NYU students want to rename department after billionaire art collector
New York University students want school officials to rename a building dedicated to a billionaire art collector who was ordered to return antiquities looted this week, according to a report.
In a settlement with the Manhattan District Attorney, philanthropist Michael Steinhardt agreed to hand over 180 items worth approximately $70 million.
The agreement allowed Steinhardt to avoid any criminal repercussions for possession of the illicit items.
But students at NYU’s Steinhardt School for Culture, Education and Human Development — named after the philanthropist — want to clean up the association, according to the student newspaper.
Anthony Cruz, the department’s undergraduate government chair, told Washington Square News he would push for Steinhardt’s name to be removed.
“We really underscore again how his actions and his behavior really go against the very core of the mission and the values that we should have as a school and as an institution,” Cruz said.
The department is named after Steinhardt after he donated $10 million to the school in 2001.
Students previously tried to clear his name in 2019 after Steinhardt was charged with sexual misconduct allegations.
But the school declined to take action after an investigation.
“I think a lot of other NYU students are going to feel the same way about the school’s name change as well,” student Olivia Hughart told the outlet. “We want our school to be represented by people we all consider to be leaders.”
Cruz said he would release an official statement on the matter signed by Steinhardt’s undergraduate and graduate student governments in the coming days.
