OT - Mason Gets $5 million Gift to School of Economics

[GreenLantern]

All I care about is that the funds are transparent. There should no strings attached.

 

[GMUgemini]

Would these "protestors" be concerned about a donation from George Soros or a big rich liberal? Or are they only concerned about donations from libertarians?

I am confused here. Mason has received donations from a variety of sources -- but they care about this one.

I’m not sure why it’s so hard for you to understand that people are concerned about a large donation to an academic department being made by a group who is known to use money as a way of influencing research.

We have the same issue here at ASU where the Koch’s donated a massive amount of money to start a public policy school and people are wondering if they are setting the agenda considering the classes that are being taught in the school and the panel discussions being made.

And yeah if George Soros donated $50 million to the economics department and they started hiring a bunch of Keynsians to teach there, wouldn’t you find that a bit suspicious?


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[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

And yeah if George Soros donated $50 million to the economics department and they started hiring a bunch of Keynsians to teach there, wouldn’t you find that a bit suspicious?


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Wait...we've hired somebody based with a certain POV based on this donation?

Had no idea. Please inform us who that would be. That certainly concerns me.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

I’m not sure why it’s so hard for you to understand that people are concerned about a large donation to an academic department being made by a group who is known to use money as a way of influencing research.

We have the same issue here at ASU where the Koch’s donated a massive amount of money to start a public policy school and people are wondering if they are setting the agenda considering the classes that are being taught in the school and the panel discussions being made.

And yeah if George Soros donated $50 million to the economics department and they started hiring a bunch of Keynsians to teach there, wouldn’t you find that a bit suspicious?


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First of all there is NO EVIDENCE - ZERO that this donation is resulting in setting an agenda. Where is the evidence that their donations have resulted in influencing research. Please cite and provide such before you make that claim.

It could be that Mason's economics department and school of public policy have historically right leaning and ergo attracted the donation from the Koch brothers.

just because they aren't part of the left wing progressive mob doesn't make their donation illegitimate. And considering most universities run oppressively liberal and partisan programs - having a few islands of reason and sanity (right of center or even libertarian) should be supported in the interests of diversity.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

First of all there is NO EVIDENCE - ZERO that this donation is resulting in setting an agenda.

I'm pretty sure I just heard you have to understand there's a reason for them to be concerned because we would be if they started hiring professors based off a Soros donation.

So logically they must be aware of some reason why Angel Cabrera's firewall is being violated. Either we're hiring Koch disciples or the curriculum is being altered in some way.

I'm sure they can back up their words with actual facts. I mean, gemini is allegedly a professor for Christ sakes.

 

[GreenLantern]

The issue boils down to whether this donation comes with a ideological string attached. Had this been Soros, I would expect the same transparency I expect from a Koch donation.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

The issue boils down to whether this donation comes with a ideological string attached. Had this been Soros, I would expect the same transparency I expect from a Koch donation.

I whole heartedly agree - but all these people who are now butt hurt about getting $5 million donation ASSUME there are - and other makes claims that it does - but there is no evidence that it does.

Now ---- does this mean we cannot hire conservative or free market professors? I. mean geeks - the lefties only want one point of view on campus and don't even pretend to want debate - just ideology.

 

[GreenLantern]

I whole heartedly agree - but all these people who are now butt hurt about getting $5 million donation ASSUME there are - and other makes claims that it does - but there is no evidence that it does.

Now ---- does this mean we cannot hire conservative or free market professors? I. mean geeks - the lefties only want one point of view on campus and don't even pretend to want debate - just ideology.

I agree with you here. If it's an attempt to shut out anyone who doesn't spout the gospel according to Bernie Sanders, then this lawsuit has no merit.

 

[psyclone]

So...apparently Koch donations through 2011 did come with strings attached:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/loca...b1697adcc2a_story.html?utm_term=.9ce6701c866f

 

[GreenLantern]

So...apparently Koch donations through 2011 did come with strings attached:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/loca...b1697adcc2a_story.html?utm_term=.9ce6701c866f

Then the lawsuit has merit.

 

[Walter]

Anything stopping these leftists from funding a socialist economics professor?

It is actually quite common for economics departments to be known for a particular viewpoint. It helps sell the department to foundations who share that view.

 

[GreenLantern]

Anything stopping these leftists from funding a socialist economics professor?

It is actually quite common for economics departments to be known for a particular viewpoint. It helps sell the department to foundations who share that view.

I would expect the same transparency if someone like George Soros tried 2 donate the same kind of money the Kochs are. I don't like the idea of corporations are billionaires having that kind of influence on who teaches at any University

 

[Walter]

I would expect the same transparency if someone like George Soros tried 2 donate the same kind of money the Kochs are. I don't like the idea of corporations are billionaires having that kind of influence on who teaches at any University

Big Ed is big business. We don't live in some mythical world where rich guys give money and don't expect something in return.

Edit: we also don't live in a mythical world where professors just care about truth. Many go into academics to promote their worldview.

 

[GMUgemini]

Big Ed is big business. We don't live in some mythical world where rich guys give money and don't expect something in return.

Edit: we also don't live in a mythical world where professors just care about truth. Many go into academics to promote their worldview.

Small donations work...that's all I have to say about chasing after million dollar donors who have no previous affiliation to your university.

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

Are there even lefty economists to hire anymore? After their patron saint Paul Krugman predicted a recession last year and thoroughly embarrassed himself I kind of just assumed most had all just found new occupations.

 

[phoenix-arizona]

Since they have that Koch money I guess mason doesn’t need any of my money either, or that of friends and family.

 

[KAOriginal]

"Academic Freedom" is choosing 1 of the 4,627 Title 4 degree granting institutions in the United States that meshes with your views.

If you you dislike who donates, or what political view a school or department takes, there are 4, 626 other options you can choose from.

That's freedom...freedom to choose where you spend your hard earned federal loans.

 

[p8triotfan4life]

I found it a little ironic that Mr. uber liberal himself Cabrera blamed his predecessor liberal Merten on the deals that yielded this hiring/firing scheme. They both knew about it and both took money from the conservative Koch brothers.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Since they have that Koch money I guess mason doesn’t need any of my money either, or that of friends and family.

You would really not donate to Mason because someone else gave money ( a lot of it) to the school - which benefits students?

Really?

Do you cut your own fingers off if they offend you?

 

[GreenLantern]

I don't have a problem with Koch donating money. It's just the strings attached that irk me. This goes with any donation.