The Elephant on Campus is a feature-length [work-in-progress] documentary about the problems plaguing higher education in America and the search for solutions to fix this broken system. Contrary to popular belief, college is no longer the sacred cow that it used to be. With over $1 trillion in student loan debt looming over higher education and a horrendous job market for college graduates, it has become clear that the ivory tower that once loomed high above this nation is crumbling.
DIY filmmaker Mike Newman set out on a journey to shed a light on the dark side of higher education, with the hope that he can prevent others from falling into the same trap that he fell into. He believed in the myth that college is the only path to success. Instead of making his life better, going to college ruined his life in many ways. All he got in return for his time, money, energy, and effort was a worthless degree, a futile education, and a mountain of student loan debt.
On the bright side, his situation has become a blessing in disguise by forcing him down a path of self-realization and self-learning. He has learned more about life in the 8 years since graduating from college by teaching himself than he ever learned in 18 years of institutional schooling. He has reached his 10,000 hours of deliberate filmmaking practice and is ready to put his self-education to the test with the production of this documentary.
He can no longer remain silent about the system that has screwed him and millions of other young people out of the chance to live the American Dream by shackling them with insurmountable debt.
This documentary is Mike’s attempt to give a voice to all the people like him that have been shamed into silence and help ignite a movement towards reforming higher education.