Flag-Protecting Frat Brothers Have Plans for $500K in Donations

In what began as a modest effort to support fraternity brothers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who intervened during a pro-Palestinian campus protest to protect an American flag that had been replaced by demonstrators, a tongue-in-cheek GoFundMe campaign has exploded into a major fundraising success.

The fundraiser, which started with the goal of throwing "a world-class party" for the "boat-shoed Broletariat" brothers of Pi Kappa Phi has significantly expanded its scope, garnering more than half-a-million dollars from over 12,000 donors. The response has been so staggering that organizers have decided to end the fundraiser as of Friday.

"We've been overwhelmed by the sheer force of patriotism on display," John Noonan, the organizer, said in a statement sent to Newsweek. "What started as a simple gesture to reward a courageous act has captured the attention of millions, representing a wide spectrum of the American public."

By Friday morning, the GoFundMe had raised more than $516,000 from over 14,800 donors. Three donors — identified on the site as John Clark, Adam Sinn, and William Ackman, the outspoken billionaire investor — gave $10,000 each. A Republican congressman from Georgia, Mike Collins, donated $125. Susan Ralston, a former advisor to George W. Bush, also made a contribution and is listed an organizer.

Despite the overwhelming public response, the fundraiser has stirred some controversy online, particularly concerning its management and transparency. The Pi Kappa Phi chapter at UNC clarified that they were unaware of Noonan's actions and had not authorized the campaign.

"We do not know John Noonan and we have been attempting to contact him," the fraternity wrote in an email to the local radio station WUNC on Thursday.

A national Pi Kappa Phi spokeswoman told Newsweek that they did not set up the fundraiser and are not endorsing it.

'Killer party and some charities'

According to Noonan, who is a former aide to Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton, plans now include not only the promised "rager" but also charitable donations. An independent entity, featuring a board of directors along with representation from the fraternity, is being formed to ensure that the funds are used according to donor intent.

Before the campaign concluded, Noonan laid out the dual plans of the donations: "There is nearly half a million in the bank. That is plenty to throw a killer party and give to some great charities."

The rapid influx of funds and support prompted the organizers to scale up their original plans. Volunteers have been drafted to manage the offers to contribute merchandise, entertainment, and more, Noonan said. A seasoned professional planner has also been retained to handle the complex logistics for the party.

"With graduation just around the corner, final exams in full swing, and continued drama on campus, we think it is best to take our time and plan this right," Noonan wrote on GoFundMe.

The viral incident that kicked off the fundraiser happened when pro-Palestinian demonstrators had replaced the U.S. flag on the campus' main quad with a Palestinian flag. Members of the UNC Chapel Hill chapter of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity intervened to prevent the American flag from touching the ground, coming under both verbal and physical attacks as they held it up, according to video that circulated widely on social media.

Like many other elite universities across the U.S., the bucolic Chapel Hill campus has been embroiled in protests between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups, who hold differing views on Israel's offensive in Gaza. More than 2,000 people across the country have been arrested since the protests began.

The protest movement originated at Columbia University, where students established an encampment demanding the university divest from companies linked to Israel over that country's ongoing war in Gaza, which followed a deadly attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7 in which militants killed 1,200 people and took another 250 hostage.

In retaliation, Israel's subsequent bombardment of Gaza has caused more than 34,000 deaths, according to the latest report by the Associated Press citing the local Hamas-run health ministry.

Update 5/3/24 1:30 p.m. ET: This story has been corrected to note that Tom Cotton is a senator from Arkansas, not Texas. We regret the error.

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