Topline
Columbia University said it’s “grateful” to Robert Kraft’s longstanding support for the university after the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots and Columbia alum went on a media tour criticizing the school Monday, following his decision to pull his financial support over its handling of pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
New York City police officers in riot gear stand guard as demonstrators chant slogans outside the ... [+]
Key Facts
Columbia University spokesperson Samantha Slater told Forbes the university was “grateful to Mr. Kraft for his years of generosity and service to Columbia,” adding it’s a “time of crisis” for members of the university community.
The statement comes after Kraft announced he was “no longer confident” Columbia could protect its students and staff amid tense campus protests, and he was “not comfortable supporting the university until corrective action is taken.”
In an interview with CNN, Kraft clarified he was still planning to support the Center for Jewish Student Life on campus which bears his name, claiming the facility has been a “haven of safety” on campus amid concerns of antisemitic rhetoric while the campus has been embroiled in pro-Palestinian protests, which prompted police intervention and the cancellation of in-person classes.
Kraft claimed there was a lack of accountability for both student and faculty protesters, whom he criticized for wearing face coverings to avoid consequences for their actions, and said college campuses need to do more to help students feel safe on campus.
In an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Kraft said it “pains” him to see hate speech, particularly targeting Jewish people, on college campuses and he criticized tenured faculty members, alleging “instead of teaching how to think, they’re trying to tell our young people what they should think.”
Crucial Quote
“I just can’t believe in New York City at Columbia University, Jewish students are afraid to go to classes,” Kraft told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Monday.
Key Background
Campus protests since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel and Israel’s subsequent invasion of Gaza have prompted concern about antisemitism and Islamophobia on college campuses throughout the country, particularly prestigious Ivy League institutions like Columbia. Congressional inquiries into college campuses’ handling of those protests led to the resignations of several prominent academic leaders across the country, including Harvard University’s President Claudine Gay, who was criticized for her response to a question about antisemitism on campus at a congressional hearing last year. Columbia students made headlines last week as they set up an encampment protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza, leading to a confrontation with the New York Police Department. Similar protests have since been reported at other universities across the country, including Yale and New York University.
Forbes Valuation
Kraft is worth an estimated $11.1 billion, according to our valuation, making him the 180th-richest person in the world. He is a major donor to Columbia University, most notably donating $3 million to start construction of the Kraft Center in 2000.
Tangent
Hedge fund billionaire and fellow Columbia alum Leon Cooperman, who last October threatened to pull funding from the school, told CNN on Monday he was still willing to support Columbia, but only if the funds go to Columbia Business school, where he graduated. He said the students protesting on campus were “f—ing crazy” and “don’t understand what they’re doing or what they’re talking about,” but offered support for the school’s administration, claiming they were “now responding properly.”
Further Reading
