Rutgers students seek Springsteen to bolster image

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) - Some students at New Jersey’s largest university believe Bruce Springsteen is their salvation.

They have started a Facebook campaign called “Let’s Bring the Boss to Rutgers!” to counteract fallout from a recent appearance by Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi.

The Rutgers University Programming Association paid the “Jersey Shore” reality TV star $32,000 to answer questions. That’s $2,000 more than Rutgers will pay Nobel-winning novelist Toni Morrison to deliver the commencement address next month.

Freshman Daniel Oliveto and junior Paul Tranquilli are spearheading the effort. Oliveto tells the Asbury Park Press Polizzi’s message to “study hard, but party harder,” was offensive.

Rutgers University President Richard McCormick said school administrators asked students in charge of booking campus entertainment to reconsider their decision to bring “Snooki” to the school.

He said students are allowed to book whatever entertainers they choose with the $6 per student per semester fee for such events.

“We don’t censor who they invite _ we don’t say you can invite Lawerence Welk but you can’t invite Snooki,” McCormick told a panel of New Jersey senators in response to a question on Monday.

One GOP senator has since called for legislation allowing students to “opt in” to paying entertainment fees.

Sen. Joe Kyrillos said students and their parents shouldn’t have to pay for entertainment they find objectionable.

McCormick said the administration and the students have learned a life lesson.

The students hope Springsteen would either perform or have a question-and-answer session similar to the sit-down Snooki gave last month.

Springsteen’s publicist has not replied to a request for a response.

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Information from: Asbury Park Press, http://www.app.com

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