So I finally read the unsealed court filings, and Qatar’s influence over Carnegie Mellon is even worse than it sounded: 🔸️The court explicitly says Yael Canaan has shown enough evidence to conclude that Qatar and its affiliates could be a source of antisemitic influence at CMU 🔸️ The court says a reasonable juror could infer that the “largesse” of Qatari funding motivates CMU to abide by the “expectations and wishes” of its generous donors 🔸️ Senior Doha campus hiring is not solely CMU’s decision. Deans and associate deans are appointed only following consultation with the Qatar Foundation during the identification, review, and selection process 🔸️ CMU cannot add, eliminate, or modify CMU-Q course offerings without consultation with the Qatar Foundation 🔸️ The agreement sets a target that admitted classes reflect at least 70 percent Qatari citizens among applicants who meet CMU standards 🔸️ The contract requires CMU and CMU-Q employees, students, faculty, families, contractors, and agents to abide by Qatari law and respect the cultural, religious, and social customs of Qatar 🔸️ It mandates an extensive orientation program in Doha to orient US hired faculty and staff to Qatari culture and norms 🔸️ The discovery ordered by the court includes whether DEI and Title VI officials received direction, guidance, or communications from Qatar or its affiliates about nondiscrimination policies and practices
