# Anonymous Donors **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 19, 2009, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607 "2009-04-19T09:41:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607/41 "2009-04-20T17:40:50Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Really the way to do it would be to start making a large monthly donation and continue until the college is used to getting that money. > > But anyway, I recall from the article that there were some strings attached to the donations in question. The strings were: Do not try to find out who the donor is. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607/42 "2009-04-20T17:54:49Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > The strings were: Do not try to find out who the donor is. There was also this: > [@](#): > > Each was delivered since March 1 and came with the same stipulation: Most of the money must be used for student scholarships, and the remainder can be spent on various costs such as research, equipment, strategic goals and operating support. Another article says this: > [@](#): > > But who did it and why? Everyone wants to know, but no one seems to be able to find out. The donor requested that the university swear in writing not to try to uncover his or her identity. The other stipulation was that $5 million of the money go to scholarships for women and minorities. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607/43 "2009-04-20T17:57:28Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Really the way to do it would be to start making a large monthly donation and continue until the college is used to getting that money. > > But anyway, I recall from the article that there were some strings attached to the donations in question. The article says that the attached strings was actually just one string, which was an agreement not to seek the identity of the donor. ETA: Oh, and the other one you pointed out. Whoops! ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607/44 "2009-04-20T18:09:48Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > There was also this: > > > [@](#): > > > > Each was delivered since March 1 and came with the same stipulation: Most of the money must be used for student scholarships, and the remainder can be spent on various costs such as research, equipment, strategic goals and operating support. You’re right. That’s not much of a string, though. I think it’s entirely reasonable for a donor to say his donation must be earmarked for scholarships. When I give to the National Foundation for Transplants, I stipulate the money must go towards anti-rejection meds. > [@](#): > > Another article says this: > > > [@](#): > > > > But who did it and why? Everyone wants to know, but no one seems to be able to find out. The donor requested that the university swear in writing not to try to uncover his or her identity. The other stipulation was that $5 million of the money go to scholarships for women and minorities. > > :rolleyes: I’m curious - why the roll eyes? ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607/45 "2009-04-20T18:14:53Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > You’re right. Thank you. > [@](#): > > That’s not much of a string, though. Maybe not. > [@](#): > > I’m curious - why the roll eyes? Political correctness. Duh. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607/46 "2009-04-20T18:46:08Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > …I’m curious - why the roll eyes? Because **brazil84** is disgusted that scholarships go to “women and minorities.” Although I rather doubt the Islamic radicals he fears would be so eager to educate women. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607/47 "2009-04-20T18:48:37Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Thank you. If I’m wrong, I’ll cop to it. > [@](#): > > Political correctness. Duh. I would assume you feel the same way regarding the Knights of Columbus Scholarships, or The Missouri Baptist College Nelson Smith Family Scholarship, which only grant scholarships to Catholic or Baptist students. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607/48 "2009-04-20T19:29:18Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > I would assume you feel the same way regarding the Knights of Columbus Scholarships, or The Missouri Baptist College Nelson Smith Family Scholarship, which only grant scholarships to Catholic or Baptist students. I don’t know, I would need to think about it. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607/49 "2009-04-20T19:30:19Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Because **brazil84** is disgusted that scholarships go to “women and minorities.” Lol. Nice strawman. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607/50 "2009-04-20T19:49:21Z")
Cool! My father in law teaches a night course at an incubator of leftist inculcation and Islamic indoctrination! Do you think we should tell them he’s Jewish, or is taking off every year for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Passover enough of a tip-off? ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607/51 "2009-04-20T19:51:12Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > What percentage of professors would you say believe this, and what was their reasoning? > > I’m not really looking to debate whether it is better, just trying to establish what “better” means. Like do they mean morally, more interesting mythology, or what? Percentage of PROFESSORS? Well, that clearly depends on what University we’re talking about, but since you’re asking about in my experience I’d say not that many. Of the farther left professors (and while I’d say professors in general probably lean ever so slightly left, I’m talking left of THAT, which is markedly less common) I’d say maybe 30-40% of that far left minority, and that’s a pretty generous number, in some areas I’d wager you may get coin-toss odds, but not much higher than that. And as tomndebb said, it’s more of a general “we suck and anything not us is better” than an actual like for Islam. If pressed they’ll talk about how much more caring and whatnot it is, but they can’t really justify it without some ridiculous cherry picking of stuff from BOTH religions in question. Though I have met some who simply think it’s more interesting, but that’s not what we’re talking about and those people generally don’t hate Christianity so much as find it boring. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607/52 "2009-04-20T20:45:42Z")
I suppose it’s not surprising, given the site, but a number of comments seem a bit confused. > [@First Whackjob](#): > > I smell a rat or rats…not a very smart move to take money from sources who do not won’t to be identified. To much of an obligation when payback time comes. > [@Second Whackjob](#): > > Let’s see here, who has $45 million to donate like this??? > \ > Any of the Saudi Royal Family They seem to be worried that the donation is going to corrupt the schools because they’ll do the bidding of their benefactors. But how is an _anonymous_ donation supposed to do that? Assume that Second Whackjob is correct, and the money really is coming directly from the Saudi Royal family, and further assume that they are evil incarnate. Isn’t it better that they’re now 45 million dollars poorer with no way to get anything out of it? ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607/53 "2009-04-20T20:50:10Z")
One has to wonder if these people simply got the concept of anonymous donations confused with Anonymous giving donations… maybe they should buy a dog. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607/54 "2009-04-21T01:55:31Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > There was also this: > > Another article says this: > > :rolleyes: Yep **84 flavors of slander against the nation of Brazil** , those are clearly some shady strings. Scholarships, school expenses, and women and minorities are all evil! ITT: heaps of intellectual honesty Also why the fuck would an Islamic extremists be giving women scholarships? Are these from the ultra rare Feminist Islamic Extremist faction? ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607/55 "2009-04-21T09:24:03Z")
It’s a vast CommieNaziIslamoFascist Illuminati conspiracy. We’re through the looking glass, people. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607/56 "2009-04-21T12:23:40Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > FWIW, when I went to college and grad school, there did seem to be a lot of extreme left wing sentiment among a lot of the faculty. I’m sure it was a big school. Why didn’t you attend a few classes in the other wing? ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607/57 "2009-04-21T12:37:32Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I’m sure it was a big school. Why didn’t you attend a few classes in the other wing? I’m not sure what you mean by “other wing,” since there was not a lot of right wing sentiment among the faculty, at least what was openly expressed. That said, I did take a lot of classes in math and engineering, which tended to be pleasantly free from this sort of politics. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607/58 "2009-04-21T14:58:44Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > I’m not sure what you mean by “other wing,” since there was not a lot of right wing sentiment among the faculty, at least what was openly expressed. That said, I did take a lot of classes in math and engineering, which tended to be pleasantly free from this sort of politics. I think it was a pun on the word wing, he meant why didn’t you take a few classes in the right wing of the building/campus. (I think) ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607/59 "2009-04-21T16:44:31Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > I think it was a pun on the word wing, he meant why didn’t you take a few classes in the right wing of the building/campus. (I think) Dont’ expect that brazil guy to understand puns. Isn’t English one of the “Liberal” Arts? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607/60 "2009-04-21T17:31:18Z")
Good point. _Certamente era uma escola grande; por que não fez cursos na outra ala?_ Which sort of invalidates the wordplay, unfortunately. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-donors/493607.md?page=4)