Oxford rejects bid for biz school

The school syas it does not want to detract from its liberal arts program. Fearing a compromise of its reputation as a liberal arts institution, Oxford University has temporarily abandoned plans to establish a business school. The business school proposal initially concerned students and faculty at the English university when Saudi entrepreneur Wafic Said, whose son attended Oxford, announced his intention to fund nearly half of the project this summer. According to Cherwell, Oxford's independent student newspaper, Said is widely accused of earning money from illicit arms deals. And many students expressed concern that a business school might divert funding from traditional university studies, thus compromising Oxford's focus on liberal arts. Another controversy surrounding the proposal focused on Said's desire to locate the business school on the Mansfield Road sportsground -- despite a 30-year-old resolution to keep the site undeveloped. Some at Oxford thought the university would lose integrity by accepting Said's conditions for endowing the business school. Penn Legal Studies Professor Thomas Dunfee said Oxford's decision exhibits "xenophobic arrogance" reflecting an elitist view that practical studies should not mix with liberal arts. "To isolate academic areas where there is a clear trend toward integration of intellectual disciplines is limiting," Dunfee said. Wharton and Engineering Professor William Hamilton, who studied at the London School of Economics, said he didn't attend Oxford -- specifically because it lacked a business curriculum. He added that a world-class university should include a business curriculum because of the increasing importance business has in a global society. Following a two and a half hour debate on November 7, the University Congregation -- Oxford's version of a faculty senate -- voted against a proposal to construct the business school on the proposed site. Oxford students held a peaceful demonstration, questioning Said's integrity and the proposed location for the building. Oxford officials have not formally decided against developing a business school and are currently seeking an alternative site. Said, whose donation stipulates locating the business school on Oxford's central campus, said his offer will remain in place until February. Dunfee noted that donors can easily dictate how funds should be distributed. He added that it is a university's responsibility to decide whether to accept a donation if the benefactor's requests are inconsistent with the core values of the academic institution.