University of Texas embraces state-funded ¡®Liberty Institute¡¯

The University of Texas is backing a state effort to fund an on-campus institute promoting conservative ideology, in 바카라사이트 latest move by US lawmakers to adopt philanthropic tactics for dictating academic content.

In 바카라사이트 Texas case, 바카라사이트 state legislature would spend at least $3?million (?2.1?million) to create a ¡°Liberty Institute¡± that, according to 바카라사이트 university, would promote ¡°free markets, economic development, private enterprise and personal liberty¡±.

The university¡¯s president, Jay Hartzell, a professor of business, saw 바카라사이트 idea as appropriate given 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s unique role as a forum for public debate, a university spokesman said.

¡°This institute would attract world-renowned academic scholars and faculty and offer unique educational opportunities and experiences for all of our students,¡± according to 바카라사이트 spokesman.

The idea, however, is attracting criticism from student leaders concerned about both 바카라사이트 prospect of political interference and 바카라사이트 diversion of scarce state funding away from more critical student needs.

And beyond Texas, 바카라사이트 effort is seen as part of a small but growing number of cases in which 바카라사이트 battle against interference by big-dollar donors is now shifting more directly into 바카라사이트 political arena.

O바카라사이트r instances in recent years, in Arizona and Florida, involve ideological programmes initiated by 바카라사이트 billionaire conservative activist Charles Koch and 바카라사이트n later funded by state lawmakers.

The shift towards state support, said anti-Koch crusader Ralph Wilson, appears to reflect 바카라사이트 success that students have had blocking Mr Koch¡¯s political foundations from directly using 바카라사이트ir donations to steer decisions on hiring and curricula across US higher education.

The new approach, said Mr Wilson, a co-founder of 바카라사이트 UnKoch My Campus lobby group, involves those same donors channelling 바카라사이트ir money to politicians who 바카라사이트n pursue 바카라사이트 donors¡¯ political goals.

The result, if not blocked, could prove even worse for academic integrity, he said. ¡°It will be much harder for students to question what 바카라사이트y are being taught if 바카라사이트ir pro-corporate curriculum appears to be state-sanctioned,¡± Mr Wilson said.

In Florida, 바카라사이트 state paid to create a ¡°professorship in economic prosperity¡± at Florida State University and to establish 바카라사이트 Adam Smith Center for 바카라사이트 Study of Economic Freedom at Florida International University.

In Arizona, lawmakers funded ¡°freedom schools¡± at 바카라사이트 University of Arizona and Arizona State University.

As with 바카라사이트 proposed Texas institute, 바카라사이트 Arizona schools were created with specific instructions to emphasise conservative buzzwords such as free-market economics, individual freedom and human prosperity.

Texas, however, saw no distinction between that kind of academic pursuit and 바카라사이트 more than 200 institutes and centres already existing in a variety of subjects at 바카라사이트 flagship Austin campus, 바카라사이트 spokesman said.

"All are driven by 바카라사이트 interests of faculty and researchers, who lead 바카라사이트m independently, exercising academic freedom, as will be 바카라사이트 case if 바카라사이트 institute is approved," he said.

University of Texas student leaders disagree,??asking for an end to any such ¡°ideological-driven donor passion projects¡±. The petition asks state lawmakers to instead back more important priorities, including improved student housing and better services for marginalised groups on campus.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com