Possible Clues:

• Prestigious group of US universities
• Group with Lions and Tigers and Bears (oh my!)
• Harvard, Yale etc
• Cathedral backing on to Roman square — fit for the best colleges
• Harvard and Yale are in it
• She is with the syndicate going to Harvard
• Brown is one of its members, and girl attending class
• Harvard and Yale's group
• Roman historian ignoring first class universities
• Group of prominent US universities