What's Wrong with Rutgers?

Back when I was growing up in Baltimore, my dad would sing, "Nobody ever died for dear old Rutgers, nobody ever died for Rutgers U." We had no connections to the school or New Jersey. Thanks to Wikipedia, I now know it was written by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn for the 1947 musical, High Button Shoes. So that's where he got it.

It appears, though, that not only will no one die for the school, no one wants to attend, either. New Jersey students would rather go elsewhere and, in fact, more of its high school grads leave home for college than any other state. Is it the state, or the school, or too many attractive options elsewhere? Nor does the school attract new blood -- not many out-of-staters want to attend, either.

Whatever the reason, it is frightening for the state's future. It's beyond frightening for me, as a parent: I desperately want Rutgers to be an attractive, viable option. Sure hope our teen doesn't read this post.