by Andy Gustafson
David and Charles Koch are controversial figures. They have been criticized by many for influencing politics and policies with their billions of dollars. Being two of the wealthiest citizens in the United States, they wield a lot of financial power, and one way that they have chosen to use their wealth is to support various libertarian-leaning educational institutes at colleges and universities. Click here to see the list of universities and colleges who have received money from the Charles Koch foundation.
This has become especially controversial as they have begun to support research and education initiatives at Catholic Colleges and Universities. Many Catholic theologians and other thinkers feel that the Koch Brothers business practices and political views are at odds with Catholic Social teaching. Some others disagree with that assessment, and feel that if sufficient oversight is given to the use of these funds by the standard university procedures to keep the donations from simply producing propaganda without academic merit, and if the funds can instead actually be used to enhance the education of students and academic advancement of the university, then its all for the greater good.
Here is a random list of some of the recent articles surrounding this controversy. (Click on the link to go to the article):
“Koched Up” Commonweal Magazine, Grant Gallicho (Jan, 2015)
“The Catholic Universityof America accepts more money from Charles Koch Foundation” Jan. 23, 2015)
“United Negro College Fund Accepts $25 Million from Koch” Inside Higher Ed (June, 2014)
“Koch Brothers Money Hasn’t Bought as Much as You Think” by Matthew Cooper, April 24, 2014)
“Dirty Money: From Rockefeller to Koch” in The Atlantic (Mar, 2014)
“Scholars Protest David Koch’s Donation to Catholic University” Mother Jones (Dec, 2013)
Business, Faith, and the Common Good Institute 