Billionaire Leon Cooperman pulling Columbia funding amid student protests: These kids have ‘sh-- for brains’
Columbia University graduate, billionaire investor and Omega Advisors CEO Leon Cooperman had harsh words for Ivy League students who are sharing anti-Israel sentiment on campus.
"These kids at the colleges have sh-- for brains," Cooperman told "The Claman Countdown" host Liz Claman on Wednesday. "We have one reliable ally in the Middle East. That's Israel. We only have one democracy in the Middle East. That's Israel. And we have one economy tolerant of different people, gays, lesbians, etc. That's Israel. So they have no idea what these young kids are doing."
"Now, the real shame is, I've given to Columbia probably about $50 million over many years," he continued. "And I'm going to suspend my giving. I'll give my giving to other organizations."
Cooperman doubled down on his stance to no longer donate to the Ivy League school, expressing his disgust over staff members who refuse to condemn terrorist acts.
"I told [Columbia] that they should fire this professor that made the comments he made. I mean, war is hell. This war is not good for anybody," Cooperman said. "But to praise what Hamas did is disgraceful. Disgusting."
Columbia’s president, Minouche Shafik, previously released a statement for both sides of the conflict, which noted that, "Unfortunately, some are using this moment to spread antisemitism, Islamophobia, bigotry against Palestinians and Israelis, and various other forms of hate," she wrote. "Especially at a time of pain and anger, we must avoid language that vilifies, threatens, or stereotypes entire groups of people."
"It is antithetical to Columbia’s values and can lead to acts of harassment or violence," Shafik added. "When this type of speech is unlawful or violates University rules, it will not be tolerated."
The billionaire investor advised President Shafik to take a page from business leaders like Marc Rowan and Bill Ackman on the Israel-Hamas war.
"Listen to what Marc Rowan has to say and what he's written. He's on the right track. He's done a very good job for Apollo in running the business. He's been very outspoken about his views, and he's a very generous guy and a good person. And so look at some of these other academic institutions, how they've responded," Cooperman explained. "I think people like Bill Ackman and Marc Rowan and others, Ronald Lauder, are on the right track. You shouldn't support organizations that are detrimental or in opposition to your views."
Unsure whether the anti-Israel feelings expressed by staff and students on campus will decrease value of a Columbia degree, Cooperman did argue that the value of a master’s level education has certainly decreased since he graduated.
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"I've been on the Board of Columbia for many, many years. The kids today are giving up jobs making $140,000 a year to go to school for $100,000 a year and spend $2,000 plus room and board, and they're going into a job... needy," the CEO said.
"Columbia made a big difference in my life, which is why I've been generous with them," Cooperman continued. "But the recent developments regarding the Middle East, they should stay out of it."