Embattled Rutgers University is embroiled in yet another scandal and this one shows no signs of letting up. Newly-hired Rutgers Athletic Director Julie Hermann is under fire for allegedly calling members of the University of Tennessee volleyball team, “whores” and “alcoholics.” A new report says Hermann was also involved in a discrimination lawsuit while at Louisville.

Should Rutgers stick with New Athletic Director Julie Hermann?
Julie Hermann (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images)
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Tonight on Townsquare Media’s monthly “Ask the Governor” program, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie voiced strong support for the hierarchy at Rutgers, but not necessarily for Hermann.

“I don’t know Julie Hermann,” says Christie. “I’ve never met Julie Hermann. I’ve never spoken to Julie Hermann. I wasn’t involved in her recruiting or her vetting or anything else as I should not be. I’m the governor of New Jersey. I’m not the recruiter for Rutgers University. My point on all of this is, let Rutgers handle this.”

In the Louisville lawsuit, Hermann was a witness and not a defendant according to Christie. He says to be a subject of a lawsuit you have to be sued.

The governor says Hermann should be defended in areas where she needs to be defended.

Rutgers President Bob Barchi and the school’s General Counsel, John Farmer have Christie’s total support.

Asked by the show’s host, News Director Eric Scott if he’s comfortable with Hermann as Rutgers athletic director, Christie said, “It’s not my call.”

Earlier this week, the Star-Ledger reported that all 15 members of the University of Tennessee volleyball team that Hermann coached in 1996 wrote a letter to the university complaining that Hermann humiliated them and mentally abused them. Today comes word from the New York Times that Hermann was involved in a discrimination lawsuit at Louisville, where an assistant track coach said she was fired for complaining about discriminatory treatment.


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