Faculty Alliance for Rutgers (FAR)

The Faculty Alliance for Rutgers (FAR) was an organization founded by members of Rutgers faculty in 1996. The Alliance was particularly concerned with faculty governance and the involvement of the faculty in policy decisions. The group formed as the result of their dissatisfaction with University President Francis L. Lawrence (1990-2003). Particular areas of contention were the athletic program at Rutgers, faculty employment issues, and other Lawrence-sponsored initiatives. Founders included faculty members John Gillis (History), who became FAR's convener. Terry Butler (Mathematics), Susan Fainstein (Urban Planning), George Levine (English), Peter Lindenfeld (Physics and Astronomy), Jack Nelson (Graduate School of Education), Jerry Scheinbeim (Engineering), Peter Simmons (Newark Law), Shanti Tangri (Economics).

At its peak, FAR had between sixty and seventy members who funded and distributed the group's newsletter, "The FAR Report," which was edited by Peter Lindenfeld. FAR maintained a Web site and established research committees on such issues as athletics and faculty governance. FAR's efforts culminated in an "Open Letter to the Middle States Accreditation Committee" when that committee visited campus in the spring of 1998. The organization was no longer active after 1998.