From the Princeton University newspaper’s blog:
Friday morning of Fall Break, emissaries from Princeton University tapped into the spirit of the season early when they dispensed hot oatmeal to students in and around Harvard Yard. After losing 27% of its endowment, Harvard had ceased serving hot breakfasts to its students as a cost-saving measure.
The volunteers, all students belonging to Princeton’s humor magazine, The Princeton Tiger, used their fall recess to drive to Cambridge in order to help their less fortunate peers. “Everyone’s hurting in this economy,” said Steven Liss, Chairman of The Tiger. “But Harvard’s endowment shrunk from $37 billion to scarcely $26 billion– they’ve lost more than anyone in these tough times.” A Massachusetts native, Liss cited concern over the coming winter. “Harvard’s our rival, but we hate to think of them having to get by on only continental breakfasts…”
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From the Harvard Crimson’s blog. A headline:
PRINCETON STUDENTS ATTEMPT HUMOR
December 3rd, 2009 at 8:05AM
Harvard’s sense of humor seems to have declined proportional to their endowment.
December 3rd, 2009 at 8:32AM
Yes. They don’t seem to know how to respond to the overture.
December 3rd, 2009 at 8:45AM
As Oliver said: Please, sir, more?
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:39AM
I think you all misunderstand this gesture. Princeton, which has a somewhat smaller endowment than Harvard but is a much smaller and simpler institution, is and long has been MUCH richer, for all practical purposes. They’re rubbing it in.
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:38AM
The contrast you draw, Mr Punch, makes the Allston campus thing look even smarter.