Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian websites: Initial reports of a tough security incident the occupation army is facing in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Israeli media: The Israeli army detected a missile launch from Yemen
Al Mayadeen's correspondent from Revolution Square in Tehran: Processions from Bahrain, Iraq, and other Arab nations are in attendance
Iranians gather at Tehran’s Revolution Square for the funeral of martyrs of Israeli aggression
Maduro: I call on the Jews to stop the war madness practiced by the Zionist regime led by Netanyahu
Maduro: Every day, 100 people are killed in Palestine, and the West is watching and is complicit
Iran's representative to the United Nations, in a letter to Guterres and the Security Council: The threat of America and the Zionist entity to assassinate the Supreme Leader is state terrorism.
Washington to the Security Council: The goal was to destroy Iran's uranium enrichment capacity and prevent the threat of Tehran obtaining and using a nuclear weapon
Lebanese Health Ministry: 1 woman martyred, 11 wounded in Israeli strike on residential apartment in Nabatieh, South Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Four civilians injured in Israeli strike that targeted house in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, South Lebanon.

US private universities are being cornered by pro-Israeli donors

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 22 Oct 2023 11:27
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

Wealthy Americans threaten to withdraw their financial support from prestigious private Ivy League schools if pro-Palestine protests do not end.

  • x
  • A rally at Harvard University on October 13 supporting Palestine (AFP)
    A rally at Harvard University on October 13 supporting Palestine (AFP)

US universities are stuck between a rock and a hard place - between satisfying rich donors that support "Israel", and respecting students' rights to free expression, as the rich threaten to withdraw their financial support from prestigious private Ivy League schools like Harvard University in Massachusetts, or the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn).

For example, the Wexner Foundation, meant for young Jewish leaders in North America and "Israel", ended its partnership with Harvard's Kennedy School.

The Wexner family, which founded the Bath & Body Works chain, formally cut their ties to the school following the "dismal failure of Harvard's leadership to take a clear and unequivocal  stand against the barbaric murders  of innocent Israeli civilians by terrorists".

Marc Rowan, the CEO of the Apollo Global Management investment fund and a major donor to UPenn, called on the school's president, Elizabeth Magill to step down after criticizing her for UPenn's hosting of a Palestinian literature festival which, he claimed, included some "well-known anti-Semites and fomenters of hate and racism."

The CEO of the Citadel investment fund and one of Harvard's biggest donors, Kenneth Griffin, alongside heir to the Estee Lauder cosmetics group and another UPenn donor, Ronald Lauder, are expressing displeasure as well.

Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU), said: "Leaders are criticized for not speaking out quickly or forcefully enough. They're being forced to choose sides. And yet many say that given a diversity of perspectives on campus, there can't be an institutional position on such complex global issues".

'Condemnations aren't enough' 

Harvard President Claudine Gay attempted to satisfy donors by "condemning" the Palestinian Operation Al-Aqsa Flood but critics claimed it was too late. Heads of California's Stanford University and New York's Columbia have been asked to distance themselves from pro-Palestinian student groups that accuse "Israel" of committing genocide.

Related News

Cuba denounces US-backed nomination of Rosa Maria Paya to IACHR

US Senate blocks resolution limiting military action against Iran

However, a group of Harvard professors have stood up for their students who signed a petition against "Israel", by calling for an end to their online harassment. A car driving near campus displayed a screen with student names and photos under the title: "Harvard's leading anti-Semites" - Columbia students have faced a similar incident.

A couple of signs at a Harvard rally to “Free Palestine” yesterday: pic.twitter.com/ibCx52hstS

— Steve McGuire (@sfmcguire79) October 15, 2023

Just last year, the International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School, in a recent report to the United Nations, recognized that the Israeli occupation regime is one of apartheid.

Kristen Shahverdian, who works in PEN America on education issues promoting literature and free expression, said: "What we are hearing directly is that some students on some campuses are feeling nervous to talk -- nervous, perhaps, to protest," adding: "That feeling of fear, I think, is palpable for some on campuses".

Read next: AUB University condemns 'Israel' aggression, US President's decision

This all may violate the protected freedom of speech and expression and the fact that the role of universities should be to promote a diversity of opinions.

Freedom of speech on whose time?

AACU's Pasquerella explains that the pressure downplays the objective of American higher education: "to promote the unfettered pursuit of the truth and the free exchange of ideas."

Shahverdian urges donors to be "aware that freedom of expression is an integral part of higher education -- and that does mean, at times, speech that one might disagree with very strongly."

Pasquerella also believes that the pressure mirrors the flagging public investment in higher education making institutions more reliant on private donations which is leaving professors feeling "coerced because they're afraid of losing donations."

Harvard, with an endowment of almost $51 billion, claims it derives some 8% of its operating revenue from gifts. 

  • United States
  • Israel
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Gaza
  • Harvard
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli occupation soldiers search for settlers amid the rubble of buildings destroyed by an Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam, central occupied Palestine, on Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran missile strike flattens Bat Yam, displaces 2,000 settlers

Palestinian fighters from the Islamic Jihad militant group riding on a truck with weaponry on display take part in an anti-Israel parade marking the 36th anniversary of the movement's founding, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian Resistance attacks Israeli forces in Khan Younis, Jabalia

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stands waiting to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran suspends IAEA cooperation, Araghchi blames Grossi for attacks

The commander of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit, Brigadier General Mohammad Said Izadi (Illustrated by Mahdi Rtail for Al Mayadeen English)
Politics

Who was Mohammad Said Izadi, head of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit?

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS