For many it is a calling - a deeply felt desire to explore and seek answers to questions that are currently beyond human understanding. There are few careers ou

For many it is a calling - a deeply felt desire to explore and seek answers to questions that are currently beyond human understanding. There are few careers outside of academia that enable the focused pursuit of knowledge. Only the most advanced societies in history have supported such endeavors, and public universities were a democratic experiment in extending this support beyond the wealthy elite. Sadly, it seems that the United States has lost the will and vision to provide this opportunity for its citizens. Now we only talk of job training and ROI. The financial burden has been shifted from the society to the individual, and the true promise of higher education is but a fading memory.