Florida’s Plan to Overhaul New College Was Supposed to Be a National Blueprint, but Internal Records Show a Much Darker Result
When ideology trumps education.
Florida’s plan to turn New College into a conservative education model has backfired spectacularly, according to a scathing deep dive by John Oliver on Last Week Tonight. What was supposed to be a national blueprint for right-wing higher education reform has instead devolved into a chaotic, expensive mess that prioritizes political theater over actual student success.
According to The Guardian, it all began in 2023 when Governor Ron DeSantis appointed six allies, including conservative activist Christopher Rufo, to New College’s board of trustees. Rufo made no secret of his ambitions, framing the takeover as a chance to create a playbook for conservative education reform across the country.
Over two years later, the results are anything but impressive. Oliver called it a “complete s*** show” that has left students and faculty scrambling while administrators chase ideological wins.
New College wasn’t always a political battleground
Founded in the 1960s with a focus on “complete freedom of inquiry,” the school became known for its progressive values, independent study programs, and inclusive environment. It was a haven for LGBTQ+ students and self-described “nerds and dorks,” ranking third in the nation for producing graduates who later earned doctoral degrees. But under the new leadership, that reputation has been systematically dismantled.
Rufo kicked things off by declaring the school had a “culture problem,” dismissing its community as “politically correct, druggies, weirdos.” The message was clear: this wasn’t about improving education, it was about erasing what New College stood for. The changes came fast. The school’s president was ousted, and in came Richard Corcoran, a former Florida house speaker with a $1 million salary package.
Corcoran’s tenure has been marked by bizarre decisions, starting with the mascot – a banyan tree with a face that Oliver compared to “Groot if he hulked.” The rebranding didn’t stop there. Corcoran axed the gender studies program, which Rufo celebrated as the shutdown of a “massive” and “radical” department. In reality, the program had a budget of just $7,000 and a part-time office manager. It was less an ideological victory and more a symbolic scalp.
Faculty have borne the brunt of the upheaval
More than a third of professors were fired, resigned, or took leave, replaced by so-called “presidential scholars in residence,” including Bruce Gilley, author of The Case for Colonialism. Oliver didn’t mince words about his reaction to Gilley’s work, noting it argues that European colonialism was “actually a good thing.” The message to the students of the college was clear: if you don’t fit the new mold, you’re not welcome.
Enrollment numbers tell a complicated story. New College managed to grow its incoming class to 328 students for Corcoran’s first full academic year, but former admissions staff allege the school achieved this by sharply lowering standards. One admissions essay, according to Oliver, was nothing more than a phone screenshot riddled with spelling and grammatical errors.
Meanwhile, the administration has thrown money at recruiting male athletes to “balance” the student body, which was previously two-thirds female. The school brought in 70 baseball players despite not having a baseball field – a detail Oliver mocked as “expecting one to magically appear, like some kind of reverse Field of Dreams.”
The financial cost of this experiment has been staggering
A state audit revealed that the public cost to produce a single degree at New College has ballooned to nearly $500,000, far outpacing any other public university in Florida. Administrative costs have skyrocketed, with Corcoran’s salary alone accounting for a significant chunk. Oliver pointed out the irony: a movement that claims to champion fiscal responsibility has turned a small liberal arts college into a financial black hole.
Corcoran has defended the changes, highlighting record enrollment growth, rising academic achievement, and increased philanthropic investment. He even invited Oliver to visit, meet the students and faculty, and participate in the school’s Socratic Stage Dialogue Series. Oliver declined, but the invitation remains open.
It’s hard to imagine what he’d find if he accepted. The Socratic Stage series has featured conservative celebrities like Russell Brand, who spoke on “thinking without permission,” a topic that feels tone-deaf given the administration’s crackdown on academic freedom.
The most damning takeaway from Oliver’s Last Week Tonight segment came from the students themselves. Multiple interviews revealed a school administration that cares more about political posturing than the actual lives of its students. Rufo’s vision was never just about New College; it was about creating a model for red states to replicate.
The fallout extends beyond the campus
According to Tampa Bay, the Florida Legislature recently struck a deal to transfer the University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus to New College, effective July 1. No new students will be admitted to the USF campus, and current students will finish their degrees in place. It’s a move that further consolidates New College’s expansion, but it’s unclear how the school will manage the additional responsibility given its current struggles.
The situation at New College is a cautionary tale about what happens when ideology trumps education. The school’s original mission – fostering independent thought and intellectual freedom – has been replaced by a top-down agenda that prioritizes political wins over student outcomes. The results? A demoralized faculty, a student body divided by sudden policy shifts, and a price tag that would make even the most fiscally conservative lawmaker blush.
(Featured image: djzippy)
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