Students at New College of Florida Schedule Alternative Graduation in Defiance of DeSantis
“The new administration that has spent the past four months attacking our students and community cannot, in good faith, celebrate our graduating students and their accomplishments”
Some students at New College have been freaking out about the conservative reforms DeSantis has been putting in place there.
Campus Reform reports:
New College of Florida students organize alternative graduation after DeSantis takeover
Graduating New College of Florida (NCF) students have scheduled an alternative commencement ceremony in the wake of Interim President Richard Corcoran’s announcement of the decision to host Dr. Scott Atlas, former Special Advisor to President Trump, as the scheduled commencement speaker.
Dr. Atlas was a special COVID-19 advisor to Trump early in the pandemic, though his tenure was short-lived. He resigned in November of 2020.
The alternative ceremony, framed as a general protest of “the hostile takeover of New College of Florida” via conservative-leaning DeSantis appointees to the school’s board, is scheduled to be held today, a day before the official graduation hosts Dr. Atlas as the guest speaker.
Following Corcoran’s May 10 announcement, the graduating students organizing the event partnered with alumni groups Save New College and Novo Collegian Alliance and launched a GoFundMe page titled “[NEW] Commencement: On Our Terms.” As of the publication of this article, the GoFundMe has now raised over $122,000.
“The new administration that has spent the past four months attacking our students and community cannot, in good faith, celebrate our graduating students and their accomplishments,” the description on the fundraising page reads. They added that their goal was a graduation that focused on students “rather than an administration desperately trying to maintain normality and instill conformity.”
The group announced yesterday that their new event will feature guest speaker Maya Wiley, a lawyer, civil rights activist, and President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
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Suggested response from NCF administration to students:
“Go ahead and have your alternative graduation. However, you can also forget about receiving your diplomas.”
“In the spirit of flouting normality and conformity, your diploma will consist of this glitter unicorn lapel pin and this puff of rainbow bong smoke. Go forth and make it rain for Starbucks.”