From: Sasha Chislenko (sasha1@netcom.com)
Date: Thu Mar 16 2000 - 04:00:11 MST
[ Forwarding from Edupage: ]
N.VA. BILLIONAIRE ENVISIONS CYBER-U
High-tech billionaire Michael Saylor tomorrow will announce his
$100 million donation for the development of a cyber university
featuring lectures from the world's "geniuses and leaders."
The nonprofit university would provide an "Ivy League-quality"
education free of charge to anyone in the world, says Saylor, CEO
of software firm MicroStrategy. Saylor plans to donate more
money to the effort as it progresses, and he says other
philanthropists might contribute as well. In the next several
months Saylor plans to start building a studio in the Washington
area where lectures will be videotaped. Saylor's goal is to
build the university into "a cyber Library of Congress."
Currently the online university lacks structure, staff, and
specific curriculum, and observers are waiting to see whether the
university will meet Saylor's large expectations. Endorsements
from legislators and educators will be announced in coming weeks,
Saylor says. Saylor says he has already spoken with Congress
members about providing federal grants for students to buy the
hardware and software they would need to take courses at the
school. (Washington Post, 15 March 2000)
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I find it interesting that this great social initiative is
coming not from the democratically elected government of this
wealthy nation, but from a private individual...
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Sasha Chislenko <http://www.lucifer.com/~sasha/home.html>
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