The good news for Florida State University in that Koch-contract controversy: FSU dodged a serious, integrity-questioning bullet. The one that gave representatives of Charles G. Koch, the libertarian billionaire, the power to influence hires and evaluations for his $1.5 million donation. In the higher ed biz, that’s beyond undue influence; it’s an academic-freedom sellout. And an outrage.
But it never happened. That’s because FSU didn’t actually implement those stipulations.
So, FSU can now do some touting. It never sold out; it never violated academic freedom; and it will be changing that indefensible, donor-involvement clause. It’s on the case and standing tall for academic integrity.
The one facet it won’t be touting: “We’ve been known to sign agreements we don’t keep.”