Statement by Rutgers Athletics Review Committee Co-chairs Al Koeppe and Albert R. Gamper Jr.

The nine-member committee formed by Rutgers President Richard L. McCormick to review the university’s athletics program today convened its first meeting by conference call. Our discussions, which were substantive and productive, included an agreement as to how the panel will move forward with its important work.

At the decision of the co-chairs, the responsibilities of the group will be divided into two subcommittees. One group, led by co-chair Al Koeppe and comprised of the committee members who are external to Rutgers, will concentrate its review on the operations of the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics and the administration of contracts. It will assess the transparency of transactions and information, and examine the division’s relationships with sports marketing firms.

The other group, headed by co-chair Albert R. Gamper Jr. and comprised of those committee members representing Rutgers’ governing boards, will focus its attention on issues involving university governance and internal controls – both of the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics and the university at large, and on improvements in practices and procedures.

In bifurcating the tasks of the committee, the co-chairs’ intent is that the panel will operate more efficiently and the appropriate perspective and expertise can be brought to bear on its analysis.