THE WEEK

□ The bad news is that Jesus Christ was tied for fourth place in an “idol” poll with Lee Iacocca. The good news is that Colonel North, President Reagan, and Clint Eastwood finished one, two, three.

□ Federal student aid has increased from $6.8 billion to $8.8 billion since 1980. University and college endowments have doubled—after inflation—since then. Syndicated columnist Warren Brookes has looked at figures compiled by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) and learned that endowments valued at $20 billion in 1980 have ballooned to $64 billion. Harvard’s endowment rose 175 per cent, Stanford’s 214 per cent, Yale’s 229 per cent, Princeton’s 347 per cent. Setting aside the old question about transferring money from lower-middle-class taxpayers to upwardly mobile college kids, it’s irritating to see the beneficiaries of Reaganomics decrying Reagan, and Reaganomics. Bruce Dressner, Dartmouth’s endowment czar, complains: “We are just barely holding our own . . . just keeping pace with inflation.” He ought to know better, since he compiles the NACUBO survey that demonstrates the universities’ growth.

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□ The bad news is that Jesus Christ was tied for fourth place in an “idol” poll with Lee Iacocca. The good news is that Colonel North, President Reagan, and Clint Eastwood finished one, two, three.

□ Federal student aid has increased from $6.8 billion to $8.8 billion since 1980. University and college endowments have doubled—after inflation—since then. Syndicated columnist Warren Brookes has looked at figures compiled by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) and learned that endowments valued at $20 billion in 1980 have ballooned to $64 billion. Harvard’s endowment rose 175 per cent, Stanford’s 214 per cent, Yale’s 229 per cent, Princeton’s 347 per cent. Setting aside the old question about transferring money from lower-middle-class taxpayers to upwardly mobile college kids, it’s irritating to see the beneficiaries of Reaganomics decrying Reagan, and Reaganomics. Bruce Dressner, Dartmouth’s endowment czar, complains: “We are just barely holding our own . . . just keeping pace with inflation.” He ought to know better, since he compiles the NACUBO survey that demonstrates the universities’ growth.