FSU and Koch donation w/strings attached

[Rita]

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“Traditionally, university donors have little official input into choosing the person who fills a chair they've funded.

Under the agreement with the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, however, faculty only retain the illusion of control. The contract specifies that an advisory committee appointed by Koch decides which candidates should be considered. ... “

So Koch gets to choose profs who line up with his views. What’s wrong with this picture? ..:angry:
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http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/05/charles-koch-florida-state-academic-freedom


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[idlewind]

Nothing is wrong with this picture. If the person wants to donate under their stipulations and the institution is willing to accept those stipulations then that is their business.

 

[Rita]

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It says something about FSU imo. Nothing unusual with Koch.


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[GoodWitch58]

I am very disappointed in FSU...and amazed that a faculty member would submit to such a thing...the fact that it's Koch Brothers makes it worse IMO, but I would feel the same way if it were Coca-Cola!

Is everything for sale for a high enough price these days?

 

[beachFool]

Nothing is wrong with this picture. If the person wants to donate under their stipulations and the institution is willing to accept those stipulations then that is their business.

The institution in question operates with PUBLIC dollars and that makes it my business.

Disclaimer my grandmother graduated from FSU in 1923.

 

[GoodWitch58]

I am a graduate of FSU too; and I never felt anything but pride in that until I read this article. It is an abuse of public funds; an abuse of academic freedom; and a poor example to set for young students. I hope the alumni groups are all outraged!
Florida has become the laughing stock of the country due to our governor and legislature and the bills they pushed this Session; but some expect no less from a bunch of politicians. The president and leadership of FSU have no such excuse.

 

[Beach Runner]

It happens all of the time at academic institutions even where I teach. Donations and being on boards = power and influence.

Examples:
Doodle Harris after giving big donations to FSU business school (even though, well,you know?). Wasn't he put on a board there?

Hubby's customer who gave a bunch of money to UF and got a school of engineering named after him.

People who give money to GT so a gate at Bobby Dodd stadium at GT is named after them.

It's everywhere.

Frankly I hope that I can acquire enough wealth to give a big donation to UF for Alzheimer's research. The real estate market isn't helping that dream. No resale home in our town over $100K has sold in 2 years. Just the mahoghany millwork in our home cost that much in 1988.

 

[30ashopper]

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“Traditionally, university donors have little official input into choosing the person who fills a chair they've funded.

Under the agreement with the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, however, faculty only retain the illusion of control. The contract specifies that an advisory committee appointed by Koch decides which candidates should be considered. ... “

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/05/charles-koch-florida-state-academic-freedom

Free and unfettered open markets.. I'm shocked, absolutely shocked! that an economics school would teach the principals of such things.

The advisory panel consists of two Florida State eminent scholars in economics and a third who represents Koch. If the foundation objects to one of the advisory board's selections, Florida State can still hire the individual, but they would not be considered a Koch scholar or would the school receive foundation money to pay for the position.

http://staugustine.com/florida-news/2011-05-10/fsu-defends-grant-hire-agreement-koch

FSU should consider itself lucky, they get three top notch ecnonomics scholars for free. Explain to me how that's not a value to the students who attend there.

If this was George Soros, the authors of Mother Jones wouldn't care.

 

[idlewind]

The institution in question operates with PUBLIC dollars and that makes it my business.

Disclaimer my grandmother graduated from FSU in 1923.

I agree that it is every citizen's business since the public owns the institution. But as with other institutions, we hire people to operate them day to day. They made a business decision to accept outside funding with the only cost being the stipulations of the donors. They have every right to make that decision. If the public does not like it, then the recourse is to fire the management.

 

[GoodWitch58]

It happens all of the time at academic institutions even where I teach. Donations and being on boards = power and influence.

Examples:
Doodle Harris after giving big donations to FSU business school (even though, well,you know?). Wasn't he put on a board there?

Hubby's customer who gave a bunch of money to UF and got a school of engineering named after him.

People who give money to GT so a gate at Bobby Dodd stadium at GT is named after them.

It's everywhere.

Frankly I hope that I can acquire enough wealth to give a big donation to UF for Alzheimer's research. The real estate market isn't helping that dream. No resale home in our town over $100K has sold in 2 years. Just the mahoghany millwork in our home cost that much in 1988.

the difference is the influence on faculty members and their influence on students. The Koch Brothers have a reason for wanting to approve of the faculty...it is called recruitment to their cause. There is a big difference in the items you mention and this, IMO.