Full Breakdown
Documentary Chronicles the “Hostile Takeover” of New College of Florida
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Director Patrick Bresnan and producer Harry Hanbury released *First They Came for My College*, a documentary that follows New College of Florida’s shift from a liberal-arts campus with a high proportion of LGBTQ and trans students to one reshaped by Governor Ron DeSantis’s campaign to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The film records board meetings, protests, and personal stories from the appointment of six far-right trustees on January 6 2023 through the senior-class graduation in 2024.
Background & Context
In early 2023, DeSantis appointed six trustees aligned with his education-reform agenda, which Hanbury calls the start of a “hostile takeover.” The trustees quickly enacted policy changes, including terminating the Gender Studies program and removing related books from campus collections.
Timeline
| Date (occurred) | Event |
|---|---|
| January 6 2023 | DeSantis appoints six far-right trustees. |
| January 31 2023 | The college’s first female president is dismissed. |
| April 2023 | Five tenure-approved faculty are fired. |
| Summer 2023 | Cleaning crews dismantle the Gender and Diversity Center and replace the campus garden with artificial turf. |
| 2023-2024 | Filming continues for 2½ years, capturing protests, scholarship allocations to new baseball players, and the final graduation ceremony. |
Data & Statistics
- Student demographics (pre-takeover): > 50 % LGBTQ, 10 % trans (Hanbury).
- Board actions: Dismissal of the president (Jan 31) and termination of five faculty (Apr).
- Physical changes: Removal of gender-studies books; garden replaced with astroturf (film observation).
On-the-Ground Reports
Students described the environment as “hostile,” citing a state bathroom bill that prohibited use of restrooms not matching sex assigned at birth (Hanbury). One transitioning student said her field of study had been eliminated, she could not obtain hormone treatment in Florida, and financial constraints forced her to consider leaving the state. Parents, many former gay-civil-rights activists, expressed shock at confronting trustee Christopher Rufo. Campus protests included a screening of *The Rocky Horror Picture Show* and a student’s tearful walk through the demolished garden.
Official Statements & Responses
- The college administration attributed the loss of gender-studies books to water damage, a claim contested by Hanbury, who presented evidence that the shelves were not located under leaky roof sections.
Why It Matters
The documentary frames New College’s experience as a microcosm of national debates over DEI in higher education. By documenting rapid policy shifts, faculty dismissals, and cultural changes on a campus previously celebrated for queer inclusion, the film suggests that similar reforms could affect other institutions.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
A discrepancy exists between the administration’s explanation for the disappearance of gender-studies books and the documentary team’s evidence of intentional removal. No independent audit is cited, leaving the precise cause unresolved. While the film highlights the bathroom bill’s impact, specific enforcement data or legal challenges are not detailed in the source material.
What’s Next
The documentary’s release coincides with ongoing debates in Florida’s legislature about further DEI restrictions, but the sources do not specify any scheduled hearings or policy actions directly linked to the film’s exposure.