Leaders of three Rutgers faculty unions have unanimously declared a strike after failed negotiations with the university over a new contract for 9,000 professors, part-time lecturers, and graduate student workers representing the state's largest university. This marks a momentous move, being the first faculty strike since Rutgers' founding in 1766. The strike is expected to disrupt classes for over 67,000 students on all three Rutgers campuses. The faculty unions accuse the university of underpaying and understaffing its employees, and have been protesting for several months, including during a public forum event where the attendees' questions were being fielded by Chancellor-Provost Francine Conway and Executive Vice President--Chief Financial Officer and University Treasurer J. Michael Gower. The demonstration was shut down and the subsequent audience canceled. Rutgers officials have warned that the faculty strike would be illegal, and stated that student services such as dining, bus service, counseling, and other services would remain open. Governor Phil Murphy has declared a need for more meetings with his administration.