05-11-2011, 06:46 PM
1995 NYTimes Opinion wrote:
No self-respecting educational institution can allow an outsider -- no matter how well-meaning or generous -- to dictate its education priorities. So Yale University had no choice but to return $20 million to Lee Bass after he insisted on having a say in the hiring of faculty. The saga of Mr. Bass's gift promises to become a cautionary primer for both donors and needy universities.
FSU made a mistake. The donor doesn't support education, but an agenda. A supporter of this donation might reply that the current educational environment at FSU also supports an agenda, I don't know, but there's that old saw, "Two wrongs don't make a right." Then there is the whole public university(?) issue.