Donor May Get Say In Who SLU Research Center Hires, Profs Say

ST. LOUIS, MO — A multi-million dollar gift from libertarian donor Rex Sinquefield to Saint Louis University — the largest donation in the school's 200-year history — may come with strings attached, the Post-Dispatch reports.

When Sinquefield, founder of the Show-Me Institute, and his wife Jeanne Sinquefield pledged $50 million to the school in August for the creation of a Center for Applied Economic Research, among other uses, SLU President Fred P. Pestello said the university was "deeply grateful" for the gift.

"Through their immense generosity, the Sinquefields will provide the gift of knowledge to the world, bring further attention to the region as a research hub, and draw more outstanding scholars and students to St. Louis," he continued.

The Sinquefield Center for Applied Economic Research, which will be housed within the recently-renamed Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business, will conduct research grounded in applied economics and establish a guest lecture series. But, some are worried that Sinquefield will have too much say in who gets a job at the new center, according to a letter signed by more than 65 current and former faculty members.

"Saint Louis University honors all of its donors, acknowledges their with gratitude their generosity, and assures them their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they are intended," the letter reads. However, "At Saint Louis University, donors may not participate in hiring, evaluation or promotion of employees."

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Economics professors Bonnie Wilson and David Rapach, who wrote the letter, say Sinquefield and business school dean Mark Higgins will jointly select the center's director. The director, in turn, will select the center's staff. Faculty will get no say in selecting either, according to the professors.

“It’s a clear violation of academic norms of integrity and independence,” Rapach told the Post-Dispatch.

The Sinquefields are known in Missouri for both their philanthropy — with million-dollar contributions to charitable and educational organizations across the state — and their libertarian politics. Rex Sinquefield co-founded the Show-Me Institute, a public policy think tank and advocacy group "dedicated to promoting free markets and individual liberty."

Sinquefield also lobbied for Missouri's recently-defeated "right-to-work" law. He has pushed lawmakers to eliminate the state's income tax in exchange for broader sales taxes and is one funder of the effort to privatize the city's Lambert International Airport.

Patch has reached out to Saint Louis University for comment. This story will be updated when we hear back.

Photo: Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield; Steve Dolan/Saint Louis University (used with permission)