New College supporters gather to protest their rights prior to final board meeting of the semester
Supporters gathered on the Hamilton Center stairs holding signs in protest. (Taken by Chloe Rusek.)

New College supporters gather to protest their rights prior to final board meeting of the semester

It was 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Apr. 26. Mornings are often quiet at New College, but outside the Hamilton “Ham” Center, a faint sound of music could be heard coming from Z Green. Slowly, a crowd began to gather. In just a few hours, the…

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“I am an educator, not an activist”: former President Patricia Okker speaks about her involvement with PEN America
Patricia Okker at her Presidential Inauguration. Courtesy of New College News.

“I am an educator, not an activist”: former President Patricia Okker speaks about her involvement with PEN America

On Jan. 31, former President Dr. Patricia Okker ended her time at New College after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed seven new trustees to the Board of Trustees (BOT), who then terminated her employment contract during their first public meeting. With Okker no longer at…

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1-in-1000-year flooding slams Fort Lauderdale
On Apr. 19, Fort Lauderdale received 25 inches of rain in a single 24-hour period. Graphic by Nic Steinig

1-in-1000-year flooding slams Fort Lauderdale

An unexpected flooding disaster rapidly swept through the unprepared streets of Fort Lauderdale last week when a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall event hit Broward County on Apr. 19. The violent rainfall caused the county to declare a flash flood emergency—the highest level of flood warning. Depictions of…

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“Teaching Black History in Florida”: Personal stories and truths from history professor Marvin Dunn
Dunn passionately addressing the crowd at the North Sarasota Library. Photo credit: Erik Wallenberg.

“Teaching Black History in Florida”: Personal stories and truths from history professor Marvin Dunn

“Black history is American history,” Dr. Marvin Dunn, professor emeritus from the Department of Psychology at Florida International University (FIU) stated firmly during his lesson to the larger Sarasota community on Apr. 20 in the Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library. “Teaching Black History…

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New College Presidential Search Committee members have been announced, here’s what you need to know
A screenshot taken from the New College presidential search committee home page displaying the date of the first meeting.

New College Presidential Search Committee members have been announced, here’s what you need to know

Search committees play a key role in selecting the right candidate to lead a college or university. Florida State Regulation 1.002 specifies the broad composition of these committees, and at New College, they are traditionally a mix of trustees, faculty members, staff, students, alumni and…

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Corcoran asks seven faculty to withdraw tenure applications: What faculty protections are in place?
Gov. Ron DeSantis and Interim President Richard Corcoran speak during a news conference in Fort Lauderdale. Taken by Joe Raedle (Getty Images).

Corcoran asks seven faculty to withdraw tenure applications: What faculty protections are in place?

Just hours before the tenure application deadline, Interim President Richard Corcoran spoke to seven New College professors on Mar. 15, asking them to withdraw their applications. According to Faculty Union President Steven Shipman, Corcoran’s explanation for this was that he didn’t have enough time to…

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Florida’s public unions at scrutiny of SB 256
Teachers protesting SB 256 (Courtesy of Yahoo News.)

Florida’s public unions at scrutiny of SB 256

On Mar. 29 Florida passed Senate Bill (SB) 256, targeting public unions and hitting teachers’ unions especially hard. Except for police, firefighters, correction and probation officers, unions under this bill must maintain membership of 60 percent of eligible employees to remain certified and maintain their…

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Teaching the truth: history professor Marvin Dunn to visit New College to teach Black history
A flier advertising Marvin Dunn's guest lecture. (Courtesy of Erik Wallenberg.)

Teaching the truth: history professor Marvin Dunn to visit New College to teach Black history

“I knew Jim Crow,” writes Dr. Marvin Dunn in his book A History of Florida Through Black Eyes (2016). “I grew up in Florida under his dark, suffocating wings. I knew him intimately, as did every Black person I knew growing up in Deland and…

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Local emergency room wait times have spiked in 2023
The Sarasota Memorial Hospital visitor parking garage with a graphic overlay. The photograph was taken on Apr. 13. from the roof of the parking garage on the 6th floor where the only available parking spots remained, of which there were few left. Graphic and Photo by Nic Steinig.

Local emergency room wait times have spiked in 2023

Anyone in the Sarasota area who has recently made a visit to an emergency department or spoken to healthcare professionals knows that emergency departments have been under strain. Yet, this year hit the region particularly hard. Investigative reporting by the Catalyst has revealed that the…

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Sensory satisfaction through nature at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
A photo of Selby Gardens' new sensory map. (Courtesy of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.)

Sensory satisfaction through nature at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Imagine a sticky, hot feeling all over your body, like an uncomfortable turtleneck sweater climbing up your neck. Irritability washes over you, panic, lack of focus and anxiety forcing your outing to take a turn for the worst. This intense sensory overload is an experience…

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