Lawmaker: Rutgers' Big East deal should be public

Published Feb. 5, 2014 3:36 p.m. ET

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TRENTON, N.J. (AP) A New Jersey lawmaker is criticizing Rutgers University for not making public the terms of an agreement it struck over the fees it must pay for exiting the former Big East athletic conference.

Rutgers officials revealed Tuesday that the university had reached a tentative deal with the new American Athletic Conference but the terms were not disclosed.

The university had argued it should not have to pay a $10 million exit fee this year to make its move to the Big Ten.

Democratic Assemblyman Joseph Cryan of Union County said Wednesday that because Rutgers is a public university, taxpayers are entitled to know how much the deal will cost when there is still time to provide input.

He says the school shouldn't spend large amounts of money without public disclosure.