Wall Erected to Silence New Jersey College Critics

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- Rutgers University's Board of Governors had a message for angry students and union members: Talk to the wall.

Maintenance workers erected a temporary wall as angry and rowdy spectators tried to disrupt Tuesday's Board of Governors meeting.

Dozens of students and union members protested a salary freeze and began shouting after the board refused to allow a student leader to speak about the university budget.

The student had missed a deadline to register to speak.

Board chairman Ralph Izzo told The Star-Ledger of Newark he had no choice.

Students and union members said they believed the board violated the state's Open Public Meetings Act.

Rutgers spokesman Greg Trevor told the newspaper no votes were taken during the several minutes before Izzo ordered the wall to come down.