In a recent report by The New York Times, it was revealed that top donors to universities across the United States are privately urging college officials to take a strong stance in support of Israel. This comes in response to student groups who have blamed Israel for the Hamas terror attacks. Kenneth Griffin, a major donor to Harvard University, is among those who have voiced their concerns. Griffin, who has donated more than half a billion dollars to the institution, called upon the university’s board to “come out forcefully” in defense of Israel. This call to action came after more than two dozen student groups at Harvard signed a statement holding Israel “entirely responsible” for the massacre.
Three days after the student statement was released, Harvard President Claudine Gay addressed the issue, distancing the university from the controversial document. Griffin is not alone in his sentiments; other donors across the political spectrum have expressed similar concerns. For instance, Democratic backers and billionaires Seth Klarman and Lloyd Blankfein were also displeased with Harvard’s response. Blankfein, the former CEO of Goldman Sachs, criticized the university for not immediately and forcefully condemning the “hate messages” from students. Klarman, on the other hand, called on university officials nationwide to show more empathy for Israel.
Bill Ackman, a billionaire hedge fund manager, has urged Harvard to release the membership lists of the student groups responsible for the polarizing statement. Ackman’s call comes as some CEOs have expressed interest in ensuring that they do not inadvertently hire any members of these organizations. While some donors believe that students should not be blacklisted for their actions, Griffin argues that these students are legal adults and should be held accountable.
The issue has also reverberated beyond Harvard. Former Utah Governor and University of Pennsylvania alumnus Jon Huntsman Jr. announced that his family would be withdrawing its donations to the university due to its initial silence on the terror attacks. Huntsman’s family has been a significant donor to Penn for years. University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill and Provost John Jackson Jr. later condemned the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel amid criticism from donors like Huntsman and school trustees.
Last week, pro-Palestinian student groups held protests at college campuses nationwide following a “call to action” posted on social media by the national chapter of the far-left group Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).
Additional reports indicate that Jon Huntsman Jr. has decided to halt all future donations from his family’s Huntsman Foundation to the University of Pennsylvania, criticizing the university for its ‘silence’ to the recent Hamas attacks against Israel, writes the New York Post.
The situation has led to a complex interplay of opinions and actions among donors, university officials, and student groups. It raises questions about the influence of donors on university policies and the freedom of speech and expression for students. As universities grapple with these challenges, the debate continues to evolve, reflecting broader societal tensions surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict.
