<p>dcsmiss wrote:
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<p>SM34 wrote:
SM34 is right. Six years of red ink is a lot of money, and big donors want to know one thing: that their contribution will actually count for something. This is especially true since the whole effort is being touted as a campaign for endowment; no one’s name is going to be chiseled in stone above a building when it’s all over. For that reason, people, especially the sorts of people most likely to make substantial donations (bankers, management consultants, corporate CEOs), are even more concerned that their money won’t be tossed down a sinkhole. Think, Germany as it sets austerity conditions on fellow Eurozone members before allowing them to reorganize their debt. They want to know that the university has cut non-essential frills; they want to know that the administration is lean. In short, they want to know that the financial situation is under control BEFORE they sign the check, not after.</p>
<p>What should <em>really</em>be of concern is another downturn in the economy. If that happens, look for more top schools to follow Wesleyan’s example.</p>