stuff (meaning they spend money they have, though the money could have been spent on other things). And yes, they use such "rising costs" to raise tuition on those who actually fully pay, which hits savers very hard.
Most colleges and universities cannot afford this but many still do it anyway then beg for money. Even at failing colleges and universities the excessive deference to these activities and DEI offices, etc is ridiculous. And when they go to make cuts, people howl bloody murder. Suddenly that which never existed 5 years ago is the most critical program in the university.
I have a much more vocational vision for postsecondary education than many here on the board, but many of us can agree that this this excess stuff (DEI, NIL and big time sports, protests, gender studies, etc) has gotten out of hand. Most universities can't afford it and budgets and financial failure will finally force a course correction over time. But the wealthiest schools (top 100 tier privates and publics) will continue with the silliness because they can and donors will (at least up to now) underwrite it.