MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia University has received $5 million from an alumnus and a conservative billionaire’s foundation to establish a Center for Free Enterprise.
The university announced the gifts from the Charles Koch Foundation and graduate Ken Kendrick and his wife, Randy, on Monday. The foundation and the Kendricks each gave $2.5 million.
The new center will study the economic, political and social factors that increase prosperity.
Catholic University of America recently drew criticism from some Catholic educators for accepting $1 million from the Koch foundation. They said the gift suggests the university endorses the “anti-government, Tea Party ideology” of Charles Koch and his brother, David.
WVU business Dean Jose Sartarelli says he has no such concerns because the university in Morgantown doesn’t compromise on academic freedom.
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