October 24, 2007
Interpretations of Robertson Gift Agreement Differ
The lawsuit against Princeton University involving money donated by Charles and Marie Robertson may hinge on Judge Neil H. Shuster’s interpretation of part three of the Certification of Incorporation that established the Robertson Foundation in 1961. That section reads:
“3. This corporation is organized and shall be operated exclusively for charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes and for no other purpose. In furtherance of such purposes its objective is to strengthen the government of the United States and increase its ability and determination to defend and extend freedom throughout the world by improving the facilities for the training and education of men and women for government service and to contribute, lend, pay over, or assign the income of the corporation and/or the funds or property of the corporation (any payments of principal being subject to the limitations of article 11© hereof) to or for the use of Princeton University for any one or more or all of the following uses:
(a) To establish or maintain and support at Princeton University, and as part of the Woodrow Wilson School, a graduate school, where men and women dedicated to public service may prepare themselves for careers in government service, with particular emphasis on the education of such persons for careers in those areas of the federal government that are concerned with international relations and affairs;
(b) To establish and maintain scholarships or fellowships, which will provide full or partial support to students admitted to such graduate school, whether such students are candidates for degrees, special students, or part-time students;
(c) To provide collateral and auxilliary services, plans and programs in futherance of the object and purpose above set forth, including but without limitation, internship programs, plans for public-service assignments of faculty or administrative personnel, mid-career study help, and programs for foreign students or officials training.”
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