https://www.economist.com/briefing/2025/04/10/why-cant-stinking-rich-ivies-cope-with-losing-a-few-hundred-million The Economist The Economist Try for free --------------------------------------------------------------------- Enterprise --------------------------------------------------------------------- Log in --------------------------------------------------------------------- Menu The Economist The Economist Skip to content Try for free --------------------------------------------------------------------- Enterprise --------------------------------------------------------------------- Log in --------------------------------------------------------------------- Menu --------------------------------------------------------------------- [ ] --------------------------------------------------------------------- [20250123_drp045] The world in brief Catch up on global daily news [20250123_drp050] 1843 magazine Dive into compelling long reads [20250123_drp046] Podcasts Tune into captivating conversations [20250123_drp044] Video Watch engaging short films [20250123_drp048] Digital events Gain insights from experts [20250123_drp047] Newsletters Curated news, direct to your inbox Current topics * War in the Middle East * War in Ukraine * Climate change * Geopolitics * The world economy * Artificial intelligence * Trump approval tracker Current topics * War in the Middle East * War in Ukraine * Climate change * Geopolitics * The world economy * Artificial intelligence * Trump approval tracker World World * The world this week * China * United States * Europe * Britain * Middle East * Africa * Asia * The Americas * International Business & economics Business & economics * Finance & economics * Business * Big Mac index * Economic & financial indicators Opinion Opinion * Leaders * Letters to the editor * By Invitation In depth In depth * Science & technology * Briefing * Graphic detail * Interactives * The Economist explains * Special reports * Technology Quarterly * Essay * Schools brief Culture & society Culture & society * Culture * The Economist reads * Obituary * Games Weekly edition Weekly edition * This week * Past editions Our A-to-Zs Our A-to-Zs * Economics * American politics * Military terms * International relations * Weekly edition * The world in brief * War in the Middle East * War in Ukraine * United States * The world economy * Business * Artificial intelligence * Archive 1945 * Games My Economist --------------------------------------------------------------------- Unlimited digital access to all reporting, podcasts, newsletters and events Try for free --------------------------------------------------------------------- SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS * Podcasts * Newsletters * Video * Live virtual events * The Economist app * Espresso app * Saved stories SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS * Podcasts * Newsletters * Video * Live virtual events * The Economist app * Espresso app * Saved stories --------------------------------------------------------------------- * Account * Log out * Account * Log out Briefing | Cash poor Why can't stinking rich Ivies cope with losing a few hundred million? Their huge endowments are not easy to cash in An illustration depicting Trump cutting banknotes with oversized scissors in a classroom, while students and teachers look on with concern.Illustration: Kyle Ellingson Apr 10th 2025|NEW YORK Share Columbia, the first victim of Donald Trump's assault on America's grandest universities, has an endowment of roughly $15bn. Mr Trump's administration withheld a mere $400m in federal funding when it handed Columbia its peremptory list of demands. Why, indignant alumni ask, did Columbia not simply tell Mr Trump to get lost and fall back on its plump cushion of billions? Explore more BriefingEducationUnited States This article appeared in the Briefing section of the print edition under the headline "Cash poor" --------------------------------------------------------------------- Briefing April 12th 2025 * -Donald Trump is battling America's elite universities--and winning * -Why can't stinking rich Ivies cope with losing a few hundred million? [20250412_DE_US] From the April 12th 2025 edition Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents =Explore the edition Share Reuse this content --------------------------------------------------------------------- More from Briefing Young people in Kenya take part in extracurricular activities in school Emigration from Africa will change the world As other countries age, they will need African youth An illustration depicting Trump poised to smash a university with a hammer, as students and teachers look on in fear. Donald Trump is battling America's elite universities--and winning The Ivy League sees little point in fighting the federal government in court --------------------------------------------------------------------- Shoppers at a street market in Shanghai, China As Donald Trump's trade war heats up, China is surprisingly confident Should it be? --------------------------------------------------------------------- An unrestrained Israel is reshaping the Middle East Its quest for hegemony will strain domestic cohesion and foreign alliances Dreams of improving the human race are no longer science fiction But the "enhancement" industry is still hobbled by out-of-date regulation If it comes to a stand-off, Europe has leverage over America But pulling some of those levers would be so damaging as to make them unusable --------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * Get The Economist app on iOS or Android --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Economist The Economist * About * Reuse our content * Subscribe * Economist Enterprise * SecureDrop The Economist Group The Economist Group * The Economist Group * Economist Intelligence * Economist Impact * Economist Impact Events * Economist Education Courses Contact Contact * Help and support * Advertise * Press centre Careers Careers * Working here * Executive Jobs --------------------------------------------------------------------- To enhance your experience and ensure our website runs smoothly, we use cookies and similar technologies. 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