The Consequences of Donor Pressure on University Presidents

The influence of major donors on prestigious universities in the US is threatening academic freedom and widening inequality. The recent controversy surrounding the presidents of the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, and MIT, who failed to unequivocally condemn calls for genocide on campus, has led to pressure from wealthy donors for their resignation. This use of financial influence to hound university presidents out of office jeopardizes the autonomy of universities and may fuel the very antisemitism these donors claim to oppose. The actions of major donors highlight the need to address the influence of money in higher education and protect freedom of expression on campus.