William Rainey Harper, president of the University of Chicago from 1891 to 1906, declared that "the university is the Messiah of the democracy, its to-be-expected deliverer." The university has not always adopted that sacred charge willingly or effectively. We need to cut to the quick and demonstrate that democracy cannot survive without informed and engaged citizens. The university should and can deliver those citizens to our society while, at the same time, preparing them for careers and professions--or risk the erosion of our precious legacy.