Kenneth Griffin: Harvard to rename college of arts and sciences after Republican donor following $300m donation – Alokito Mymensingh 24


Harvard College will rename its graduate college after a Republican Social gathering donor following a $300 million donation, it has introduced.

The Kenneth C Griffin Graduate Faculty of Arts and Sciences is called after alumnus and hedge fund supervisor Kenneth Griffin.

Whereas additionally making an attempt to create a philanthropic legacy for the institute, Mr. Griffin has donated greater than $500 million in items over a interval of 4 a long time, however this announcement has sparked controversy.

Along with being the founder and CEO of Citadel, which is valued at $59 billion, he’s also called a Republican mega-donor and for his investments in weapons and ammunition producers. In 2022, Mr. Griffin gave almost $60 million to Republican candidates for federal workplace, based on Politico.

His investments additionally reportedly embrace stakes in Smith & Wesson, Sturm and Ruger, ammunition maker Olin Corp, Vista Out of doors and Ammo Inc, which a mentioned has risen to $200 million in worth Guardian Assessment of SEC Filings.

Mr. Griffin has additionally donated to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who’s teasing a presidential nomination in 2024. The Florida governor has been criticized for his positions on training and homosexual rights. The HB 1557 regulation, also called “Don’t Say Homosexual,” prohibits Florida academics from kindergarten by way of third grade from talking about sexuality and gender identification. He has additionally focused Crucial Race Concept, which isn’t formally taught in Ok-12 colleges, and oversaw a ban stopping Florida’s public excessive colleges from instructing a brand new superior internship course, African American Research. A Citadel spokesman requested to touch upon Mr. Griffin’s assist for Mr. DeSantis and his insurance policies mentioned The guard: “Ken respects and employs folks from all backgrounds.”

Kenneth Griffin is the thirty fifth richest individual within the world based on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index and can grow to be solely the fourth individual at Harvard to call a college after himself in trade for a donation, based on Bloomberg Harvard Crimson pupil newspaper.

“Ken’s extraordinary generosity and unwavering dedication make excellence and alternative potential at Harvard,” Harvard President Larry Bacow mentioned in an announcement. “I’m deeply and personally grateful for the belief he has positioned in us – and in our mission – to do good within the world.”

Mr. Griffin’s present to Harvard goes to the School of Arts and Sciences (FAS), which additionally homes the undergraduate faculty and PhD applications.

That is additionally along with Mr. Griffin’s 2014 donation of $150 million to the college, which was primarily supposed to fund monetary support. This donation fashioned a cohort of 200 Griffin Students and matched funding by way of a Management Problem Fund to permit different alumni or pals of the institute to contribute to the monetary help program.

Peter Johnson