A hall event on July 2, 2014 brought together more than 8 SP residents at Kendall Square Cinema for a showing of “Ivory Tower” – a documentary on the state of higher education in the US. Directed by Andrew Rossi, the film introduces the history behind higher education, compares the vastly different cultures of colleges across the country, and examines the issue of exponentiating tuition costs. The film criticizes the phenomenon of colleges competing against one another for “prestige” by means of large capital expenditures in facilities, some of which can almost be interpreted exclusively as for luxury. Rather than focusing on academics, higher education has become a business where students pay institutions and loan services for a unique “college” experience. The film looks into specific universities and the difficulties each faces, such as Harvard with its rigorous curricula and Cooper Union with its recent controversy surrounding the abolishment of the “free education” ideal. The film also covers creative solutions like online classes through Coursera, reformative mindset pioneered by the Uncollege movement, and alternative institutions like Deep Springs College. It also comments on their respective popularity and effectiveness. The documentary contains a good amount of statistics and sources to back up many of its claims, but is not politically neutral (in my personal opinion). It is certainly thought provoking, and I encourage you to check it out if you have the chance!