> as when someone donates large sums to endow professorships in niche topics

Linking to

> When Strings Are Attached, Quirky Gifts Can Limit Universities

Going on to say that Princeton is being forced to run lots of greek courses due to dead guy paying for it.

Well...duh...of course. Wasn't that the point of the donation? The donor obviously wanted to imagine Greek studies going on forever.

I presume after some period they could stop? Give the money away, or repurpose it.

For me this is an arguement against the whole concept of wealthy benefactors vs taxation. If you tax the money the government can spend it on the public good. If you let the rich guy keep it they will spend it on their own whims.