New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s decision to withdraw his support from Columbia University due to concerns about the treatment of Jewish students and faculty during pro-Palestinian protests reflects a growing tension on college campuses regarding issues related to Israel and Palestine.
His status as a former student and significant donor amplifies the impact of his decision and adds pressure on the university to address these concerns.
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With calls for the university president to resign coming from members of Congress, it’s clear that this issue has escalated to a significant level of national attention and debate.
“I am deeply saddened at the virulent hate that continues to grow on campus and throughout our country,” Kraft said in a statement through his Foundation to Combat Antisemitism. “I am no longer confident that Columbia can protect its students and staff and I am not comfortable supporting the university until corrective action is taken.”
Robert Kraft’s substantial contributions, particularly his initial $3 million donation in 2000, played a crucial role in kickstarting funding for the construction of the Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life at Columbia University.
Kraft is still willing to support the center, he said during a CNN interview later Monday. “That has been a haven of safety,” he told CNN’s Jake Tapper. “But the situation on campus has gone “too far, for months,” he added.
“I think back when I went to Columbia, the Vietnam war was raging and people spoke out and they paid the consequences, but they were willing to do it. They didn’t wear masks and they had accountability. And now we have to have accountability,” Kraft said.
The ongoing conflict at Columbia University, coupled with calls for the National Guard to intervene and criticism directed at President Minouche Shafik, highlights the intensity of the situation on campus.
The arrest of over 100 pro-Palestinian protesters and the reemergence of tensions over Israel’s actions in Gaza have further exacerbated the situation.
Robert Kraft’s decision to withdraw his support from Columbia is part of a broader trend where prominent donors are distancing themselves from their alma maters due to controversies related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
This echoes similar actions taken by other notable figures like former U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman, who pledged to stop donating to the University of Pennsylvania, and billionaire hedge fund founder Leon Cooperman, who announced his decision to cease donations to Columbia University.
