Billionaire Donors Cut Funding to Columbia University Amid Pro-Palestinian Protests

Several billionaire donors to Columbia University, including Robert Kraft and Len Blavatnik, are reconsidering their support for the university due to ongoing pro-Palestinian protests on campus. The protests, which have swept across Ivy League universities, are in response to Israel's war on Gaza and the U.S. administration's support for Israel.

Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots and a former Columbia student, announced on April 22 that he is pulling his financial support for the university until the university creates a safe environment for Jewish students. Kraft, an Orthodox Jew whose late wife's grandparents died in the Holocaust, expressed his deep sadness at the "virulent hate" growing on campus and said he is no longer confident that Columbia can protect its students and staff.

Len Blavatnik, another billionaire graduate of Columbia with a net worth exceeding $31 billion, emphasized the need for the school's leadership to protect Jewish students from threats and intimidation, though he did not confirm suspending his donations. Billionaire investor Leon Cooperman, who has donated around $50 million to Columbia, expressed his dismay and announced a suspension of his giving, criticizing the "sh*t for brains" of the protesting students.

Why this matters: The potential exodus of wealthy benefactors due to the ongoing unrest at Columbia University highlights the challenges faced by academic institutions in balancing free speech rights with student safety. The situation also underscores the broader implications of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its impact on campuses across the United States.

The protests, which have included an encampment on campus and demands for the school to cut ties with groups supporting Israel, have led to a rise in antisemitism and concerns about student safety. In response, the university has decided to transition to a mostly hybrid schedule, amid protests and in-person classes online for the rest of the semester.

Columbia University President Lee Bollinger stated, "We cannot have one group dictate terms and disrupt important events like graduation. At the same time, we are committed to protecting the right to peaceful protest and ensuring the safety of all our students." The university faces the challenge of navigating the competing demands of free speech, student well-being, and maintaining the support of its donors during this tumultuous period.

Key Takeaways

• Billionaire donors to Columbia University, including Kraft and Blavatnik, are reconsidering support due to pro-Palestinian protests.
• Kraft is pulling financial support until Columbia creates a safe environment for Jewish students amid "virulent hate".
• Blavatnik and Cooperman emphasize the need to protect Jewish students from threats and intimidation on campus.
• Protests have led to a rise in antisemitism and concerns about student safety, prompting a shift to hybrid classes.
• Columbia faces the challenge of balancing free speech, student well-being, and maintaining donor support during this period.