Alumni aren't supposed to care about what happens to the money.

You may recall my items about the Robertson family's frustration with Princeton University. In 1961, they gave the University $35 million to train graduate students at the Woodrow Wilson school to serve in the federal government, especially in international relations. But over the years, the family came to suspect that much of the money was not being used for this purpose, and, taking a step that must have made university presidents tremble and of course delighted me, the Robertsons sued. Now according to John Hechinger and Daniel Goldin of The Wall Street Journal, a smoking gun has been discovered.

It seems that in 2002, the university's secretary, Thomas Wright, warned his president, Shirley Tigheman, that a document about to be sent to the Robertsons disclosed that money from their fund was being used to pay students outside the Wilson school and for other purposes. Tigheman, perhaps inspired by the example of Richard M. Nixon and Rosemary Woods, chose to delete the disclosure from the document given to the Robertsons.

This case is disturbing not only because of Princeton's arrogance but even more because we desperately need to encourage and train bright young people to go into public service.