(Facebook|CondoleezzaRice)

The university's board of governors agreed to pay Rice $35,000 and present her with an honorary doctorate if she spoke at the graduation ceremony on May 18. 

However, demonstrators staged sit-ins and protest to thwart Rice's attendance, stating that the former secretary of state is partly responsible for the Iraq War, seeing as she was a prominent member in President  George W. Bush's administration. 

Rice backed out of the event on Saturday, telling Rutgers President Robert Barchi that she did not think it was appropriate for her to be there.

"Commencement should be a time of joyous celebration for the graduates and their families," Rice said. "Rutgers' invitation to me to speak has become a distraction for the university community at this very special time." 

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