Another billionaire has closed his checkbook to Harvard University.
Businessman Len Blavatnik and his family’s foundation have temporarily halted their millions of dollars in funding to the Ivy League because it stands behind president Claudine Gay despite accusations that she stood up when students spewed antisemitic rhetoric on campus, according to a report.
The Harvard Business School alumnus will freeze his funding until the university directly addresses what he sees as rampant antisemitism at the school, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg.
Blavatnik and his wife, Emily, have donated at least $270 million to Harvard, with about $200 million directly benefiting the medical school.
What the elite institution will need to win back the financial backing of Access Industries’ founders is unclear.
The Ukrainian-born billionaire did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
Harvard University also did not respond to emails.
Blavatnik, who is Jewish, is the latest in a string of major donors to suspend donations to Harvard following his failure to condemn the mass slaughter of Israelis by Hamas terrorists.
Len Blavatnik has reportedly suspended his donations to Harvard University after what he sees as rampant antisemitism on campus. Madison McGaw/BFA/REX/Shutterstock
Former Victoria’s Secret CEO Les Wexner, whose foundation has given millions to Harvard for 34 years, cut ties with the university shortly after the Israel-Hamas war began in October.
Hedge funder Bill Ackman, also a business school alumnus, has repeatedly spoken out against the Ivy League, along with $500 million donor Ken Griffin.
The US government is also considering ways to remove billions of dollars in federal funding from the institution.
Backlash against the school only increased following Gay’s testimony before Congress in which he said calls for genocide against Jews would only violate Harvard rules depending on their “context.”
President Claudine Gay has since apologized for claiming calls for genocide against Jews would only violate Harvard rules depending on their “context”. Reuters
Harvard has continued to stand behind Gay – who was also recently accused of 40 counts of plagiarizing the work of other scholars in a separate scandal – and has since apologized for his testimony.
The school is being investigated by the federal Department of Education into whether it has violated the civil rights of Jewish students, which are protected under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
Millions of dollars in suspended gifts and federal funding will dramatically damage Harvard’s longstanding reputation, forcing the school to reduce the level of donations that can secure admission.
A college counselor previously told The Post that the $2 million check could be the new $20 million.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
