College Street

Matthew Fordham wants to do something noble and worthwhile with his life—and what can be nobler than working in the vaunted halls of an institution of higher learning? So Matthew picks up his life and moves from Boston to Rochingford, Minnesota, to fulfill his life’s calling—and be near his best friend, radio show host Jason Starkley.

Matthew learns quickly, however, that his work at the University of the Midwest at Rochingford (UMR) has little to do with opening and enriching the fertile minds of the students who pay through the nose to attend. Instead he spends his days trying to figure out exactly what the university’s president, Dr. Peter Johnson, is talking about (he speaks only in metaphors, of course) and dealing with the arrogant professors who are a century behind the times.

When Jason goads Matthew into anonymously airing his grievances against UMR on Jason’s radio program, it starts a firestorm in the community that’s good for ratings—and bad for the school.

As the controversy picks up steam, drawing in more of the community, UMR rushes to repair its image, instead of rushing to repair a system that is damaged—and damaging to all involved.