UA to Consider Returning $21.5 Million in Dispute with Donor
Attorney Hugh Culverhouse Jr. has given tens of millions of dollars to the University of Alabama. But earlier this week in response to the state’s strict abortion ban, Culverhouse called for a boycott of the school, and he urged businesses to do the same.
Culverhouse says the university depends on tuition dollars, particularly from out of state students. He says seeing that money dry up would send a clear message to state leaders.
“A boycott could wake up a lot of people,” he says, calling Alabama’s law unconstitutional and dangerous. “Why are you hurting women? Why are you criminalizing doctors?”
Officials at UA say they have been in an ongoing dispute with Culverhouse over demands he had made around how the law school is run. A statement from the university says last week Culverhouse asked the school to return $10 million he had given. The statement says donors do not dictate the actions of university administration.
Keith Whittington, a professor of politics at Princeton University, says it is not unheard of for there to be friction between donors and universities. But he says this conflict appears to be different.
“In this case part of what the donor is interested in is trying to influence state government officials. And the university of course doesn’t have any direct control over that,” Whittington says. “It’s unusual for a donor to try to leverage their interest in a university to try to make this larger political point.”
UA officials say the system’s chancellor will recommend the board of trustees return Culverhouse’s gift and remove his name from the law school. The board could vote on that decision next week.
But Culverhouse on Thursday told WBHM his beef with the university is over and he does not want the money back. He suggests his opposition to the abortion law is what is driving school leaders to consider returning his check.
The University of Alabama declined further comment.
Photo by Corey.C
Editor Note: The University of Alabama sponsors some programming on WBHM, but our news and business departments operate independently.
Trump is threatening to cut funding from sanctuary cities. Here’s what to know
President Trump says he's cutting federal money to sanctuary cities. But courts have blocked similar moves, ruling that the federal government can't use funding to coerce state and local governments.
They quit their day jobs to bet on current events. A look inside the prediction market mania
Prediction market apps are thriving in Trump's second term, with traders betting on migrant deportations to election outcomes. A community of young, mostly male and very online traders are driving the industry's bonanza.
Major plumbing headache haunts $13 billion U.S. carrier off the coast of Venezuela
The crew of USS Ford is struggling to handle sewage problems on board the Navy's newest carrier.
Events in Minneapolis show how immigration enforcement has changed. What’s the impact?
Minneapolis is at the center of sweeping, evolving federal immigration push. It demonstrates how different immigration enforcement is under Trump's second administration - and raises questions about the lingering effects on local communities and law enforcement.
Yes, introverts and extroverts can be good friends. Here’s how
Can't seem to match the energy of a good friend? You might be on opposite ends of the personality spectrum — and that's OK. Here's how to foster deep connections despite your differences.
Judge rules immigration officers in Minneapolis can’t detain peaceful protesters
Officers in the Minneapolis-area participating in a U.S. immigration enforcement operation can't detain or tear gas peaceful protesters who aren't obstructing authorities, a judge ruled Friday.
