Rachel Abrams

To play devil's advocate for a moment, universities have made themselves, over the last few decades, incredibly dependent on government funding and public money. And that has made them vulnerable because it has given the federal government essentially this one enormous donor incredible leverage over universities.

And maybe they haven't dictated up until now what you should teach, but, like, everybody knows that universities are beholden to their donors and that donors have influence. That's why people donate buildings. And so I just want to understand...

And maybe they haven't dictated up until now what you should teach, but, like, everybody knows that universities are beholden to their donors and that donors have influence. That's why people donate buildings. And so I just want to understand...

First of all, how reliant Princeton is on federal funding, what it's used for, and whether, in retrospect, was it a mistake to build an ecosystem of higher education and learning that was so reliant on essentially a single donor?

First of all, how reliant Princeton is on federal funding, what it's used for, and whether, in retrospect, was it a mistake to build an ecosystem of higher education and learning that was so reliant on essentially a single donor?

Which is, I just want to note, in total, that's about 17, 18 percent of Princeton's overall operating budget for the year. So it's not insignificant.

Which is, I just want to note, in total, that's about 17, 18 percent of Princeton's overall operating budget for the year. So it's not insignificant.

Well, can we just – I was just thinking about that for a second because why couldn't you just be more dependent on private sector money? I mean, presumably the private sector would be just as interested in all of the research that you just described. So couldn't you build a model where there's private sector funding? What is the pitch for universities to take government funding specifically? Yeah.

Well, can we just – I was just thinking about that for a second because why couldn't you just be more dependent on private sector money? I mean, presumably the private sector would be just as interested in all of the research that you just described. So couldn't you build a model where there's private sector funding? What is the pitch for universities to take government funding specifically? Yeah.

They want to return on their investment sooner.

They want to return on their investment sooner.

given that the federal government contributes so much money to universities and that your point is that it's a unique relationship that the private sector cannot make up for. If you suddenly took away $200 million, there isn't a private company waiting in the wings to fill that shortfall.

given that the federal government contributes so much money to universities and that your point is that it's a unique relationship that the private sector cannot make up for. If you suddenly took away $200 million, there isn't a private company waiting in the wings to fill that shortfall.

And given the fact that the government is now using the leverage that they have to force change on campus, I just want to take some of the government's arguments head on. And specifically, as we mentioned before, the administration says what we're doing is in service of rooting out anti-Semitism on college campuses. particularly in the wake of the pro-Palestinian protests last year.

And given the fact that the government is now using the leverage that they have to force change on campus, I just want to take some of the government's arguments head on. And specifically, as we mentioned before, the administration says what we're doing is in service of rooting out anti-Semitism on college campuses. particularly in the wake of the pro-Palestinian protests last year.

And you had mentioned earlier that you think that there is a problem. You have recognized that anti-Semitism is a real problem on college campuses. You suggested that maybe colleges are not doing enough to root it out and combat it.

And you had mentioned earlier that you think that there is a problem. You have recognized that anti-Semitism is a real problem on college campuses. You suggested that maybe colleges are not doing enough to root it out and combat it.

And I would like to know specifically as a college president, as I think you mentioned in previous interviews that you yourself are Jewish and you feel a personal relationship to this issue. I would like to understand and hear more about the specific things that you have seen in the past 18 months that are concerning to you and that have alarmed you.

And I would like to know specifically as a college president, as I think you mentioned in previous interviews that you yourself are Jewish and you feel a personal relationship to this issue. I would like to understand and hear more about the specific things that you have seen in the past 18 months that are concerning to you and that have alarmed you.

When you ask what alarms me on campus... I'd like to know what specifically you've seen that has bothered you in the last 18 months.