The heads of nine or more universities each participated in a unique transaction over the last several weeks — agreeing to zip their lips and close their eyes when receiving part of $45-million mass donation from an anonymous source.
Purdue University, University of North Carolina (Asheville), University of Iowa, University of Southern Mississippi, University of North Carolina (Greensboro), University of Maryland, University of Colorado (Colorado Springs) and Penn State – Harrisburg received between $1.5 and $8 million a piece in exchange for not trying to figure out the source.
One of the schools reported that they could not use the money to make up for budget cuts. Instead, the aid mostly has been specified for scholarships and helping specific departments.
Ohio University’s $15 million deficit is comparable to some of the awarded institutions’ deficit ranges.
-Olga Kharitonova
