Snooki from "Jersey Shore" spoke at Rutgers University's Livingston Campus Thursday night in Piscataway. She was invited by the Rutgers University Programming Association, a student group, and was interviewed by comedian Adam Ace in an on-stage Q&A.PISCATAWAY — What's worth more? A commencement speech by a Nobel-winning novelist? Or a pair of Q&A sessions with one of reality television's biggest stars?
At Rutgers University, Snooki edges out Toni Morrison by a couple thousand dollars.
Last month, Rutgers officials said they had booked Morrison — author of "Beloved," "Song of Solomon" and other novels — to speak in a 52,000-seat football stadium at commencement in May. She will be paid $30,000, marking the first time Rutgers has written a check for a graduation speaker.
Tonight, Rutgers students said they had also made a big-name booking. Snooki — the "Jersey Shore" star whose real name is Nicole Polizzi — appeared at two question-and-answer sessions at the Livingston Student Center in Piscataway.
Her fee: $32,000
Unlike Morrison, who was booked by university officials, a student-run committee invited Snooki. The Rutgers University Programming Association paid the reality star using the mandatory student activity fees undergraduates must pay with their tuition.
Gregory Kassee, vice president of the association’s comedy and movies committee, said the group was looking for a speaker who would appeal to Rutgers students.
"Snooki fit that mold very well," said Kassee, 22, a senior from Jersey City. Students lined up early in the afternoon to secure one of the 1,000 wristbands to get into the 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. shows, which featured Snooki being interviewed by comedian Adam Ace. The event was called "Inside the Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi Studio" — a play on the name of the cable television interview show, "Inside the Actors Studio."
Students in the largely-female audience roared as Snooki walked into the first show, wearing a short black dress, straight hair and high-heel platform shoes. The diminutive star and Ace, her interviewer, sat in upholstered chairs in front of a coffee table on a bare stage.
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"My feet can't touch the ground. Awkward!" Snooki said as she sat in the chair, her feet dangling.
She spent an hour answering questions, teaching students the signature "Jersey Shore" first pump and styling a student’s hair in her iconic "pouf" hairdo. She also introduced her father, who was in the audience wearing a "Papa Snooki" sleeveless T-shirt.
When asked what her advice was for Rutgers students, she said: "Study hard, but party harder."
Some early-arriving students, who waited hours inside the student center to secure a good seat, said they were thrilled the student programming group booked Snooki.
"When you pay the tuition you know part of it is for student activities. It’s all about supply and demand and pleasing the student," said Gianna Santelli, 21, a junior from Nutley.
Freshman Adham Abdel-Raouf said he thought the campus show was a bargain, considering Snooki’s popularity. "Honestly, I thought they would have paid her more," said Abdel-Raouf, 18, a pre-med major from Alabama.
But other students were not happy fellow students had chosen to book someone who is most famous for "smushing" and getting drunk down the Shore.
"Such a waste of my money. If I want to listen to someone talk, they should have something intelligent to say," said freshman Dan Oliveto, 18, rolling his eyes.
Snooki’s appearance is one of about 100 events Rutgers students book every semester to entertain the campus. Since the concerts, comedy shows and lectures are funded by student fees, most of the events are free.
"We’re trying to provide different kinds of experiences to students," said Ana Castillo, president of the Rutgers University Programming Association.
Students on the committee said they considered Snooki’s appearance fee reasonable. Several of the comedians they tried to book, including "Parks and Recreation" actor Aziz Ansari and stand-up comedian Kevin Hart, were charging $75,000 each for a campus show.
Castillo also said Snooki would not get the entire $32,000 fee. Shares will probably go to her comedian sidekick, her management and the speakers bureau used to book her.
Unlike Snooki, Morrison will speak to a large audience when she delivers her May 15 commencement speech at the 52,000-seat Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway, campus officials said. No state funds or tuition money will be used to pay her fee. Instead, the money will come from money PepsiCo pays Rutgers to have exclusive rights to vending machines on campus.
Rutgers officials said they were willing to pay an honorarium for a high-profile graduation speaker this year because the university is trying to liven up its commencement, which will be held in the campus football stadium for the first time since the 1960s.
By Kelly Heyboer and Peggy McGlone/The Star-Ledger