The Press of Atlantic City

Staff

When the plan by Stockton University and former President Herman Saatkamp to purchase a closed casino hotel for an Island Campus ran into deed problems last March, we urged forgiveness and patience. We were “almost confident” such a campus would still be developed.

Now, the project is not only solid, it has transformed into something much better for Stockton, Atlantic City and even the former Showboat Casino Hotel.

The campus – with separate housing, academic and parking buildings – will be newly built, which ensures construction that’s appropriate to college use. Adapting a former casino would have been a bargain in the short run (one of Saatkamp’s arguments for the Showboat deal), but wouldn’t work nearly as well as facilities designed for college use.