MILWAUKEE-Local student Saul Newton is watching with keen interest a new award winning documentary about student loan debt called \"Ivory Tower.\"

He wants to enlighten people who think joining the military means free education.

\"I joined the army because I could no longer afford my education,\" Newton told CBS 58 News, \"And while I was in Kandahar do daily patrols, I was also making payments on my students loans.\"  

A press conference with the director and other city and education leaders drew a crowd on the campus of MATC Monday before the movie screening at the Downer Theater.

The director chose Wisconsin, in part, because of proposed legislation allowing refinancing at the state level when interest rates go down.

There is similar legislation at the federal level.

\"I think what's really required is some dramatic legislation to re-order the sector of higher ed,\" director Andre Rossi told CBS 58 News.\"But it's really clear there's no sort of mandate to do that legislatively.\"

Estimates are that  $1.2 trillion in student loan debt is impacting 40 million Americans.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was also on hand for Monday's discussions along with student loan debt reform advocate Scot Ross, Executive Director of One Wisconsin Now.