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MrCowBells t1_iy9llud wrote

Reply to comment by Tanktopbro8 in TIL that Rutgers University is the only university in the US that was one of the original colonial colleges, a land-grant institution, and a state university. by TheMemer14

I'm pretty sure this is an urban myth. I have yet to find any evidence beyond a Crimson article from 1953 saying alumni and the president at the time supported petition to join the sports league at the time and a failed attempt to merge with Princeton 200 years ago.

This myth likely stemmed from the fact that Rutgers shares the same pedigree as the other Ivy League schools and has a history that is as rich as them. (As evidenced in the linked Wikipedia article). If Rutgers decided to private instead of becoming a land grant (publicly funded) school, then they may very well have become one of the Ivy League schools.

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dustin91 t1_iy9t0dx wrote

It may also have to do with both RU and Princeton being in the same (small) state, to have two Ivies… or IV, as their football designation was, if I remember somewhat.

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