Gov. Chris Christie argued with a former Navy SEAL Thursday over the state's plans to reconfigure public universities in New Jersey -- resulting in Christie calling the man an idiot.

William Brown -- a Rutgers-Camden law student opposes the governor's plan to merge his school with Rowan University, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Brown asked the governor during a town hall meeting in Burlington County to consider how the merger would affect students, and veteran students in particular, before going ahead with his plan. Christie responded by telling Brown the merger was going to happen because it would provide bigger and better opportunities.

The situation escalated into a shouting match, and Brown continued to make his argument while Christie was speaking, saying that no one in South Jersey wanted this to happen.

Christie ordered Brown escorted out and said, "If you decide what you want to do is put on a show today, let me tell you something, I can go back and forth with you as much as you want. And let me tell you something, after you graduate from law school, you conduct yourself like that in a court room, your rear end’s gonna get thrown in jail, idiot."

After Brown left, Christie said, "You know, I tried to be patient with the guy. Every time I tried to answer, he started yelling over me again. Damn, man, I’m governor, could you just shut up for a second?"

Brown told the Philadelphia Inquirier after the encounter that he worried that the merger would hamper educational opportunities that now exist for veterans and other nontraditional students like himself.

Brown called the response by Christie and the police "inappropriate."

"I think he's a bully sometimes," Brown said. "I was disappointed the governor couldn't have a debate."