Going public!!

On Wednesday evening, May 21st, Patricia received a phone call from the financial aid office at Rutgers. Dakota was denied any financial aid as he was ineligible to get a scholarship for transfer students. Only four are issued and competition was quite high. After inquiring about minority scholarships and departmental aid, she was flat refused. In addition she was not given any other names or contacts to continue her search. When Patricia said that Rutgers was three times as expensive as Middlesex and that she would be able to only pay for one class per semester, financial aid coordinator Larry Jones replied "well pay for the one class and sign him up for high school football" Unbelievable!

Patricia noticed a Star Leger scholars award in the paper and called up the columnist who wrote the article. Although Dakota was ineligible as he did not attend high school, we were put in touch with Bob Braun. A well know and respected columnist at the Star Ledger newspaper in New Jersey.

http://tinyurl.com/3fsth8

Not only did he do an article, but Patricia was invited to discuss this issue on the Jack Ellery radio station WCTC 1450 in New Brunswick on Tuesday morning June 3rd. Very surprisingly, many people called in and the show ran AGAIN on June 4th. This radio show is a huge RU supporter and has a huge fan base at Rutgers also broadcasting Rutgers sports....

Both the columnist Bob Braun and radio host Jack Ellery find our situation hard to believe. A 14 year old basketball player was awarded a full ride for four years at Rutgers when he graduates and there is not money to pay a 14 year old for only 2 years at Rutgers who is also a minority! Patricia made her case about many guidelines and rules which block aid because of his age.

Patricia is to report back in a few weeks to both Bob Braun and Jack Ellery to see if anything has happened on the Rutgers end.

Tough decision to go public with this. In an ideal situation, Patricia would be able to pay for Dakota herself to attend college but having Dakota going to college a decade early leaves us a bit unprepared. Does Rutgers need any dance teachers??