Public universities are microcosms of the broader trends at work in the society, and they have been for decades. From the wide range of students they educate to the transformative research they develop to their ameliorative impact on local communities, public universities provide a litmus test for the country's ever shifting demographics, mores, and national priorities. In this article, the necessity of a new relationship between colleges, state government, and the public is discussed in the face of a growing decline in public confidence. (Contains 1 online resource.)