Westminster Choir College Students Join Lawsuit Against Rider

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — Students at Westminster Choir College have added their voices to the list of those opposed to a proposed plan to move the college to Lawrenceville.

A group of 71 students filed a lawsuit in Mercer County this week in an attempt to block the college’s proposed move to Lawrenceville. They are represented by attorney Bruce Afran, and the costs of the lawsuit are being covered by the Westminster Foundation, according to Foundation President Constance Fee.

The students are also planning a peaceful demonstration on the sidewalk surrounding the college’s quadrangle on the Princeton campus following the Chapel Choir Concert Saturday night, Nov. 2, at about 9 p.m.

In the lawsuit, the students argue that under a 1991 agreement, Rider is obligated to maintain a separate identity for Westminster and to operate it at its current location on the Princeton campus. They argue Rider doesn’t have the authority to move the college.

In July, Rider called off its proposed $40 million sale of the college to China-based Kaiwen Education. Instead, the choir college will become part of the university's existing Lawrenceville campus in September 2020. Read more here: Rider Calls Off Choir College Sale; Campus Moves To Lawrenceville

The move has been opposed by the foundation and members of the faculty. Read more here: Westminster Foundation Opposes Selling Or Moving Westminster Choir College

Rider spokeswoman Kristine Brown said the lawsuit filed this week is just like the other legal challenges Rider faces over its decision.

“Rider continues to move forward with its work to bring the Westminster Choir College programs to Lawrenceville for the fall of 2020 and to take the steps necessary to secure a real future for WCC and Rider University,” Brown said. “Rider is a great university, and we intend to continue to implement our Strategic Plan for the benefit of all of Rider, including WCC.”

In the lawsuit, the students also argue that Westminster ran at a $2.5 million surplus as of 2016, and the university had no reason to consider selling or moving the college, despite claims previously made by the university. They argue Rider doesn’t have the facilities to support the college in Lawrenceville and has no plans to build new facilities. They say this will force Westminster to consolidate its services, and lose its autonomy.

Faculty have also argued that if the campus is allowed to move to Lawrenceville and sell the current Princeton property, the institution will die and irreparable harm will be done to the Princeton community.

In 2017, Rider commenced an intensive worldwide search for a partner for Westminster Choir College that began with 281 potential suitors and review of 13 formal proposals of interest, five of which expressed interest in Rider's preferred option of maintaining and operating Westminster in Princeton. No U.S. higher education institution expressed interest in operating Westminster in Princeton, university officials said.

The search came at the recommendation of a Special Committee the Rider Board of Trustees convened to study ways to strengthen the University, which included the potential consolidation of the two campuses. Read more here: Rider Sells WCC To Chinese Company For $40 Million