“All Gender” and “Gender Neutral” signage removed on academic side of campus
A DIY sign on the library bathroom reading “All Gender,” after the official signage was removed. Photo courtesy of Sophia Brown.

“All Gender” and “Gender Neutral” signage removed on academic side of campus

Students across campus were surprised on Apr. 27 to see that signs for various single-stall bathrooms across campus no longer read “gender-neutral” as they had for years. Messages began to appear on the school’s email forum, reporting that bathroom signage in the Jane Bancroft Cook…

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Why Professor Aaron Hillegass rescinded a $600,000 donation and publicly resigned
Headshot of Professor Aaron Hillegass. Courtesy of Aaron Hillegass.

Why Professor Aaron Hillegass rescinded a $600,000 donation and publicly resigned

Interim Director of Applied Data Science, author and alum Aaron Hillegass (‘91) arrived at New College in January, ready to begin his teaching career at the campus. One day later, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that six and later seven new members would be joining the…

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Black leaders from St. Petersburg indicted by FBI for allegedly “sowing dissent”
Screenshot of a Tampa Bay Times headline on Apr. 10 which reads “After FBI raid, Uhuru leader denies Russian role in St. Pete elections.”

Black leaders from St. Petersburg indicted by FBI for allegedly “sowing dissent”

“Come out with your hands up,” boomed a voice from a mobile intercom on Jul. 26, 2022. This according to longtime Uhuru Movement leader and Black rights advocate Omali Yeshitela, who at the time was sitting across the dinner table with his wife, Ona Zené…

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OP-ED: Trouble for DeSantis campaign
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in Santa Rosa County. Photo courtesy of the official Florida Governor Media Center.

OP-ED: Trouble for DeSantis campaign

Six months ago, when  the expected “red wave” failed to fully manifest, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis looked seriously competitive for the presidency. Winning a landslide victory in Florida while Republicans nationwide underperformed despite their perceived association with former President Donald Trump, plus the volatility of…

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Newly formed Presidential Search Committee announces plans to select new president by Fall 2023
The Presidential Search Committee gathered in Sudakoff. Some members of the committee chose to attend virtually via Zoom. (Taken by Nat Kornblum.)

Newly formed Presidential Search Committee announces plans to select new president by Fall 2023

The Presidential Search Committee met in the Sudakoff Conference Center on Apr. 27 for their first public meeting and announced their intentions to select a new president without a third party firm by the Fall 2023 semester. Since the dismissal of former President Dr. Patricia…

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Board of Trustees shuts down faculty seeking tenure, community members: A deep dive into their most divisive meeting yet
Former Trustee and then-Chair of the Faculty Matthew Lepinski leaving the meeting after announcing his lack of confidence in the board, following their vote to deny tenure for five faculty members. Screenshot from the official New College YouTube channel

Board of Trustees shuts down faculty seeking tenure, community members: A deep dive into their most divisive meeting yet

First they came for former President Patricia Okker, then they came for the Office of Outreach and Inclusive Excellence (OOIE). And on Apr. 26, the New College Board of Trustees (BOT) continued its trend of disruption by denying five faculty tenure applications, despite all five…

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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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Stay out of the Sunshine: Equality Florida advices those in the LGBTQ+ Community to stay away from Florida
Pride being celebrated in St. Pete 2021, Via City of St. Pete

Stay out of the Sunshine: Equality Florida advices those in the LGBTQ+ Community to stay away from Florida

On Apr. 11, Equality Florida (EQFL) decided to officially issue a travel advisory for the state, offering information and guidance as to why LGBTQ+ people should not travel or relocate to Florida—and if they have to, what they should expect. EQFL is “the largest civil…

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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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Tennessee’s House of Representatives expels two of three Democratic representatives
A photo of the Tennessee three with the Justins on the side and Johnson in the center. Via Flickr

Tennessee’s House of Representatives expels two of three Democratic representatives

The Tennessee House of Representatives’ Democratic representatives were caught in the line of fire for bringing anti-gun protest to the House floor following the Nashville Covenant school shooting. Stripped of their status by the Republican supermajority, Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) and Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis)—colloquially…

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