Students attending Case Western Reserve University have seen an obvious rise in tuition and fees in the past year. There are some who have received scholarships, grants and other forms of individual funding, but an education can still seem overwhelming when the financial gap continues to grow. What student hasn’t found him or herself asking: Who can emphasize what steps to take after graduation to get this monetary monkey off of my back and into my wallet?

The Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities, known for its various public events and prestigious guest speakers, focuses on inquiries brought on by curious students. This year, the Center has chosen a fitting theme to cover most of its lectures: Interpreting Capitalism. From outsourcing to the 2008 recession, most global issues can be traced back to a lack of financing (either within millions of companies or billions of households). This spring series will shine some light on how any field of study can be affected by the dollar.

The first event on Jan. 27, The Crisis of Journalism, will focus on the role that the broadcasting field plays in shaping our money-driven world. It is one of many talks that will involve human relation and the authority that a financial class can hold. A few keywords—like “Dollarocracy”—will try to illustrate how society has transformed into a capitalist culture.

In addition to the talks, there will be a showcase of two films revolving around economic struggles faced by U.S. politicians and Chinese migrant workers. Best of all, these events are free and open to the public.