Most universities would be thrilled to get a $200-million donation. But at New York University, there is plenty of unhappiness about a big gift the institution received last month.

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Author: Strout, Erin

Several faculty members say the donation from the Leon Levy Foundation to create the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World should be returned. The foundation, named for an investor and philanthropist who died in 2003, has been accused by some archaeologists of owning antiquities that have been looted or illicitly traded.

The foundation has said that items in its collection have been bought at public auctions from reputable dealers. But one archaeology professor has already resigned from the existing ancient-studies center at NYU to protest the donation.

The controversy, first reported in Science magazine, extends beyond NYU. The University of Cincinnati and Bryn Mawr College now have policies against accepting gifts from the Leon Levy Foundation because of the accusations surrounding its collection.

A committee of faculty members at NYU was consulted by the university before the donation was accepted. The group of seven professors, from NYU's Institute of Fine Arts, said it had a "strong wish" to accept the proposed donation in order to pay for the new institute.

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By Erin Strout