A college in upheaval: War on ‘woke’ sparks fear in Florida
1 year, 8 months ago

A college in upheaval: War on ‘woke’ sparks fear in Florida

Associated Press  

SARASOTA, Fla. — Professors at the New College of Florida are using personal email because they’re afraid of being subpoenaed. Ron DeSantis has targeted the tiny school on the shores of Sarasota Bay as a staging ground for his war on “woke.” The governor and his allies say New College, a progressive school with a prominent LGBTQ+ community, is indoctrinating students with leftist ideology and should be revamped into a more conservative institution. Students and faculty say America should take note because the transformation at New College could become a blueprint with national implications as DeSantis gears up for a likely presidential bid. “It felt very much like New College was a little bubble in Florida,” said Willem Aspinall, 19, an environmental studies major who grew up in a Chicago suburb. Many of the chalk messages voiced outrage at DeSantis and the new trustees or carried messages of support, such as: “Diversity is our strength.” Faculty are advising students to concentrate on schoolwork and block out the noise, but it’s hard to shake the feeling the worst is yet to come, said Aspinall, the environmental studies major.

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History of this topic

College: One troubling trend for American universities is coming at the worst possible time.
2 months ago

College: One troubling trend for American universities is coming at the worst possible time.

Slate  

It is urgent that the leaders of colleges and universities stand up in defense of their interests and the values of higher education. This may seem straightforward, but in the wake of Oct. 7 and controversies over statements concerning the atrocities, many academic leaders have embraced a doctrine of “institutional neutrality.” Recalling the bruising hearings with lawmakers in December 2023 …

Florida’s university system under assault during DeSantis tenure, report by professors’ group says
1 year ago

Florida’s university system under assault during DeSantis tenure, report by professors’ group says

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Academic freedom and independent governance have been under political and ideological assault in Florida’s university system during the tenure of Florida Gov. The threat to Florida’s higher education system accelerated this year with the takeover of New College of Florida in Sarasota by partisan DeSantis supporters, according to the report from an AAUP committee. Additionally, the appointments …

Attorneys for college taken over by DeSantis allies threaten to sue ‘alternate’ school
1 year, 2 months ago

Attorneys for college taken over by DeSantis allies threaten to sue ‘alternate’ school

Associated Press  

SARASOTA, Fla. — Attorneys for New College of Florida, the traditionally progressive public liberal arts college that was taken over by allies of Gov. Ron DeSantis as part of his “war on woke,” last week threatened to sue a group of former faculty members and students who have formed an alternative online institute named “Alt New College” after departing the …

Florida College Students Rebuke Ron DeSantis By Hosting Their Own Graduation
1 year, 7 months ago

Florida College Students Rebuke Ron DeSantis By Hosting Their Own Graduation

Huff Post  

A student makes her way past the sign at New College of Florida, Jan. 20, 2023, in Sarasota, Florida. DeSantis has stoked fury among New College students and national voters alike by leveraging a culture war on so-called “wokeness” against schools and corporations across the state. According to The New York Times, DeSantis said New College of Florida has had …

Newsom heading to Florida to meet with students from college that DeSantis wants to take over
1 year, 8 months ago

Newsom heading to Florida to meet with students from college that DeSantis wants to take over

LA Times  

Gavin Newsom is heading to Sarasota, Fla., to meet with students at New College of Florida, shown, which has become a symbol of the national culture wars. The California Democrat is making a pointed visit to speak to students from the New College of Florida — where DeSantis, as part of his war on “woke,” not long ago named six …

A college in upheaval: War on ‘woke’ sparks fear in Florida
1 year, 8 months ago

A college in upheaval: War on ‘woke’ sparks fear in Florida

Associated Press  

SARASOTA, Fla. — Professors at the New College of Florida are using personal email because they’re afraid of being subpoenaed. “It felt very much like New College was a little bubble in Florida,” said Willem Aspinall, 19, an environmental studies major who grew up in a Chicago suburb. “Now it feels like everything has blown up.” She adds, “I’m trying …

Ron DeSantis wants to take over a small liberal arts college. Students are fighting back
1 year, 10 months ago

Ron DeSantis wants to take over a small liberal arts college. Students are fighting back

LA Times  

Ron DeSantis last month announced the appointment of six conservatives to the board of trustees at the New College of Florida, a small campus overlooking Sarasota Bay. Outside an auditorium, a few protesters held up signs declaring: “NO HOSTILE TAKEOVER!” The focus of the controversy was Christopher Rufo, the most prominent of six conservatives recently named trustees at New College …

Trustees picked by DeSantis may change progressive college
1 year, 10 months ago

Trustees picked by DeSantis may change progressive college

Associated Press  

SARASOTA, Fla. — “Your education. One new trustee, Manhattan Institute senior fellow Christopher Rufo, said in a column on his website that the governor wants the group to accomplish what he calls “institutional recapture,” which would move New College away from such things as diversity, equity and inclusion programs and teaching of critical race theory — the idea that racism …

'It's all a fabrication': Florida teacher blows the lid off Ron DeSantis' agenda
1 year, 10 months ago

'It's all a fabrication': Florida teacher blows the lid off Ron DeSantis' agenda

Raw Story  

A teacher in a community just south of Tampa, Florida is suing Gov. Ron DeSantis over an "anti-woke" school policy that has effectively required him to cover up books in his classroom. In an interview with Business Insider published on Friday, Don Falls highlighted what it's like to be in public education in the Sunshine State right now under the …

Rising GOP star Ron DeSantis goes after campus thoughtcrime with vague, threatening new law
3 years, 5 months ago

Rising GOP star Ron DeSantis goes after campus thoughtcrime with vague, threatening new law

Salon  

Last week, Florida Gov. State Sen. Lori Berman, a Democrat who opposed the bill in Education Committee meetings, told Salon that she thinks DeSantis made "a serious threat" that could dampen the free speech rights of professors and students. Democratic state Sen. Tina Polsky, who also serves on the Committee on Education, echoed Berman's concerns, telling Salon that HB 233 …

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