It has much less to do with the preponderance of finance people among the alumni (Williams alums have been hit HARD by this meltdown - freaking LEHMAN BROTHERS CLOSED!) and much more to do with the fact that Jewish institutions in particular had invested heavily with Bernie Madoff, and lost their shirts. Williams was much more normally diversified.
Also? Brandeis' endowment in January 2008 = $700 million. Williams' endowment in January 2008 = more than three times that.
It does seem weird, though, to sell off whole freaking MUSEUM to close a $10M hole in the annual operating budget.
The romantic part of me wants to see the other umpteen institutions of art in the greater Boston area band together and "buy" parts of the Brandeis collection but arrange to leave them in situ.
no subject
Also? Brandeis' endowment in January 2008 = $700 million. Williams' endowment in January 2008 = more than three times that.
It does seem weird, though, to sell off whole freaking MUSEUM to close a $10M hole in the annual operating budget.
The romantic part of me wants to see the other umpteen institutions of art in the greater Boston area band together and "buy" parts of the Brandeis collection but arrange to leave them in situ.