• foggy@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      I don’t think all the people I was telling understand how much money Harvard has.

      It’s … Way way more than it appears on paper.

      They have, over the last 40 years or so, systematically bought commercial real estate in Boston, left it vacant to devalue the housing property in the neighborhood, then bought houses in the neighborhoods, bulldozed, expanded. They own way more of Allston than people realize. Let’s not even talk about their endowment, which can pay for all students tuition on interest alone.

      Here’s a fun one.

      42.3580140, -71.1385711

      Try and figure out what that building is, who owns it, what it’s for. It’s like 5 acres. In the middle of a major capital city.

      Yeah. Good luck. (P.S. it’s Harvard)

      Now note proximity to Harvard Stadium.

      Harvard runs shit. In broad daylight secrecy. Within a democratic stronghold.

      • Zanathos@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        So you’re telling me Harvard may be home base for a modern day revolution when it comes. Noted!

      • Shardikprime@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Let me guess and you guys support these billionaires who pocket student money, correct? Just because it looks like it’s fighting another of your imaginary enemies?

      • veroxii@aussie.zone
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        2 months ago

        Scott Galloway on YouTube often mentions this on his podcasts. That Harvard and a few others have turned from being a university with money to a private equity fund with some students.

    • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      What’s the point of sitting on a $53B endowment if you’re not going to use it? Losing $9B in contracts to fight fascism is worth every penny.

      • j0ester@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Donald Trump proposed taxing large private university endowments as part of his 2024 election campaign.

        This tax aims to fund the creation of the “American Academy,” a new institution designed to provide free, high-quality educational content. The tax would target excessively large endowments, collecting billions of dollars to support this initiative

        This proposal is part of a broader effort to reshape higher education and address political controversies within universities. The tax on endowment investment income could significantly impact universities with large endowments.

      • Shardikprime@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        I do not believe someone ever said once “hey wait a minute did I woke up in Harvard? That wasn’t the plan at all?!”