NOW: University of Alabama grounds crews are taking down the signage in front of UA’s School of Law. The Board of Trustees voted this morning to return Hugh Culverhouse’s $21.5 million donation and restore the name of the law school to The University of Alabama School of Law. pic.twitter.com/KmGFbaUoYg
— Chelsea Barton (@ChelseaBarton_) June 7, 2019
Following up on my previous posts (links below): AL.com, UA Trustees Return $21.5 Million Donation, Rename Law School:
University of Alabama trustees voted Friday to return a record $21.5 million donation from controversial donor Hugh Culverhouse Jr. and rename the law school. Culverhouse had originally pledged a total of $26.5 million.
Culverhouse last week called for a boycott of Alabama — school and state — over the state’s latest near-total abortion ban law.
The UA System quickly responded saying the university and Culverhouse have been in an ongoing dispute over the millions he has donated to the law school unrelated to the abortion legislation, vice chancellor for communications Kellee Reinhart said last week. In an emailed statement, Reinhart said Culverhouse asked the school to return $10 million, “repeating numerous demands about the operations of the University of Alabama School of Law.”
Culverhouse issued this statement after the trustees vote Friday:
“I expected this response from UA. I will not allow my family’s name to be associated with an educational system that advocates a state law which discriminates against women, disregards established Federal law and violates our Constitution. I want to make clear that I never demanded that $21.5 million be refunded and wonder if the University is attempting to silence my opinions by their quick response. I will not be silenced. Once again, I call on students to protest and reconsider their educational options in Alabama. I also appeal to out-of-state and international businesses to consider the consequences of conducting business in a state that discriminates against women and defies constitutional law. These boycotts and acts of resistance should remain in effect until the State of Alabama reverses the illegal anti-abortion statute.”
Washington Post op-ed by Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr.: I Gave the University of Alabama $26.5 million. They Gave It Back When I Spoke Out About Abortion.
Additional media coverage:
Prior TaxProf Blog coverage:
- University Of Alabama Law School Receives $26.5 Million Naming Gift; Donor Hopes For Top 10-15 Ranking(Sept. 28, 2018)
- $26.5 Million Donor Completes Naming Gift Ahead Of Schedule Due To Alabama Law School’s Rise In The U.S. News Rankings (Mar. 30, 2018)
- Alabama May Return $21.5 Million, Strip Donor’s Name From Law School After His Call For Boycott Due To State’s New Abortion Law (May 30, 2019)
- Alabama Donor Doesn’t Want His $21 Million Back; He Wants Law School To Increase Enrollment And ‘Tell U.S. News, F*** You.’ (May 31, 2019)
