Posted on 03/11/2007 1:55:08 PM PDT by Coleus
State union leader Carla Katz's scholarship from Seton Hall Law School is now part of an inquiry ordered by North Jersey's Roman Catholic leader, who raised questions about donations made by her former boyfriend -- Governor Corzine.
On Friday, Archbishop of Newark John Myers, who is chairman of the board at the Catholic university, directed the law school to make the review, a spokesman said. The request came after Myers learned of Katz's scholarship and Corzine's donations to the university, said John Goodness, a spokesman for the Newark Archdiocese. "Just because this issue has come up, it is just incumbent on us to look into it to make sure everything was done appropriately," Goodness said. "If there's a solid reason for her having it, that's fine."
Seton Hall officials said there was no connection between Corzine's donations and Katz's scholarship, and that her selection was based on her academic record. Corzine officials denied trying to pressure Seton Hall officials to enroll Katz and award her the scholarship. On Friday, Katz did not return calls seeking comment. Corzine has said his romantic relationship with Katz, president of one of the largest state workers unions, ended in 2004, the year before he ran for governor. In his gubernatorial campaign, Corzine acknowledged that he forgave Katz a $470,000 mortgage on her Hunterdon County home, several weeks before he announced his candidacy.
The relationship came under scrutiny again this week after Corzine acknowledged that he gave Katz additional gifts. Both have refused to say how much money was given and for what purpose, but speculation was fueled by reports that Katz had paid $1.1 million for a Hoboken condominium in December. Katz, who earns a salary of $102,000 as a union leader, is also making a 3,200-square-foot addition to her Hunterdon home and has enrolled her two children in private schools in Pennsylvania. Both the governor and Katz insist that the last gifts were made in 2004 at the conclusion of their relationship. Katz is president the Communications Workers of America Local 1034, one of six state worker locals. The overall union has just agreed to a four-year contract with Corzine, leading some Republicans and some union dissidents to complain that the relationship was a clear conflict of interest. But Katz is opposing the contract, which must be ratified by the rank and file.
Corzine was a generous benefactor of Seton Hall University before and after Katz enrolled in the school in 2004. Since 1999, Corzine's foundations have given $630,000 to Seton Hall University, some of it earmarked for the School of Diplomacy, according to the foundations' tax returns. Corzine's foundation with his former wife also gave $375,000 to the Newark Archdiocese from 1999 through 2002.
Patrick E. Hobbs, dean of Seton Hall Law School, said Katz was admitted and won her scholarship because of her impressive qualifications. "She had a combination LSAT [Law School Admissions Test] and GPA that were stellar -- plus her background as a union person is just the sort of thing that we get excited about," Hobbs said. "She is exactly the kind of student that we recruit aggressively." Hobbs pointed out that Katz was also accepted to Georgetown University Law School in Washington, D.C.
Seton Hall awarded Katz one of its "presidential scholarships," which require "a certain academic profile to qualify," he said. The dean estimated that more than 50 others were also offered such scholarships. "No one at the law school receives a scholarship as a favor," Hobbs said. Corzine wrote a letter of recommendation for Katz, Hobbs said, but it was sent to the Law School Admissions Council, an academic institution that administers law school testing programs. The Admissions Council then sent Katz's LSAT scores and her letters of recommendation to both Seton Hall and Georgetown, Hobbs said.
"His letter of recommendation was typical of law school applications -- nothing out of the ordinary," Hobbs said. "To my knowledge, he never sent a letter of recommendation to anyone at the law school or anyone else at the university. He played no effort with my office."
'There is no connection'
Corzine's grant money was given directly to Seton Hall's Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations, which is separate from the law school, Hobbs said. The school is named after John C. Whitehead, a former chairman of Goldman Sachs and Corzine's mentor when he worked at the Wall Street firm. "To my knowledge that gift came well after Carla was admitted to law school," Hobbs said.
Anthony Coley, the governor's spokesman, said Corzine had no contact with anyone at Seton Hall about Katz's law school application or academic scholarship. "There is no connection," Coley said. "The governor's donation was to Seton Hall's Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations. The donation was made at Mr. Whitehead's request."
The university's presidential scholarship awarded to Katz in 2004 covered roughly one-half of the law school's annual tuition of $29,450, Hobbs said. Ninety other presidential scholarships were offered that year. Thirty-eight students accepted these scholarships and matriculated at Seton Hall Law School, Hobbs said. Katz was a full-time student when she was awarded the scholarship and now attends part time.
I wonder why Archbishop Myers is so concerned all of a sudden? When Corzine donated his blood money to the diocese and to schools in the diocese, he, the archbishop, was more than happy to receive.
and $1.2 million to Catholic dioceses in New York and New Jersey, even though the New Jersey churches urged Catholics to vote against candidates, like Corzine, who support abortion rights.
the archbishop also had no problem with Charles Kusner's money.
Newark, NJ, Archbishop John Myers partners with donor to Pro-abortion politicians for fundraiser
Seton Hall has a long tradition of graduating or receiving donations from shady, financial hucksters!
I'm also sure that nothing will come of the inquiry.
Ping
Corzine has said his romantic relationship with Katz, president of one of the largest state workers unions, ended in 2004, the year before he ran for governor. In his gubernatorial campaign, Corzine acknowledged that he forgave Katz a $470,000 mortgage on her Hunterdon County home, several weeks before he announced his candidacy. The relationship came under scrutiny again this week after Corzine acknowledged that he gave Katz additional gifts. Both have refused to say how much money was given and for what purpose, but speculation was fueled by reports that Katz had paid $1.1 million for a Hoboken condominium in December. Katz, who earns a salary of $102,000 as a union leader, is also making a 3,200-square-foot addition to her Hunterdon home and has enrolled her two children in private schools in Pennsylvania.
Did she pay the appropriate tax for this gift? Report her to the IRS.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.