Rider University Sees Opposition To Westminster Choir College Consolidation

Princeton, NJ -- Over 2,000 people have signed a petition to keep Rider University’s Westminster Choir College campus in Princeton open.

The petition, posted on change.org, had 2,343 signatures just after 9 a.m. on Monday. Its goal was to garner 2,500 signatures.

“Today, we received an email from President Dell'Omo, president of Rider University, that the financial strain on Rider University (due to the separate campuses) has forced the chair of trustees to make a decision on a plan to combine the two campuses into one - effectively eliminating the history and musicality that Westminster has provided for generations and continues to provide for us, the current students,” a post attached to the petition read. “This petition is a plea to the Chair of Trustees and President Dell'Omo to stop this blatant disregard for the culture and musicianship our separate campus provides.”

The petition was to be delivered to college students and alumni and Rider University students.

The university announced it was considering consolidating the colleges last week.

Officials say the move is being done to avoid a possible $13.1 million deficit by 2019.

The school is in a position where it would need to increase enrollment by 114 undergraduate students by next fall, and another 46 the year after that.

The Keep Westminster Choir College in Princeton Facebook page had nearly 2,000 members as of Monday morning.

The Rider University president’s office has received tons of calls and emails protesting the consolidation, according to Planet Princeton.

The matter is still under consideration, and any final decision is likely to be made in February.