[BostonCard]

The folks contributing to Lifetime Cardinal have done so specifically intending their funds to go towards supporting National top caliber athletes and teams to represent Stanford. Those that contribute towards academic related endowments are doing their intent as well. Why can’t both co-exist and flourish?

Because Stanford's mission is "Stanford was founded almost 150 years ago on a bedrock of societal purpose. Our mission is to contribute to the world by educating students for lives of leadership and contribution with integrity; advancing fundamental knowledge and cultivating creativity; leading in pioneering research for effective clinical therapies; and accelerating solutions and amplifying their impact."

https://www.stanford.edu/about/

Now, that is not incompatible with athletics, and if you scroll down to the "community" section, athletics (and the 36 varsity sports Stanford sponsors) is mentioned, but $1 mm or whatever is a lot of money to be spent on a single person whose contribution is, at best, tangential to Stanford's mission. $1 mm could pay full freight tuition ($58K) for 17 students.  I get that those who are contributing to "lifetime Cardinal" are doing so to further athletic glory, but if that's your jam, I suggest a donation to the US Olympic committee.

I personally think that in the long run, high dollar NIL deals actually work against the University's mission.

BC

[BostonCard]

The folks contributing to Lifetime Cardinal have done so specifically intending their funds to go towards supporting National top caliber athletes and teams to represent Stanford. Those that contribute towards academic related endowments are doing their intent as well. Why can’t both co-exist and flourish?

Because Stanford's mission is "Stanford was founded almost 150 years ago on a bedrock of societal purpose. Our mission is to contribute to the world by educating students for lives of leadership and contribution with integrity; advancing fundamental knowledge and cultivating creativity; leading in pioneering research for effective clinical therapies; and accelerating solutions and amplifying their impact."

https://www.stanford.edu/about/

Now, that is not incompatible with athletics, and if you scroll down to the "community" section, athletics (and the 36 varsity sports Stanford sponsors) is mentioned, but $1 mm or whatever is a lot of money to be spent on a single person whose contribution is, at best, tangential to Stanford's mission. $1 mm could pay full freight tuition ($58K) for 17 students.  I get that those who are contributing to "lifetime Cardinal" are doing so to further athletic glory, but if that's your jam, I suggest a donation to the US Olympic committee.

I personally think that in the long run, high dollar NIL deals actually work against the University's mission.

BC