Shortly after, the newspaper reported that Yale had refused a second offer from the class of 1937 to fund a Western civilizations program.

In recent years, Yale has been one of the most prominent universities to consistently turn down money. About two years later, the Daily News reported on gay rights activist Larry Kramer's unsuccessful bid to establish a chair in gay and lesbian studies. Kramer, a 1957 Yale alumnus, also offered to build a gay and lesbian student center. Yale's answer: no.

Yale has had long practice in saying no to large sums of money. 1897 graduate Edward S. Harkness offered Yale money to establish a House system. Guess what Yale said?

Harkness instead donated money to Harvard. Yale later backtracked, and Harkness helped establish Yale's current residential college system.

Chair of Controversy?

In recent years, many prominent American universities have drawn criticism for accepting money from Turkish sources--including business people and the Turkish government--to establish professorships in Turkish studies.

Critics of such foreign donations worry that they could come with strings attached. For example, a chair could carry certain requirements for the person appointed or discourage future donors from giving to that area.

In 1997, Harvard accepted its own chair of Turkish studies, founded by the Vehbi Koc Foundation, according to the Harvard Gazette. History Professor Cemal Kafadar was the first Vehbi Koc Professor. The foundation is named after a Turkish industrialist and philanthropist.