Today, 45 million Americans owe more than $1.8 trillion in college debt, with the burdens falling disproportionately on borrowers of color, particularly Blacks and women. In a new book by Professor and author Elizabeth Tandy Shermer, INDENTURED STUDENTS makes it clear that these are not unforeseen consequences and in fact, the federal student loan system is designed to keep some people in debt for life. Our expert panelists will untangle the history that brought us to a debt-based society perpetuating social and racial inequality.

THE WHISTLEBLOWER Jon Oberg, Department of Education Insider

The discussion will begin with a clip from filmmaker Mike Camoin’s docu-series in progress, SCARED TO DEBT Episode 2 THE WHISTLEBLOWER. In it, we meet former Department of Education policy and research analyst Jon Oberg who uncovered wrongdoing by the nation’s largest student loan servicers. After higher-ups refused to take action, Oberg leaves the Dept. of Ed and mounts his own private investigations discovering potentially billions in overbilling.