Excellence," and the establishment of more than 50 new undergraduate and graduate degree programs and more than 45 research centers and institutes, the school said.

Police arrested four Rutgers University students last weekend during a rowdy off-campus street party where people brawled and set couches and mattresses on fire. New Brunswick, N.J., police say they arrested three students Saturday, and Rutgers police arrested a fourth while dispersing a crowd of more than 500 people. Overall, 16 disorderly-related summonses were issued by New Brunswick police. Authorities said officers were hit by bottles allegedly thrown by partygoers and people set furniture on fire.