Columbia University has recently faced a significant backlash from several high-profile donors over its handling of campus tensions related to pro-Palestinian protests, which some perceive as antisemitic. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, himself a Columbia alum, announced he would halt his financial contributions, citing the university’s failure to ensure the safety of its Jewish students.
Similarly, billionaire investor Leon Cooperman, also a graduate of Columbia’s business school, has voiced his continued suspension of donations, a decision initially made after the events of October 7. Cooperman expressed his concerns directly to Columbia’s President Nemat “Minouche” Shafik, criticizing the hiring practices of the university stating “stop hiring these left-wing professors that fill kids with hate.”
Robert Kraft articulated his concerns further by sharing a message on social media, emphasizing his disillusionment with the university he once praised.
