Bill Ackman, the hedge fund billionaire who recently made headlines for his battle with Harvard University, announced on Friday that he is starting an activist organization to combat antisemitism and advocate for reforms in higher education.
In an interview with CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin on “Squawk Box,” Ackman described the organization as a “think-and-do tank” that will actively work towards addressing the issues at hand. He emphasized the need to study these problems and develop effective solutions to implement.
Ackman gained prominence for his outspoken criticism of Harvard, his alma mater, as well as the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. He accused the university presidents of not taking a strong enough stance against antisemitism on their campuses.
The pressure on Harvard intensified when its president, Claudine Gay, resigned after facing sharp criticism for her testimony before Congress. Academic leaders were questioned about their tolerance of antisemitism on campus, and Gay also faced accusations of plagiarism in her published work.
While Ackman’s focus initially centered around antisemitism, it has evolved to encompass broader concerns about governance and higher education as a whole. He believes these issues are of utmost importance and require dedicated resources to be effectively addressed.
As the CEO of Pershing Square Capital, which manages nearly $15 billion in assets, Ackman plans to hire a CEO and form a board of directors for the new organization. He emphasized the need for a serious and dedicated team to tackle these issues aggressively.
With his new organization, Ackman aims to drive meaningful change in higher education and combat antisemitism on campus. By studying the issues, developing solutions, and implementing them, he hopes to make a lasting impact.
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