Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

  • Shop
  • Subscribe to BMG
  • Contact
  • Log In
  • Front Page
  • All Posts
  • About
  • Rules
  • Events
  • Register on BMG

Koch Influence on Higher Ed: Letter to New Suffolk University President

September 18, 2014 By Kalin Jordan Leave a Comment

President Smith,

As a proud alumna of Suffolk University, I’d first like to say: welcome to our University! New leadership means a fresh start and I’m excited to see what opportunities your presidency will present for the Suffolk community, past and present.

Because I love my alma mater and care about its future, last fall I began a campaign, Koch Free Zone, to bring attention the Kochs’ influence at Suffolk. As you may know, the Koch brothers, wealthy industrialists from Kansas, have give millions of dollars to colleges across the country in an attempt to influence academic research and class curriculum. The Kochs have donated over $750,000 to Suffolk since 2008, which is much more than many of these schools have received.

But this isn’t just kindhearted philanthropy. Most of this money, we believe, has gone to the Beacon Hill Institute (BHI), which has repeatedly been criticized for its inaccurate and biased research methodology. As the Suffolk Journal pointed out in a piece last November, that poorly-conducted research is then used by a variety of actors known for their connections to the Kochs to push irresponsible policies on the state level that benefit the Kochs’ bottom line.

It begs the question: Is Suffolk complicit in this clear conflict of interest?

Our campaign submitted two petitions last year of more than 20,000 signatures each to President McCarthy regarding our concerns about academic integrity and transparency at Suffolk. After months of petitioning, President McCarthy and his administration took the first steps towards transparency last June by publishing a report of the grants the University is receiving.

Unfortunately, though, we have yet to receive assurance from the University that the contracts (or memoranda of understanding) that the Koch Foundations are entering into with Suffolk do not constitute significant violations of academic integrity. I’m hopeful, though, that with you at the helm, we can get to the bottom of this. Suffolk’s connection to Koch and BHI’s questionable research has called into its reputation and standing as a credible institute of higher learning. Quite simply: The Beacon Hill Institute is eroding Suffolk’s good name.

As you recently remarked to the Suffolk Journal: “[Suffolk] deserves to be at a much higher level than it is.” I could not agree more. Suffolk has amazing potential, and our students and alumni deserve a university that prides itself on academic integrity and transparency. The only way we can accomplish this is making our university’s giving and grant making procedure more transparent.

We would like to request a meeting with you, President Smith, and a commitment to work with us to bring greater transparency and accountability to our university by releasing all contracts and memorandums of understanding from the Charles Koch Foundation. On behalf of the Koch Free Zone campaign, I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Kalin Jordan

 

Please share widely!
fb-share-icon
Tweet
0
0

Filed Under: User Tagged With: boston, climate-change, environment, environmental, higher-education, koch, koch-brothers, massachusetts, rps, suffolk-university, university

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recommended Posts

  • Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid Primaries (3)
  • There Is Not A Chance the White House is Happy With This Timing (3)
  • Promises made, promises kept (2)
  • Real “Center” is Economically Nationalist/Culturally Moderate (1)
  • Why do PUKES oppose $35 insulin for diabetics with private insurance? (1)

Recent User Posts

Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid Primaries

August 12, 2022 By jconway 5 Comments

There Is Not A Chance the White House is Happy With This Timing

August 10, 2022 By terrymcginty 8 Comments

Site issue: Unable to reply to comments

August 10, 2022 By SomervilleTom 2 Comments

Why do PUKES oppose $35 insulin for diabetics with private insurance?

August 8, 2022 By fredrichlariccia 3 Comments

Promises made, promises kept

August 8, 2022 By fredrichlariccia Leave a Comment

Schedule F

August 7, 2022 By johntmay 4 Comments

Recent Comments

  • Keith Bernard on Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid PrimariesDon't get mad at Progressive Mass because Tommy Vitolo i…
  • fredrichlariccia on Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid PrimariesThe other half of Wakefield (Precincts 4 - 6) is in the…
  • fredrichlariccia on Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid PrimariesThe 9th Essex district James and I share as fellow Wakef…
  • fredrichlariccia on Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid PrimariesYou hit the nail on the head here. Namely: Holier than T…
  • SomervilleTom on Progressive Mass Shouldn’t Back Stupid PrimariesI appreciate you writing this diary. This primary seems…
  • fredrichlariccia on There Is Not A Chance the White House is Happy With This TimingKLEPTOCRAT GRIFTERINO is not the VICTIM; he's the PERPET…
  • Christopher on There Is Not A Chance the White House is Happy With This TimingRepublicans: How dare Merrick Garland politicize the DOJ…

Archive

@bluemassgroup on Twitter

#mapoli

lynketterer Lyn @lynketterer ·
1h

There is talk.
There is action.

Let’s elect a new governor who specializes in the latter.

#TeamHealey
#GoMaura
#Mapoli https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/14/metro/under-maura-healey-attorney-generals-office-sued-trump-administration-nearly-100-times-most-time-she-prevailed/

Reply on Twitter 1558976955135021057 Retweet on Twitter 1558976955135021057 Like on Twitter 1558976955135021057 Twitter 1558976955135021057
bostml BostonM🇺🇸🇺🇦 @bostml ·
1h

#MApoli needs an independent Attorney General - not one tied to the governor’s hip

Reply on Twitter 1558976654025916416 Retweet on Twitter 1558976654025916416 Like on Twitter 1558976654025916416 1 Twitter 1558976654025916416
enriquepepen Enrique José Pepén @enriquepepen ·
1h

Proud to have @cdempc (Chris Dempsey) join us today for the festivities 🇩🇴 #mapoli

Chris Dempsey @cdempc

A huge thank you to @EnriquePepen for walking me around the Festival Dominicano at Mozart Park in Jamaica Plain this afternoon. #mapoli #bospoli

Reply on Twitter 1558974053175754753 Retweet on Twitter 1558974053175754753 1 Like on Twitter 1558974053175754753 3 Twitter 1558974053175754753
cdempc Chris Dempsey @cdempc ·
1h

A huge thank you to @EnriquePepen for walking me around the Festival Dominicano at Mozart Park in Jamaica Plain this afternoon. #mapoli #bospoli

4

Reply on Twitter 1558973297123008512 Retweet on Twitter 1558973297123008512 Like on Twitter 1558973297123008512 4 Twitter 1558973297123008512
jamesfboyle Jim Boyle @jamesfboyle ·
1h

How does MA #utility commitments /approved plan compare to CO ? #mapoli - by 2030 ? @jeffroy @senatorbarrett @nationalgridus @EversourceMA @MassDOER @BHellerstein

Colorado Energy Office @COEnergyOffice

#Colorado's Public Utilities Commission has approved @XcelEnergyCO's #CleanEnergy plan! By 2030, 80+% of Xcel's electricity generation will come from #Renewables, and Xcel's carbon emissions will reduce 85+% compared to 2005. View the press release here:
https://energyoffice.colorado.gov/sites/energyoffice/files/documents/PRESS%20RELEASE%20PUC%20approves%20Xcel%20plan%20%282%29.pdf

Reply on Twitter 1558972336031801350 Retweet on Twitter 1558972336031801350 Like on Twitter 1558972336031801350 Twitter 1558972336031801350
reppaulmark Rep. Paul W. Mark @reppaulmark ·
2h

Wrapping up another busy week of canvassing, local events, getting lawn signs up, and reaching out to as many voters as possible! Join the team as we march towards September 6th! http://www.votepaulmark.com #mapoli #intheberkshires #westernma #checkmark✔️

4

Reply on Twitter 1558967523529306113 Retweet on Twitter 1558967523529306113 2 Like on Twitter 1558967523529306113 4 Twitter 1558967523529306113
Load More

From our sponsors




Google Calendar







Search

Archives

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter




Copyright © 2022 Owned and operated by BMG Media Empire LLC. Read the terms of use. Some rights reserved.