Staff Reports
Harvard President Claudine Gay may be breathing a temporary sigh of relief, but the ivory towers of liberalism are crumbling around her. The progressive system that placed her at the helm may seem like a protective cocoon, shielding her from accountability, but the reality is that the university is taking hit after hit in terms of reputation, finances, and overall credibility.
Another Billionaire Donor Bails on Harvard https://t.co/05Lx1XMxJX
— Princess Lili's gender fluid bike (@Msblowana) December 22, 2023
Billionaire alumnus Bill Ackman, a vocal critic of Gay following her disastrous congressional testimony, has sounded the alarm about a staggering loss of support. He revealed that over a billion dollars in donations from a select group of Harvard’s most generous alumni, both Jewish and non-Jewish, have been terminated due to the president’s repeated failures. And that’s just the beginning. The shockwaves of dissent continue to ripple through Harvard’s donor network, leaving a gaping hole in its financial standing.
Len Blavatnik, another billionaire with close ties to Harvard, has taken a drastic step by hitting the pause button on his family foundation’s contributions. His decision was a direct response to Gay’s troubling remarks during her congressional testimony, where she shockingly suggested that calls for genocide against Jewish people might not inherently violate the school’s policies against harassment and intimidation. Blavatnik, an esteemed Harvard Business School graduate, emphasized that his financial support would only resume once the university confronts the rampant antisemitism that has tainted its campus environment. This move carries significant weight, considering that the Blavatniks have poured at least $270 million into Harvard over the years.
The repercussions of these high-profile disassociations are reverberating across the Harvard community, signaling a major setback in fundraising efforts. One can’t help but wonder if this is just the beginning of a larger exodus. A prominent figure linked to the Harvard Medical School pointed out that the university’s financial lifelines are under immense strain. David Bergeron, a seasoned Education Department official, pointed to Harvard’s dwindling revenue sources and the potential jeopardy of federal programs that it relies on.
