Whereas, according to the United States Department of Education (DOE), Cornell University received $2,293,257,152 across 141 transactions from the State of Qatar in 2025,
Whereas, gifts from the State of Qatar accounted for over two-thirds of foreign donations to Cornell in 2025,
Whereas, the State of Qatar donated more than 26 times as much money to Cornell University as the next largest foreign donor (Republic of India, $87,647,844),
Whereas, the State of Qatar is designated as “Not Free” in Freedom House’s “Freedom in the World” Report,
Whereas, the government of the State of Qatar employed forced labor in preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup,
Whereas, according to the 2023 Global Slavery Index, 20,000 people in the State of Qatar lived in modern slavery in 2023,
Whereas, the State of Qatar hosts the political office of Hamas, a designated terrorist organization,
Whereas, the State of Qatar has funneled an estimated $1.8 Billion to Hamas,
Whereas, the State of Qatar criminalizes and severely persecutes LGBTQIA+ individuals, including through forced “conversion therapy”, state-sanctioned beatings and imprisonment on the basis of their identity,
Whereas, in Spring 2025, the State of Qatar donated a Boeing 747 President Trump,
Whereas, Qatar hosts a satellite campus of Weill Cornell Medicine,
Whereas, Section 117 of the Higher Education Act requires universities to disclose foreign gifts in excess of $250,000,
Whereas, in October 2020, Cornell University admitted that it failed to properly report such gifts to the Department of Education,
Whereas, compliance with Section 117 is necessary to ensure public accountability at Cornell University and other institutions of higher education,
Whereas, large donations from foreign governments create a risk of undue influence over university curricula,
Be it therefore resolved, that Cornell University immediately cease accepting new donations and contracts from the government and royal family of the State of Qatar, pending a review of existing financial relationships,
Be it further resolved, that Cornell University conduct an independent review of the funding sources and governance of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar,
Be it finally resolved, that Cornell University reassess and solidify its policies surrounding the acceptance of donations from foreign governments to ensure the integrity of curricula and research.
