Story perspectives

DeSantis Campaign Forces Hostile Takeover of New College

By Drooid · Sep 24, 2026, 12:11 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

DeSantis Forces Takeover

Governor Ron DeSantis' campaign forced a hostile takeover of New College of Florida.
In January 2023 DeSantis appointed six far-right trustees after the Jan 6, 2023 event.
The board fired the president, denied tenure to five faculty, and ended Gender Studies.
Baseball scholarships replaced existing enrollment, sparking student and faculty protests.
A state bathroom bill banned restrooms not matching sex assigned at birth, raising campus hostility.

Summary

Parents Confront DeSantis

The documentary shows parents who once fought for gay rights now confronting Governor Ron DeSantis and trustee Christopher Rufo.
African-American conservative student Josh, noted for his Tom Selleck-style mustache, authored an op-ed calling New College a “liberal wasteland.”
The film portrays older white men using conflict and gaslighting to suppress student spaces.
Students continually create joy and adapt despite the hostile environment.

History

Historical Context

In 1990, the Texas Legislature passed the controversial “No Promotion of Homosexuality” amendment, banning LGBTQ instruction in public schools. The Texas Board of Education, chaired by Governor George W. Bush, voted 13-2 to enforce the amendment, allocating $1.2 billion for compliance audits. Similarly, Governor Ron DeSantis and trustee Christopher Rufo have commandeered New College of Florida, dismissing its president, ending gender studies, and imposing a bathroom bill. These parallel takeovers erode academic autonomy, spark student protests, and set precedents for future state-driven restructuring of higher education nationwide.

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DeSantis Forces Takeover

Governor Ron DeSantis' campaign forced a hostile takeover of New College of Florida.
In January 2023 DeSantis appointed six far-right trustees after the Jan 6, 2023 event.
The board fired the president, denied tenure to five faculty, and ended Gender Studies.
Baseball scholarships replaced existing enrollment, sparking student and faculty protests.
A state bathroom bill banned restrooms not matching sex assigned at birth, raising campus hostility.

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