Harvard University has come under fire after a letter signed by 30 student groups at the prestigious university blamed Israel for the continuing conflict between Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas fighters from Gaza. The “events did not occur in a vacuum,” the students said, sparking a debate that has drawn in investors like Bill Ackman. Bill Ackman, the billionaire hedge fund manager, claimed that he would not hire ‘pro-Hamas Harvard University students’. This drew criticism when Ackman defended his hiring attitude, claiming that he is not against free speech but is opposed to students doing so anonymously and by using the university’s reputation.
“I am 100% in support of free speech. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I do however object to students putting out a statement holding Israel ‘entirely responsible’ for terrorists’ heinous and despicable acts, but doing so anonymously under a corporate veil while leveraging the @Harvard brand,” tweeted the founder of Pershing Square Holdings. “One should not be able to hide behind a corporate shield when issuing statements supporting the actions of terrorists,” Ackman said.
Ackman tweeted that he supports free expression but not anonymous solidarity that exploits a brand
Ackman previously commented on Harvard University’s student organizations and their letter, saying that he had been asked by a number of CEOs if the university would release the member list of these student organizations “so that none of us inadvertently hire any of their members.” He went on to say, “If, in fact, their members support the letter they have released, the names of the signatories should be made public so their views are publicly known.” Mehdi Hasan, a senior journalist and novelist, questioned Ackman about his desire to shame and punish students for taking a viewpoint that he hates.
“Hedge fund guy who pretended to care about free speech in the past now wants to name, shame, and punish college students for expressing views he dislikes and finds offensive,” he wrote. But this isn’t ‘cancel culture’. This isn’t pure McCarthyism shrugging emoji.” In reaction to Hasan, Ackman tweeted that he supports free expression but not anonymous solidarity that exploits a brand. Members of other student groups have already come out and declared their resignation, indicating that they did not agree with the public letter, according to Ackman. “There is nothing wrong with criticizing Israel. That is the essence of free speech. But you shouldn’t hide behind a Harvard-branded corporation while doing so anonymously,” he reiterated, for good measure.
