Kean paid John Legend $25K, while Rutgers paid Toni Morrison $30K
Grammy award winning singer John Legend at the Kean University 2011 commencement. He earned $25K to speak and perform two songs. TRENTON — New Jersey’s public colleges would be banned from paying for commencement speakers under legislation introduced in Trenton this week.
The bill comes two weeks after Rutgers and Kean universities cut big checks for celebrity speakers to headline their graduation ceremonies.
Rutgers officials paid Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison $30,000 for her May 15 speech at Rutgers Stadium. Kean paid singer John Legend $25,000 to speak and sing two songs at its May 12 ceremony at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel.
John DiMaio (R-Warren), one of the bill’s sponsors, said he objects to public institutions paying celebrities at a time when student costs are rising and state funding is shrinking.
"We’re in very, very difficult times," DiMaio said. "Tuitions are up. The amount of aid we have to offer is down."
Though Rutgers and Kean officials said they paid speakers to give their students the best graduation possible, DiMaio said it is not necessary to offer commencement speakers monetary compensation.
"That’s an honor enough to be asked," DiMaio said.
The bill, introduced in the Assembly Monday, has bipartisan support. It is co-sponsored by Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan (D-Middlesex), chairman of the education committee.
The legislation says if a public college or university pays a graduation speaker, the state treasurer will deduct the equivalent amount from the school’s state aid.
Rutgers officials said they plan to have their attorneys review the proposed law.
"We haven’t yet had the bill reviewed by the counsel’s office," said Greg Trevor, a Rutgers spokesman. "Once that is done we look forward to discussing its provisions with the sponsor."
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