George Mason tightens donor rules after uproar over Koch

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Matthew Barakat, Associated Press Updated 6:01 pm CDT, Friday, April 26, 2019

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — Following an uproar over revelations that Virginia's largest university allowed the conservative Charles Koch Foundation to give input in some personnel decisions, the school is tightening its rules governing agreements with donors to ensure they don't infringe on academic freedom.

The changes at George Mason University in Fairfax come after disclosures last year that the Koch Foundation received a say in the hiring and firing of some professors under older donor agreements that provided millions of dollars to the school. University President Angel Cabrera said at the time that the agreements "fall short of the standards of academic independence I expect any gift to meet."

The new rules implement recommendations made in October after a committee reviewed hundreds of agreements and found nearly 30 containing potentially problematic provisions.

. . .

The Virginia Supreme Court is taking up arguments later this year on whether past donor agreements are subject to disclosure under the state's Freedom of Information Act. The school has argued that those contracts are in possession of the George Mason University foundation, which argues it's a private organization exempt from the law's disclosure requirements.


Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/education/article/George-Mason-University-tightens-rules-on-donor-13799173.php

[erronis]

1. My understanding is that George Mason is the newest breeding ground for the maggats

Liberty U (and of course trumpU) was a primary source for RW young bigots.

I doubt that some words from the George Mason administration will affect their focus or the koch/mercer/rw agenda training nice little idjits to not be able to think independently.

[empedocles]

2. George Mason took a huge 'anonymous' donation to name its law school the Antonin

Scalia School of Law. It's known locally that the school has become a rw haven. Crap kavenaugh has a position there. Ranked #45 on the US law school list. [Perhaps should be lower].

So unfortunate that the great founding father George [father of the Bill of Rights] Mason, has had his name hijacked by wealthy right wingers.

[Coventina]

3. What the actual fuck? They had the power to fire faculty?

Chilling!!

[not fooled]

4. The Kochtopus

has inserted its tentacles into many universities and colleges.

The scam is: cut tax collection from the wealthy-->fewer funds for higher education-->cash-strapped schools turn increasingly to private donors-->some of that money comes with strings attached, e.g. hiring in economics departments.

Your child might unwittingly be imbibing RWNJ trickle-down, "free market" nonsense in Econ 101, taught by a Kochbot, courtesy of hidden funding agreements.

[link:http://www.unkochmycampus.org/|]

[appalachiablue]

8. Funding to 300+ colleges & universities, business depts., law schools, GMU huge

- List of Koch Funded Academics, Universities and Colleges:

Contributions from the Charles Koch Foundation to Academic Institutions, 2017

All for "general operating support" unless otherwise noted:
Academy of Art University Foundation: $5,800
Adrian College: $3,250
Alabama Agricultural And Mechanical University: $10,000
American University: $274,000
Anderson University: $5,000
Appalachian State University Foundation, Inc.: $500
Aquinas College: $2000
Arizona Christian University: $10000
Arizona State University Foundation: $312,400
Asbury University: $10,000
Ashbrook Center At Ashland University: $35,000
Asu Foundation For A New American University: $42,000
Austin Peay State University: $1,000
Azusa Pacific University: $25,200
Ball State University: $47,000
Ball State University Foundation: $217,000
Barton College: $3,500
Baylor University: $1,104,550
Becker Friedman Institute At The University Of Chicago: $501,090
Bethlehem College & Seminary: $4,000
Biola University: $35,000
Birmingham Southern College: $8,500
Boise State University Foundation: $7,500
Boston College: $5,000
Bowling Green State University: $86,900
Brescia University: $5,000
Brigham Young University: $162,600
Brown University: $74,500
Bryan College: $23,500
Cairn University: $40,300
California State University - Fresno Foundation: $7,500
Catholic University Of America: $552,500
Cedarville University: $16,200
Chapman University: $132,000
Claremont Mckenna College: $50,000
Clarkson University: $26,000
Cleary University: $22,000
Clemson University: $50,000
Clemson University Foundation: $364,760
Colgate University: $12,000
Colorado Christian University: $7,000
Concordia University - Irvine: $10,000
Corban University: $18,000
Cornell University: $160,000
Creighton University: $198,063
Dakota Wesleyan University: $11,500
Dallas Baptist University: $1,600
Dartmouth College: $58,500

MORE, https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Koch_Universities

[turbinetree]

5. The "History" of this institution and what they have been churning out for years

with there libertarian crap should be taken into account, if you don't sell the libertarian crap out you go...............

Nancy Maclean wrote a very good book about this institution and others that have ties to not only the Koch's but to one James McGill Buchanan

Democracy in Chains...............Penguin /Random House, by Nancy Maclean.

If, one were type in the books name in google search, you will see covers on what is and was being said, one can also type in "MERCATUS" to see what there underling mission is, that is also spelled out in the Book, it is tied to the Koch's..................and one must not also forget how the Koch's are tied to the University of Florida and other institutions, churning out the libertarian crap...............

And, I also keep thinking of when Edwin Meese, who sat on the board as Visiting Board Member, and who was a Federalist Society member................., he has in my opinion blood on his hands.........................Iran/Contra.................... but I guess they didn't do back ground checks....................they just wanted a former AG name on the board..................

[nitpicker]

6. I'm almost ashamed

To have taken classes at Gamoo.

((once upon a time they let govt retirees teach there...))

[Maxheader]

7. Right before Obamas 2nd term..

There was some talk that old man koch was going to turn the empires reins over to one of the kids...That would be less of a promoter of bullshit..."advanced conservative studies"...as limbaugh likes to call it..Guess that never happened.

Still going with the winger way is the only way...ie...subservient to the corps of americu...