US universities play a variety of roles in the economic and political landscape, but the many guises in which they operate are rarely considered together.
Recently, colleges and universities have become the targets of culture war battles and new legislative programs that restrict students' and faculty's ability to teach and learn about racism, history, and social justice. At the same time, universities redevelop neighborhoods, build and acquire healthcare facilities, arm police forces, and act as major employers across every category of labor. Tuition and fees drive the student debt crisis while, in some cases, schools act as significant institutional investors through their endowments. This symposium will bring together academics, activists, political leaders, and community members to tie these threads together and explore how universities got here and what people can do to make them more democratic places where everyone can flourish.
