Even if ‘Snooki’ bill approved, university to pay speaker
TRENTON, N.J. — Even if New Jersey’s governor approves a measure inspired by former “Jersey Shore” star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi to cap what state public universities can pay speakers, Rutgers University is still offering $35,000 for this year’s commencement speaker.
Rutgers says that the honorarium offered to actor and musician Steven Van Zandt is paid for with money from its beverage contract with Coca-Cola and not taxpayer money.
“I don’t think it will be affected, honestly, but at the least we’ve got their attention when it comes to spending in general,” New Jersey Republican Assemblyman John DiMaio, who sponsored the measure, said Friday.
“In a time when college costs are so high, maybe some of those revenues could have been going into the classroom or they could be more judicious in how they’re bringing speakers in,” he said.