Bill Ackman Accuses Elite Universities of Allowing Antisemitism to Spread on Campus

Bill Ackman's Criticism of Elite Universities

Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has been on a mission to expose what he believes is the rampant spread of antisemitism on the campuses of elite universities. His criticism intensified in the aftermath of Hamas' attack on Israel, which he believes has led to an increase in antisemitic sentiment.

Ackman reached a boiling point this week when he highlighted a congressional hearing that took place on Wednesday. During the hearing, leaders from Harvard, MIT, and UPenn failed to outright condemn calls for genocide against Jews. This sparked outrage among some of the schools' top donors and allies. A UPenn donor even threatened to withdraw a $100 million donation, while a rabbi on Harvard's antisemitism advisory committee resigned.

Ackman himself has been one of the most vocal critics of these universities, going so far as to call for the resignation of their presidents. He believes that they have failed to address and combat antisemitism effectively.

Harvard's Apology and Ackman's Continued Criticism

Following the congressional hearing, Harvard's president, Claudine Gay, issued an apology. She admitted that she had become caught up in a combative exchange about policies and procedures, losing sight of the fact that calls for violence against the Jewish community have no place at Harvard. She pledged to challenge and address such threats.

However, Ackman has not been appeased by this apology. He alleged that during the search for Harvard's president, the school refused to consider candidates who did not fulfill diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Ackman's source claimed that the committee would not even consider a candidate who didn't meet the DEI office's criteria. It seems that Ackman believes that such criteria may have played a role in the appointment of Gay, who is a Black woman.

Ackman criticized the process, suggesting that it is not beneficial for those who are awarded the office of president due to factors other than merit. He believes that such decisions can undermine the integrity of the role.

Ackman's Response to Elon Musk's Antisemitism Controversy

Interestingly, Ackman took a far more forgiving stance when Tesla CEO Elon Musk found himself embroiled in an antisemitic controversy. Musk had sympathized with an antisemitic post on his social media platform, which called for an end to hatred against Jews.

In response to the post, a user invoked antisemitic stereotypes, claiming that Jewish communities were responsible for pushing hatred against whites. They argued that Jewish people in the West had supported the influx of minorities into their countries, only to realize that these minorities did not reciprocate the liking.

Musk replied to this post, stating that it was the "actual truth." However, Ackman defended Musk, claiming that his fellow billionaire was not perfect, but he was not an antisemite. Ackman even praised Musk for being a free speech absolutist and accused advertisers of treating him and his company unfairly.

Ackman dismissed Musk's comment as "shoot from the hip commentary" and supported his clarification that he did not have antisemitic intent with his tweet. He believes that after examining the facts, it is clear that Musk's intentions were not antisemitic.

Overall, Ackman's criticism of elite universities for their handling of antisemitism on campus has been relentless. While he has called for the resignation of their presidents, he has been more forgiving when it comes to individuals like Elon Musk. It remains to be seen how universities will respond to his ongoing scrutiny and whether they will take stronger actions to combat antisemitism in the future.

Read the original article on Business Insider.

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By: psquire@insider.com (Paul Squire)
Title: Bill Ackman Accuses Elite Universities of Allowing Antisemitism to Spread on Campus
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/bill-ackman-harvard-upenn-antisemitism-elon-musk-x-2023-12
Published Date: Fri, 08 Dec 2023 23:20:37 +0000