College Defends $219K Multimedia Conference Table

A New Jersey college is defending its purchase of a $219,000 custom-built, multimedia conference table from a Chinese company.

Philip Connelly, Kean University's executive vice president of operations, said in a letter sent to students and faculty Monday that the conference center will bring money to the university when it is rented for corporate meetings.

He says that students will benefit from others seeing Kean's enhanced image and that the table reflects the artistry and history of the region in China where Kean has a campus.

A New Jersey Assemblyman Joe Cryan last week called for the state attorney general to review the university's purchase of the table from a company in China.

The 22-foot circular table seats 23 people and is made of oak with cherry veneer. The university said the price tag also includes lighting and electronics.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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