By PRFSU Writers 2023-2024 
Devon Cranford
It is no secret that education has become a contentious issue across the United States, and nowhere is it under a brighter spotlight than in Florida. Following the Stop WOKE Act, a bill that aimed to be “a legislative proposal that will give businesses, employees, children and families tools to fight back against woke indoctrination,” Florida officials have made many controversial decisions regarding statewide education policy, such as the Don’t Say Gay bill, the decision to ban Advanced Placement African American Studies from being taught in high schools, and a memo asking state universities for the number and ages of students seeking gender-affirming care treatment. This slew of efforts by Florida lawmakers has resulted in some worried voices, particularly from Democratic officials, on what direction the DeSantis administration is taking Florida education policy, and it may all be coming to a head at New College of Florida.
New College of Florida is a public liberal arts college based in Sarasota that became a part of the state university system in 2001. With a student population of 698 students, it is by far the smallest public college in the state and has a unique identity to go with it. The school is distinctive for its unconventional class structures, such as written evaluations rather than grades and a mandatory step-by-step career plan completed for all students. Aside from this, the school has developed a reputation for attracting progressive students, creating a particular atmosphere on campus that has raised concerns with critics.
On January 6, 2023, Governor DeSantis replaced the board of trustees at New College with six individuals: Christopher Rufo, Matthew Spalding, Charles R. Kesler, Mark Bauerlein, Debra Jenks, and Jason “Eddie” Speir. Controversy ensued due to the reputation of some of these appointees, such as Christopher Rufo’s career as a conservative activist and staunch opponent of critical race theory, or Matthew Spalding’s career as a dean at Hillsdale College, a private Christian university that Rufo has said, in an interview with The New York Times, he wants to use as a model for New College.
The lead-up to the first Board of Trustees meeting generated much dialogue, especially from the trustees themselves. Christopher Rufo expressed that he believes “things will be a lot different in 120 days” and planned to “design a new core curriculum from scratch.” Jason ‘Eddie’ Speir proposed, in a personal blog post, replacing the president, hiring new General Counsel, and “to declare a financial emergency and employ a zero-based budgeting policy of terminating all contracts for faculty, staff and administration and immediately rehiring those faculty, staff and administration who fit into the new financial and business model.” However, not all trustees were in lockstep. Mark Bauerlein stated, in an interview with the Herald-Tribune, that he does not think creating a Hillsdale of the south is “desirable or even possible,” and that he expects “few fireworks in the first six months.”
The January 31, 2023 meeting of trustees attracted much attention, with a staged protest by New College Students for Educational Freedom, attended by current Democratic state Representative Anna V. Eskamani. In a well-attended meeting, the board decided to remove President Dr. Patricia Okker from her position and appoint Dr. Bradley Thiessen, Chief of Staff at New College, interim President. The board also explained its intentions to appoint former Florida Speaker of the House Richard Corcoran to the position of President soon, as well as start discussions for former Senate President Bill Galvano to take the position of general counsel. New College Students for Educational Freedom expressed their discontent with the board after the meeting in a statement published via Twitter, saying, “Dr. Okker embodied the values of New College more than any politician ever could.”
In the weeks following the first board meeting of New College Trustees, a special legislative session produced $15 million for the budget of New College, requested specifically by Governor DeSantis. The Board of Governors also voted to confirm Corcoran to the position of New College President with a salary of $699,000, with bonuses and compensations that can bring that number up above $800,000. This salary makes him the third highest-paid University president in the state behind Ben Sasse at the University of Florida and Richard McCullough at Florida State University. The new salary is an increase of almost $400,000 from their previous President’s. Some have questioned the source of the money as Florida state law prohibits taxpayers from paying for more than $200,000 of a president’s salary, requiring universities to dip into donations and endowments, given to the school.
It remains to be seen what will happen next at New College, but if recent events are anything to go by, it would seem that the course for New College’s future has already been set.