Going There: Who Needs College?

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Stephen Voss

NPR host Michel Martin.

WHAT TO DO: Going There: Who Needs College?

Is college a place to intellectually challenge yourself and create a better future? Or is it a rigid place where the politically correct dogma of the elites is imposed? These two vastly different views of higher education will be discussed at this National Public Radio event, hosted by NPR’s Michel Martin and Wisconsin Public Radio. Guests include conservative commentator Charlie Sykes, cartoonist Lynda Barry, Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Burlington) and Raven Software co-founder Brian Raffel.

press release: NPR’s Michel Martin, weekend host of All Things Considered, will be at Monona Terrace at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7 to host Going There: Who Needs College? NPR and NPR Member station Wisconsin Public Radio are collaborating on this unique live event to explore the timely question of what college is really like these days and whether every young person should consider a four-year college degree.

For more than a century, Wisconsin has held up the basic idea that every student should have the chance to earn a college degree – and that a statewide university system increases jobs and investment for everyone in Wisconsin. Now, NPR’s Michel Martin and a team of panelists join a live audience in exploring the growing debate on whether the cost of a college diploma is worth it. Students and families are taking on enormous debt, with no guarantee of a well-paying job at the end of the road. Many contend technical or online learning might be a smarter choice.  

“When we plan our events, we look for a place and a community that’s living through a national debate—that makes Madison the ideal place to hold this conversation,” says Martin. “We’re asking what students, parents and policy makers around the country are asking right now: what is college for?”

Martin will be joined onstage by longtime conservative radio host and author Charlie Sykes; University of Wisconsin grad and NPR Music editor and reviewer Stephen Thompson; cartoonist Lynda Barry; Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) president Deshawn McKinney and Brian Raffel, co-founder and Studio Head of Raven Software.

"We're excited to be working with NPR as part of our statewide series of centennial events," WPR Director Mike Crane said. "WPR and NPR share a commitment to bringing diverse perspectives together – not just at compelling events like this one with Michel Martin – but in everything we do on air, online and in communities around the state."

Video of the event will be streamed live and recorded for a featured segment on a weekend broadcast of All Things Considered. The discussion will continue online and the audience and public are invited to participate, using the hashtag #NPRWhyCollege and following @NPRMichel and @WPR on Twitter. 

This NPR Presents event is one of a series of local events WPR is holding throughout 2017 to mark its centennial anniversary and thank listeners.  Find a complete list of events at wpr.org/100.

This event is as part of the national touring series NPR Presents Michel Martin: Going There, which is made possible by The Kresge Foundation, and by a collaboration between NPR and Wisconsin Public Radio. Local support comes from Capitol Lakes and Qual Line Fence.