I agree with your main point, but mentioning new construction is something of a non-sequitur because that funding usually comes from donors.<p>We might be able to make the case that the donations don&#x27;t cover the ongoing cost of operating the new buildings, but at least at my institution, the new buildings are usually energy-efficient replacements for old ones.<p>But yeah, the whole thing is nutty: a few years ago at a Chamber of Commerce function, one of our extremely wealthy doners (you probably know of them) told the audience members that they should be providing a certain minimal level of funding to athletics, even if it meant reducing their normal contribution to the academic side.