Shouldn't elite universities already be independent? The Ivy Leagues for instance have stupidly large endowment funds for one for that exact purpose! They don't

Shouldn't elite universities already be independent? The Ivy Leagues for instance have stupidly large endowment funds for one for that exact purpose! They don't seem to be using them in "burn happy" ways either like free tuition to all or funding large ammounts into their own research funding. It could be pathological greed of getting more than they have ability or desire to spend - particularly if it is their job to gain more. It would make sense for connections to be worth more than mere money per say and the donations are proxies/symbolic. That is putting aside suspicion agendas against universities that have existed since students protested the war.