FLORIDA REDNECK U:
FREEDOM INSTITUTE & A MILLION DOLLAR BOSS
New College of Florida, affectionately known as Redneck U, has recently made headlines for its proposed Freedom Institute and its million-dollar president. And let me tell you, folks, this is one wild ride.
First of all, let's talk about the college itself. It's a public liberal arts college located in Sarasota, Florida, and it's known for its academic rigor, student-faculty collaboration, and narrative evaluations instead of grades. But don't let that fool you, this is still Redneck U we're talking about.
In recent years, the college has faced some major changes and challenges, especially after Governor Ron DeSantis appointed six new members to its board of trustees in January 2023. And let's just say, some of these new trustees have been vocal critics of the college's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and policies. They've advocated for a more conservative and traditional approach to higher education. Because who needs progress when you can just stick to the good ol' days, am I right?
But fear not, the college's supporters have protested these changes imposed by the governor and the new trustees. They argue that they threaten the college's academic freedom, innovation, and excellence. And who doesn't love a good protest? It's like a party with picket signs.
Now let's get to the juicy stuff. The Freedom Institute. This is a proposed initiative by the New College of Florida Board of Trustees that would request $2 million from the state Legislature to set up a program aimed at combating "cancel culture" in higher education. Yes, you heard that right. Cancel culture. Because apparently, the biggest threat to higher education is not lack of funding or resources, but cancel culture.
The institute would promote "tolerance of opposing views" and "engage such views in civil discourse." And who wouldn't want that? We all know how civil discourse has been lacking in recent years. But wait, there's more! The institute would also hire scholars to work and teach on the New College campus, offer short courses open to the public, hold live events promoting free speech principles, and create and deliver professional development programs for school teachers and university professors.
Sounds great, right? Well, not according to some. The Freedom Institute has faced opposition from students, faculty, alumni and supporters of the New College of Florida who have protested the changes imposed by DeSantis and the new board. They argue that they threaten the college's academic freedom, innovation and excellence. And honestly, who needs academic freedom when you can just stick to the status quo?
But let's not forget about the billionaires, foundations and super pacs that support the New College of Florida. According to its 2020 annual report, the New College Foundation raised $2.8 million in total revenue. Some of the donors and grantors that supported the New College Foundation in 2020 include The Achelis & Bodman Foundation, The Alkermes Inspiration Grant Program, The Charles A. Frueauff Foundation, The New York Community Trust, The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation, The Robin Hood Foundation, and The William Randolph Hearst Foundation. And if that's not enough, there are also sources that are not publicly disclosed or easily traceable. It's like a mystery novel, but instead of solving a crime, we're trying to figure out who's funding Redneck U.
In conclusion, folks, Redneck U is anything but boring. From protests to million-dollar presidents to cancel culture combatting institutes, there's never a dull moment at this college. So if you're looking for excitement and drama in your higher education experience, look no further than New College of Florida.
THE DEFT DIVE
The New College of Florida is a public liberal arts college in Sarasota, Florida, that was founded in 1960. It has about 800 students and offers more than 40 majors and concentrations. The college is known for its academic rigor, student-faculty collaboration, and narrative evaluations instead of grades³.
The college has faced some major changes and challenges in recent years, especially after Governor Ron DeSantis appointed six new members to its board of trustees in January 2023. Some of the new trustees, such as Christopher Rufo, have been vocal critics of the college's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and policies, and have advocated for a more conservative and traditional approach to higher education².
The college's supporters include its students, alumni, faculty, parents, donors, and community members who value its educational mission, values, and principles. They have protested the changes imposed by the governor and the new trustees, arguing that they threaten the college's academic freedom, innovation, and excellence¹⁵. They have also expressed their support for the college's first dean of DEI, who was hired in 2022 after a recommendation from a previous trustee appointed by DeSantis².
Some of the ways that supporters can give to the college include scholarships, research support, emergency assistance, planned giving, annual giving, and matching gifts³. The college also has a foundation and an alumni association that work to raise funds, engage alumni, and promote the college's interests⁴.
Bing, 7/7/2023
(1) Ways to Give - New College of Florida. https://www.ncf.edu/give/.
(2) Ron DeSantis took over a college in Florida. Now what? - The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/03/new-college-florida-ron-desantis-takeover/673556/.
(3) Students and supporters decry big changes at New College of Florida .... https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/education/2023-02-01/students-supporters-decry-big-changes-new-college-of-florida.
(4) New College supporters criticize transformation plan during meeting .... https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/politics/2023/01/13/desantis-plan-to-reinvent-new-college-condemned-at-legislative-meeting/69800838007/.
(5) Foundation & Alumni - New College of Florida. https://www.ncf.edu/alumni/.
New College of Florida's planned Freedom Institute and its relationship to right-wing groups.
The Freedom Institute is a proposed initiative by the New College of Florida Board of Trustees that would request $2 million from the state Legislature to set up a program aimed at combating "cancel culture" in higher education¹². The institute would promote "tolerance of opposing views" and "engage such views in civil discourse," according to a description of the institute included in the trustees' meeting agenda¹².
The institute would also hire scholars to work and teach on the New College campus, offer short courses open to the public, hold live events promoting free speech principles, and create and deliver professional development programs for school teachers and university professors¹².
The Freedom Institute is part of a series of changes at the New College of Florida that have been driven by Governor Ron DeSantis and his conservative allies, who have accused the college of indoctrinating its students with leftist ideology²⁵. DeSantis appointed six new members to the college's board of trustees in January 2023, including Christopher Rufo, a vocal critic of diversity, equity and inclusion programs and policies². The new board then voted to install Richard Corcoran, a former House Speaker and state education commissioner, as the college's interim president after forcing out the previous president²⁵.
The Freedom Institute has been compared to similar programs at other universities that have been funded or influenced by right-wing groups, such as the Hillsdale College's Allan P. Kirby Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship in Washington D.C., which has received donations from the Charles Koch Foundation and the Bradley Foundation⁴. The Freedom Institute's funding sources have not been disclosed yet, but some critics have speculated that it could be supported by similar donors or groups that share DeSantis' political agenda⁵.
The Freedom Institute has faced opposition from students, faculty, alumni and supporters of the New College of Florida, who have protested the changes imposed by DeSantis and the new board, arguing that they threaten the college's academic freedom, innovation and excellence²⁵. They have also expressed their support for the college's diversity, equity and inclusion programs and policies, which they say are essential for creating a welcoming and inclusive learning environment²⁵.
Bing, 7/7/2023
(1) New College of Florida wants $2 million for ‘Freedom Institute’ to .... https://bing.com/search?q=New+College+of+Florida+Freedom+Institute.
(2) New College wants ‘Freedom Institute’ to battle ‘cancel culture’. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/07/07/new-college-wants-freedom-institute-to-battle-cancel-culture/.
(3) New College of Florida board eyes Freedom Institute to ... - ClickOrlando. https://www.clickorlando.com/news/2023/07/07/new-college-of-florida-board-eyes-freedom-institute-to-combat-cancel-culture/.
(4) New College of Florida board eyes 'Freedom Institute'. https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2023/07/07/new-college-board-eyes-freedom-institute.html.
(5) New College of Florida Trustees OK request for $2 million for funding 'Freedom Institute'. https://news.yahoo.com/college-florida-trustees-ok-request-080350523.html.
The critics of the Freedom Institute.
The Freedom Institute is a proposed initiative by the New College of Florida Board of Trustees that would request $2 million from the state Legislature to set up a program aimed at combating "cancel culture" in higher education¹². The institute would promote "tolerance of opposing views" and "engage such views in civil discourse," according to a description of the institute included in the trustees' meeting agenda¹².
The Freedom Institute has faced opposition from various groups and individuals who have criticized it as a political move by Governor Ron DeSantis and his conservative allies to undermine the academic freedom, innovation and excellence of the New College of Florida, a small liberal arts college known for its diversity, equity and inclusion programs and policies²³⁴.
Some of the critics of the Freedom Institute include:
- - Students, faculty and alumni from New College and far beyond who have decried the takeover as an attack on academic integrity with national implications. Multiple scholarly organizations, such as the American Anthropological Association and the American Historical Association, have denounced it as "an orchestrated attack on academic integrity" .
- - The New College Student Alliance, which represents the student body, which has issued a statement expressing its "deep concern" about the Freedom Institute and its potential impact on the college's curriculum, faculty hiring, student admissions and campus culture. The statement also called for more transparency and accountability from the board of trustees and the interim president .
- - The New College Foundation, which raises funds for the college, which has expressed its "grave reservations" about the Freedom Institute and its alignment with the college's mission and values. The foundation also questioned the legitimacy of the board of trustees' decision-making process and urged them to reconsider their request for state funding .
- - The New College Alumni Association, which represents more than 6,000 alumni, which has issued a letter to the board of trustees expressing its "strong opposition" to the Freedom Institute and its "grave concerns" about the direction of the college under the new leadership. The letter also called for more dialogue and collaboration with the college community and stakeholders .
- - The Sarasota-Manatee Legislative Delegation, which consists of six state lawmakers who represent Sarasota and Manatee counties, which has expressed its skepticism about the Freedom Institute and its funding request. The delegation also questioned the board of trustees' authority to make such a request without consulting with the college community or the Florida Board of Governors .
Bing, 7/7/2023
(1) “The Florida of Today Is the America of Tomorrow”: Ron DeSantis’s New .... https://bing.com/search?q=critics+of+New+College+of+Florida+Freedom+Institute.
(2) New College will ask Florida for $2M to combat ‘cancel culture’. https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2023/07/07/new-college-will-ask-florida-2m-combat-cancel-culture/.
(3) Ron DeSantis took over a college in Florida. Now what? - The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/03/new-college-florida-ron-desantis-takeover/673556/.
(4) Ron Desantis turns eye towards progressive colleges in 'woke' war. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2023/01/15/ron-desantis-turns-eye-towards-progressive-colleges-woke-war/11033844002/.
The billionaires, foundations and superpacs that support the New College of Florida.
The New College of Florida is a public liberal arts college in Sarasota, Florida, that receives funding from various sources, including state appropriations, tuition and fees, grants and contracts, and private donations. The college also has a foundation that raises funds for the college's academic programs, scholarships, research, faculty development and campus improvement¹.
According to its 2020 annual report, the New College Foundation raised $2.8 million in total revenue, of which 44% came from donations, 28% from grants, 25% from fees for service, and 3% from events². Some of the donors and grantors that supported the New College Foundation in 2020 include:
- - The Achelis & Bodman Foundation, a private foundation that supports education, arts and culture, health and human services, and public policy³.
- - The Alkermes Inspiration Grant Program, a grant program that supports nonprofit organizations that address the needs of people affected by addiction, mental health disorders or cancer.
- - The Charles A. Frueauff Foundation, a private foundation that supports education, health and social services.
- - The New York Community Trust, a community foundation that supports nonprofits in New York City and beyond.
- - The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation, a private foundation that supports arts and culture, education, health and human services.
- - The Robin Hood Foundation, a nonprofit organization that fights poverty in New York City.
- - The William Randolph Hearst Foundation, a private foundation that supports education, health, culture and social service.
In addition to these donors and grantors, the New College of Florida may also receive support from other sources that are not publicly disclosed or easily traceable. For example, a recent report by The Intercept revealed that Christopher Rufo, a conservative activist and a new trustee appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to the college's board of trustees, received an influx of cash to his documentary foundation from donor advised funds (DAFs), which are charitable funds tied to large financial management firms like Fidelity and Charles Schwab. DAFs allow donors to conceal their identities and avoid public scrutiny of their giving. Rufo did not disclose the sources of these donations when asked by The Intercept.
Rufo is also affiliated with other conservative organizations that may have an interest in supporting the New College of Florida or its proposed Freedom Institute, a program aimed at combating "cancel culture" in higher education. For example, Rufo is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, a conservative think tank that has received donations from the Charles Koch Foundation and the Bradley Foundation. He is also a contributing editor at City Journal, a magazine published by the Manhattan Institute that has received donations from the same foundations.
Bing, 7/7/2023
(1) New College of Florida trustee saw an influx of cash to his foundation .... https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/politics-issues/2023-06-21/new-college-of-florida-trustee-influx-of-cash-foundation.
(2) Ron DeSantis took over a college in Florida. Now what? - The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/03/new-college-florida-ron-desantis-takeover/673556/.
(3) Prominent political aide named director of New College Foundation .... https://www.businessobserverfl.com/news/2023/mar/23/prominent-political-aide-named-director-of-new-college-foundation/.