It’s no secret that the Kochs have sought to use “philanthropic donations” to influence curriculae and advance their self-enriching agenda at institutions of higher learning. More than anywhere else, the Kochs have sought to impose their will on George Mason University, where the two brothers’ money was behind the university’s decision to rename its law school the Antonin Scalia Law School.

Over the years, the Kochs have bought $134 million worth of influence at George Mason. And the Charles Koch Foundation just recently donated $10 million as part of the $30 million gift that influenced the school to rename the law school.

George Mason University faculty members are less than pleased about the influence that the Kochs wield at the institution. Just yesterday, BuzzFeed News reports, the faculty senate voted to re-open the naming process, as its members — as well as dozens of students — are reportedly unhappy with the law school being named after Scalia.
It’s no surprise that the Kochs are trying to impose their values and agenda on yet another university, but they aren’t this used to seeing their millions face this kind of opposition from faculty and students. It’s transparent Koch influence-buying — something they’ve done plenty of at George Mason — but this time, they’re getting called out.

Background:

George Mason University

The Kochs Have Invested Millions In George Mason As Part OF An Integrated Political Strategy

George Mason University “Receives More Funding From The Kochs Than Any Other School.” According to the Atlantic, “Nowhere is expanded Koch involvement in higher education more evident than at George Mason University, which receives more funding from the Kochs than any other school.” [Atlantic, 10/30/15]

Charles Koch Has Become A George Mason University Fixture. He’s The Recipient Of An Honorary Doctorate In Science From The University And Is A Director Of The University-Based Mercatus Center. According to the Atlantic, “Charles Koch himself is a George Mason University fixture. He’s the recipient of an honorary doctorate in science from the university. He is a director of the university-based Mercatus Center—Mercatus means ‘market’ in Latin—that Charles Koch Foundation Vice President Ryan Stowers described at the 2014 Koch gathering in California as ‘critical’ to advancing policy priorities.” [Atlantic, 10/30/15]

Charles Koch Foundation Vice President And Former Mercatus Center And Institute For Human Studies Vice President Kevin Gentry Described The Kochs College Giving As Part Of A “Fully Integrated” Political Strategy. According to the Atlantic, “Last year, a staffer for Charles and David Koch’s network of philanthropic institutions laid out the billionaire brothers’ strategy to spread their views on economic freedom. Political success, Kevin Gentry told a crowd of elite supporters attending the annual Koch meeting in Dana Point, California, begins with reaching young minds in college lecture halls, thereby preparing bright, libertarian-leaning students to one day occupy the halls of political power. ‘The [Koch] network is fully integrated, so it’s not just work at the universities with the students, but it’s also building state-based capabilities and election capabilities and integrating this talent pipeline,’ he said. ‘So you can see how this is useful to each other over time,” he continued. ‘No one else has this infrastructure. We’re very excited about doing it.’ […] Gentry possesses unique knowledge about the interconnectivity of the Koch’s various interests and operations because he embodies its reach. He’s a Charles Koch Foundation vice president and a key fundraiser for the Kochs’ political action arm. He’s a former vice president of both the Mercatus Center and the Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University. And today, he’s also the Eastern vice chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia.” [Atlantic, 10/30/15]

Charles Koch Foundation President Brian Hooks “Served As The Mercatus Center’s Executive Director And Chief Operating Officer From 2005 Until 2014 And Remains A Mercatus Center Board Member.” According to the Atlantic, “Brian Hooks, now president of the Charles Koch Foundation, is another key Koch network player. Hooks served as the Mercatus Center’s executive director and chief operating officer from 2005 until 2014 and remains a Mercatus Center board member.” [Atlantic, 10/30/15]

Charles Koch Foundation Vice President Ryan Stowers Described The Mercatus Center “As ‘Critical’ To Advancing Policy Priorities.” According to the Atlantic, “He is a director of the university-based Mercatus Center—Mercatus means ‘market’ in Latin—that Charles Koch Foundation Vice President Ryan Stowers described at the 2014 Koch gathering in California as ‘critical’ to advancing policy priorities.” [Atlantic, 10/30/15]

• Scholarly Research Performed By Academics At Koch-Funded Schools, Like George Mason Has Been “Used By Koch-Backed Nonprofit Organizations That, In Turn, Overtly Advocate For Political Candidates And Causes.”According to the Atlantic, “Scholarly research performed by academics at Koch-funded schools and programs is indeed sometimes used by Koch-backed nonprofit organizations that, in turn, overtly advocate for political candidates and causes. For instance, to support assertions made in a recent, 67-page policy paper, Koch-supported American Encore regularly cites and quotes Mercatus Center research and mentions the center nearly a dozen times.” [Atlantic, 10/30/15]

Antonin Scalia Law School

CKF Has Donated $10 Million To Support GMU’s Antonin Scalia Law School

George Mason University Announced “It Has Decided To Rename Its Law School After The Late Justice Antonin Scalia After Obtaining $30 Million In Pledged Funding From Donors, Including The Charles Koch Foundation.” According to Bloomberg Big Law Business, “Arlington, Virginia-based George Mason University announced Thursday it has decided to rename its law school after the late Justice Antonin Scalia after obtaining $30 million in pledged funding from donors, including the Charles Koch Foundation.” [Bloomberg Big Law Business, 4/1/16]

• The Charles Koch Foundation Donated $10 MillionTo Support The Law School.According to the Washington Post, “The George Mason School of Law will be renamed in honor of the late U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, who died earlier this year. The university announced Thursday that it has received $30 million in combined gifts to the George Mason Foundation to support the law school, the largest gift in the university’s history. The donations make possible three new scholarship programs. Twenty million dollars came from an anonymous donor, and $10 million came from the Charles Koch Foundation, which has given millions of dollars to colleges in the United States. The family is well known for its support of conservative political groups, sometimes stirring controversy.” [Washington Post,3/31/16]

GMU Professors Have Protested The Donation

“Professors At George Mason University Protested The Recent Renaming Of The Law School After The Late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia” And The Donations From The Charles Koch Foundation That Came Along With The Renaming. According to Buzzfeed, “On Wednesday afternoon, professors at George Mason University protested the recent renaming of the law school after the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. At a meeting full of angry student activists, the school’s faculty senate voted 21-13 to reopen the naming process. The vote took issue with Scalia’s ‘numerous public offensive comments’ about black people, women, and LBGT individuals, as well as his role in ‘the polarized climate in this country.’ The professors also opposed the $30 million in donations from the Charles Koch Foundation and an anonymous donor that came along with the renaming, money that is supposed to be used for injecting economic analyses into interpretation of pollution laws.” [Buzzfeed, 4/27/16]

• Buzzfeed: “Protesting Professors Warned That The Grant Obligates The University To Continually Support Legal Professors Who Endorse The Koch Industries’ Politics, Under Threat Of Cutting Off Its Aid.”According to Buzzfeed, “At the faculty meeting, the protesting professors warned that the grant obligates the university to continually support legal professors who endorse the Koch Industries’ politics, under threat of cutting off its aid.” [Buzzfeed, 4/27/16]

Former University Of Virginia President Robert O’Neil Remarked That The Donation Raised The Possibility Of The Law School Falling Under Control Of The Koch Foundation

Former University Of Virginia President Robert O’Neil: “Grants Renaming The Scalia Law School Raise Issues Of Whether It Will Be Controlled By The Faculty Of The Koch Foundation — Particularly In Vesting Power To Hire And Determine Curriculum To A Dean, Henry Butler, Who Is Closely Connected To The Foundation.” According to Buzzfeed, “An outside expert on academic freedom, former University of Virginia president Robert O’Neil, told BuzzFeed News by email that the grants renaming theScalia law school raise issues of whether it will be controlled by the faculty of the Koch Foundation — particularly in vesting power to hire and determine curriculum to a dean, Henry Butler, who is closely connected to the Foundation.” [Buzzfeed, 4/27/16]

O’Neil: “‘Close Scrutiny Seems Warranted If Not Vital.’” According to Buzzfeed, “‘Close scrutiny seems warranted if not vital,’ O’Neil said. ‘Given the Koch Foundation’s historic role, bias and resources, and the ominous potential for intrusion on academic freedom, greater clarity with regard to crucial terms and mandates seems imperative.’” [Buzzfeed, 4/27/16]