In the wake of Hamas’ terror attack on Israel, leading Ivy League colleges are facing a significant backlash from billionaire donors over allegations of antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment on their campuses. The attack, which claimed the lives of at least 1,400 Israeli civilians and soldiers, as well as 35 Americans, has sparked a response among elite campuses in the U.S. that has drawn concerns about the equating of Hamas’ actions with those of Israel. Some student groups have even placed the sole blame for the deadly attack on Israel.
Harvard University, with the largest endowment of all U.S. universities, has been at the center of campus clashes over the conflict in the Middle East. The prestigious university has faced donor unrest, with the Wexner Foundation, led by billionaire and former Victoria’s Secret CEO Les Wexner, severing ties with Harvard after accusing its leadership of failing to condemn the “barbaric murders” of innocent Israeli citizens by terrorists. Billionaire Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, a significant donor to Harvard, has urged the university to take a clear stance against Hamas’ terrorism.
The controversy has also affected the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), whose endowment ranked seventh in the nation. UPenn was embroiled in a controversy over antisemitism before the Hamas attack, stemming from a controversial Palestine Writes festival held on campus. Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, an alumnus of UPenn, has called for the resignation of the university’s president and leader of the board of trustees, criticizing their handling of the festival and initial response to the terror attack. Rowan has even urged donors to withhold their contributions until the university changes course, a call that prominent donors such as former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and Ronald Lauder, heir of the Estée Lauder empire, have heeded.
The backlash extends beyond financial consequences. Bill Ackman, billionaire founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, has called for the names of student signatories to be revealed publicly so that business leaders can avoid hiring them. Similarly, top law firms have rescinded job offers to Harvard and Columbia students linked to anti-Israel letters. The situation has caused tensions on campuses, as students supporting Israel face criticism and feel intimidated for speaking out.
The actions of these billionaire donors and alumni reflect their strong disapproval of the antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment that has become more visible in elite Ivy League colleges. Columbia alum and billionaire Leon Cooperman, chairman and CEO of Omega Advisors, has announced a suspension of his donations to Columbia University due to students’ support for Hamas, which he finds “disgusting” and “disgraceful.”
In response to the controversy, the presidents of Columbia, Barnard, and Teachers College have announced the creation of a Task Force on Antisemitism and a doxing resource group for students whose identities have been publicized due to their support for pro-Palestinian groups critical of Israel.
The situation highlights the growing concerns about antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment on college campuses, as well as the significant impact that billionaire donors can have in holding institutions accountable for their handling of controversial issues.
