student activism

College endowment funds are at the center of student protester’s calls for their schools to divest from Israel. Charlie Eaton, a sociology professor at the University of California, Merced, and author of “Bankers in the Ivory Tower,” said the size of these funds have created a moral dilemma for the wealthiest universities. On the show today, Eaton explains how college endowments work, why most universities don’t disclose how those funds are invested, and how colleges could manage their endowments to better align with their values.

Then, we’ll check-in on the youths. And, Mallory Lewis and Lamb Chop, the puppet, answer the Make Me Smart question. Plus, a tribute to Jasper.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• • “University endowments show few signs of direct Israel, defense holdings” from The Washington Post

• • “If the divestment movement succeeds, will it have an economic impact?” from Marketplace

• • “Gaza protests: Divestment from Israel becomes focus of student demands” from The Washington Post

• • “Students protest Gaza war: The history of divestment protests” from Marketplace

• • “Top companies are on students’ divest list. But does it really work?” from NPR

• • “Gen Z Sinks Deeper Into Debt” from The Wall Street Journal

• • “Abortion bans drive away up to half of young talent, new CNBC/Generation Lab youth survey finds” from CNBC

• • “Businesses are speaking out against anti-LGBTQ laws” from Marketplace

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Columbia University has become the epicenter of a growing showdown between student protesters, college administrators and Congress over the war in Gaza and the limits of free speech.

Nicholas Fandos, who covers New York politics and government for The Times, walks us through the intense week at the university. And Isabella Ramírez, the editor in chief of Columbia’s undergraduate newspaper, explains what it has all looked like to a student on campus.

Guest: 

• Nicholas Fandos, who covers New York politics and government for The New York Times
• Isabella Ramírez, editor in chief of the Columbia Daily Spectator

Background reading: 

• Inside the week that shook Columbia University.
• The protests at the university continued after more than 100 arrests.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.