Bill Ackman Letter to Harvard Calls for Change

Bill Ackman's letter to Harvard called for a change in the way the university approaches its endowment.

The letter, dated September 2022, highlighted the need for a more disciplined investment approach.

Ackman pointed out that Harvard's endowment had grown by only 2.3% in the previous year, compared to the 10% growth of the S&P 500.

He argued that this was unacceptable and that the university should be doing better.

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Bill Ackman's Letter to Harvard was a lengthy post on X, where he addressed Harvard's President, Claudine Gay, about the rising anti-Israel sentiment among students.

Ackman highlighted instances of bullying, physical intimidation, and even physical assaults against Jewish students, which prompted him to propose a seven-step plan to eradicate antisemitism at Harvard.

He demanded that the university suspend and take disciplinary action against students harboring anti-Israel and antisemitic beliefs.

Ackman's activism on X can be traced back to October 7, when Hamas initiated a series of terrorist attacks on Israel.

Bill Ackman initially suggested revealing the identities of students who expressed support for Hamas and blamed Israel in a letter, given Hamas' status as a designated terrorist organization.

However, he later changed his stance on October 30, expressing concerns that revealing student identities could worsen tensions.

Ackman emphasized his unwavering support for free speech while emphasizing the importance of personal accountability for one's beliefs.

The call to action received substantial support, amassing over 70,000 likes, with some notable figures, including GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley, echoing the sentiment.

Bill Ackman has a long history of criticizing Harvard University, and his latest letter is just the latest chapter in this saga. Ackman has been a vocal critic of the university's response to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Ackman has donated tens of millions of dollars to Harvard, but his generosity hasn't always been met with the respect he feels he deserves. Ackman has been critical of the university's leadership, including president Gay.

Ackman is not alone in his criticism, as a group of billionaires, including Ackman, have been critical of Harvard and other Ivy League universities.

Harvard University has not publicly disclosed a formal response to Bill Ackman's letter.

The university's president, Larry Summers, has been criticized for his handling of the situation, with some arguing that he should have taken a stronger stance against Ackman's allegations.

Ackman's letter was addressed to the Harvard Corporation, which is the university's governing body.

The Harvard Corporation is responsible for overseeing the university's finances and making key decisions about its operations.

Ackman's letter was a private communication, and it's unclear whether the university will make it publicly available.

The university has a history of responding to criticism and controversy in a measured and deliberate way.

Ackman's letter was a call to action, urging the university to take a more proactive approach to addressing its financial challenges.

Bill Ackman continued his public feud with Harvard University, calling for the resignation of Board Chair Penny Pritzker and other members of the board.

Ackman's criticism stems from the university's handling of President Claudine Gay's ousting, which followed plagiarism allegations and criticism for her comments on antisemitism on campus.

He specifically called for the resignation of Board Chair Penny Pritzker and other members of Harvard's board for backing President Gay despite widespread criticism.

Ackman also targeted Harvard's Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, calling for it to be shut down and its staff to be fired.

In a lengthy post on X, Ackman criticized the university's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion movement, claiming it was the "root cause of antisemitism at Harvard".