By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
Financially troubled Rider University, facing deep budget shortfalls in the coming years, is considering selling its Westminster Choir College campus in Princeton and moving the school to Rider’s Lawrenceville campus.
The possible relocation was reported first by the Rider student newspaper, the Rider News, on Monday, something that caught town officials by surprise and has raised concerns among alumni and others connected to the school.
The paper reported that Rider President Gregory G. Dell’Omo had spoken last week at Westminster to say his administration was considering such a decision, this at a time when Rider is missing its enrollment projections and looking at budget holes of more than $13 million in two years.
“We need to stabilize the current situation so we can begin building the investment and growth of the university with the strategic plan,” he told the paper. “But if you don’t have that bigger vision down the road, it makes the short-term challenges that much more difficult to solve, so that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Rider did not respond on Thursday to a request for a statement on the situation or respond to questions.
Westminster had been independent until it merged with Rider in 1992. A new building recently opened on campus, which is home to 320 undergraduate and 119 graduate students who study various disciplines in music, like piano to music education.
“I don’t like the idea that Westminster would move,” said Judy Scheide, whose late husband, Bill, was a board member for 27 years, has a campus building named after him and donated money to keep the school afloat during lean times.
“I think he would be sad,” she said of what her husband would feel if the school relocated. She had been considering donating an organ of his to Westminster, but said she would hold off if the school moves out of town, its home since 1934.
She suggested one alternative would be for Princeton University to take it over as its music school.
“I think that would be wonderful,” she said. “It would be beautiful.”
Darren Dailey, a 1989 graduate of Westminster who is the artistic and executive director of the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus in Florida, said Thursday that he could understand a move if it means better facilities for the Choir College. But short of that, he said, a move “is not acceptable.”
He said he had “great affection” for Westminster, where he got married to his wife on campus.
Constance Fee, a Westminster alumnae and alumni council president, said Thursday that she was “blindsided” by the news, and said there is a lack of transparency about the financial situation at Rider. She said she has heard that parents of current students are planning to transfer their children out and that alumni are taking Westminster out of their wills.
She said people come to that school for the rigorous residential conservatory experience, the musical culture and the heritage. She predicted decreased enrollment and a rise in transfers if the move goes through.
“I don’t think Rider completely understands Westminster’s stature and value in the international music world,” she said.
Town officials have said Westminster has been a valuable member of the community, a place that offers education programs for the public. Council President Lance Liverman said it has been “good neighbors.”
“I hope they can stay,” said Mayor Liz Lempert on Thursday.
In terms of what could be built there, the campus spans some 28 acres, with current zoning allowing for residential development and education uses. But Mayor Lempert declined to speculate about any possible development occurring on the property.
