Real estate entrepreneur Barry Sternlicht, one of Brown University’s top donors, announced that he is withdrawing financial support from the university due to the administration’s willingness to discuss joining the boycott of Israel. This decision comes at a time when The University of Rhode Island has become the first higher education institution in the United States to consider an academic boycott of Israel. The board of governors will meet in June to make the final decision.
The agreement reached at the University of Rhode Island includes students dismantling their encampment and refraining from violating university codes for the remainder of the academic year. Christina Paxson, president of Brown University, stated that the decision was made as part of the agreement reached with the students.
Barry Sternlicht, whose fortune exceeds three billion dollars, criticized the decision as unconscionable. He believes that when people ignore facts, there should be no discussion. He views the decision as propaganda rather than education, expressing disappointment in the university’s stance on the issue.