Philanthropy

American Universities rely on philanthropy more than Australian ones. In Australia there's plenty of named scholarships and prizes as well as a few named chairs. At IU there's tons of named professorships and a number of "schools" (more like faculties) that are named after generous donors, e.g. the Kelley School of Business, the Maurer School of Law, and John Cougar Mellencamp donated enough money for a pavilion.

For some reason many of the donations come from "the class of..." At IU there's a few stone gateways and the like with years written on them but here at the University of Pennsylvania (an Ivy League university) the alumni can afford to buy nicer things. In the library there's a very plush reading room with slate-topped desks, reading lamps, a grandfather clock, sofas, armchairs and ottomans; all donated by the class of 1937 on their 50th reunion. And the class of 1920 donated a "commons", which seems to be a building with a food court and open spaces.

But it's funny the little things that get donated. Today when I was taking a leak I looked up and, instead of an ad, a little silver plaque saying:

The relief you are now experiencing is made possible by a gift from Michael Zinman.

I didn't have a camera on me but apparently someone else did: