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Divesting University Endowments for Social/Political Reasons: Part 1

Two recent law review articles by Northwestern’s Max Schanzenbach and Harvard’s Robert Sitkoff examine the legal landscape of university endowment divestment driven by non‑financial motives. One paper outlines the legal challenges and potential liabilities of politically motivated divestment, while the other urges trustees to adopt a strict risk‑and‑return investment policy, rejecting ideological pressures. The author of this piece critiques the first paper and signals a forthcoming analysis of the policy arguments presented in the second. The discussion revives debates that first surfaced in the early 2000s around campus activism and financial stewardship.