now, his school is everywhere-- the university of phoenix. it's one of the largest universities in the world, enrolling close to half a million students, more than the entire university of california system and all the ivy league schools combined. i traveled here knowing that the university of phoenix is wary of the media. but they had agreed to some interviews. then, at the last minute, they backed out and gave no explanation. instead, i spoke to former phoenix executives. >> it was not by accident that this university developed in the southwest and the west. that's where people go to reinvent themselves. and that's where john reinvented the university. >> smith: why did the university need to be reinvented? what's wrong with the way that universities were running up until the time that john sperling came along with phoenix? >> john saw the constraints of most... most college professors. you know, anybody who's got any new ideas in college are quickly beaten down. the academy hasn't had a real change in how it worked for almost 500 years. >>

keep in mind that only twelve percent of students go to these institutions that includes the university of phoenix kaplan i.t.t. tech to fry all of these for profit institutions that are popping up all over the country only twelve percent of students go to these institutions but you also have to keep in mind that nearly fifty percent of all student loan defaults in the united states are from students who attend these colleges ok so a vast majority of which already of them graduate there are unable to find work and they're unable to pay their loans back and keep in mind that a lot of the funds that these colleges get are from taxpayers it's federal money that is going into these colleges so they can in turn give this money to students so they can be able to attend these schools so it's your taxpayer money and i really like the fact that the obama administration now is attempting to pass something known as the gainful employment act which would basically hold these for profits accountable if students are graduating from these colleges and they're unable to find work and they're unable to pay their l

♪ university of phoenix, because an educated world is a better world. . >>> it's 8:39.ding of charles and diana, and that includes british prime minister david cameron. i recently sat down with him and he shared some personal memories of that day. >> my brother was 17, and he was driving by then. we drove up to london together and we just turned up on the corner of where it meets the buckingham palace. we arrived at 10:00 the day before. we had some sleeping bags. we had some fold-up chairs i think, a picnic hamper with lots of food so we could eat and drink, and we were there all the day before and all that night. >> but you did get your unobstructed view. >> absolutely. i was sitting in the front row. i remember, you know, as a 14-year-old trying to look between the policemen's helmets and look out. i definitely remember remember the carriages go down. it was like a big party. >> for the first time through the center gateway arrives lady diana. >> here we are 30 years later. you're the prime minister and you're invited to the royal wedding. can you put that in per spe

♪ university of phoenix, because an educated world is a better world. >>> 7:30 now on a monday morningurth day of april, 2011. good crowd outside. their spring break adventure in new york. i'm matt lauer alongside ann curry sitting in while meredith take as day off. just ahead, new perspective on a question a lot of people have been asking -- should sea world let tilikum the killer whale perform in shows again 14 months after he killed his trainer? coming up, that woman's family speaks out for the first time since the tragedy. >> also ahead, evidence that anyone can be bullied. there are new reports that kate middleton, prince william's future bride, was victimized in school. we'll get details on that story. >> and we'll check in with reality star kate gosselin. how is she handling single motherhood to eight children, how are they doing and will she ever do it again? >> we begin with a story about charlie sheen not winning. his live one-man stage show debuts in detroit and critics called it a disaster. did he do better in chicago? jeff rossen was there and has more. good morning. >> re