A University Donor Actually Does Something Vaguely Progressive

After seeing the Exxon Mobil commercial and several similar ads in the New York Times, Bing, who had already donated $22.5 million to the school, called Stanford President John Hennessy and said he would give no more. Bing also is asking other major philanthropists to reconsider their promises to give to the Stanford cause, broaching the subject in phone calls and at functions he attends. He hasn't had any takers yet, but expects that one day he will.

"Exxon Mobil is trying to greenwash itself, and it's using Stanford as its brush," said Yusef Robb, who works with Bing on climate issues. "We think that people who give to Stanford do so because they want to help the future leaders of this nation, not because they want to advance the agenda of Exxon Mobil."

Bing, a former Stanford student who would comment only through Robb, is seeking an end to the 4-year-old ad campaign, which recently featured an ad on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. In addition, Robb said, "Stanford must reassure the public that its research, faculty and good name are not for sale."

Stanford officials have declined to comment on Bing's decision, saying that the details of private donations are kept confidential.