Big donors to universities have long expected special treatment, like preference for their children’s applications. Universities helped create the expectation that donations come with influence. Like most nonprofits, U.S. universities foster relationships with some donors by offering them seats on the board of the trustees. The job comes with real power: Trustees vote on decisions like tenure and the selection of the university president. The question is how far the influence of individual donors should extend.

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Persons: don’t, ” Edward Rock, “, Yale, ” Organizations: Universities, New York University