Free to Think talks with Dr. William Tierney, university professor emeritus and founding director of the Pullias Center for Higher Education at the University of Southern California. He discusses his new book, Higher education for Democracy: The Role of the University in Civil Society, released by SUNY press in July 2021, in which he argues that beyond research, teaching, and preparing graduates for their future careers, the university community plays an important societal role. In the face of a worldwide democratic recession, Tierney argues, "the university has to change its behavior, and be more involved in trying to support the basic tenants and organs of democracy."