NEW COLLEGE CONTINUES TO LEAD IN REJECTING HATRED AND OFFERING A REFUGE FROM ANTISEMITISM

SARASOTA, Fla. — New College of Florida applauds Governor Ron DeSantis for instructing Florida’s public colleges and universities, which collectively rank as the nation’s best public higher education system, to “waive certain transfer application requirements that would otherwise unnecessarily burden the transfer of Jewish students who have a well-founded fear of antisemitic persecution at their current postsecondary institution.” This directive is an important and necessary escalation from New College’s November directive by President Richard Corcoran to provide a haven for students “facing intolerance or physical danger” at Harvard University—or elsewhere.

“Governor DeSantis has made Florida a model for our nation, and the fervor with which he is standing up for the oppressed and those left behind by elitist university administrators is bold leadership,” said Corcoran. “New College is eager to welcome students from across America facing danger from the latest wave of identity politics. All students should feel comfortable being open and vocal about their identities without fearing for their personal safety.  We are proud to belong to a state and a university system taking the lead in protecting Jewish students amidst the disturbing rise of campus antisemitism—particularly given the abdication of leadership we all saw when the Presidents of Harvard, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania testified before Congress.”

Governor DeSantis, State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues, and Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. have offered the following support to Jewish students facing discrimination:

• Waiving credit hour requirements for transfer applications that would typically be a hurdle for otherwise academically eligible first- and second-year postsecondary students.
• Waiving application date windows for transfers that would again burden otherwise academically eligible students who are seeking to flee discriminatory circumstances.

Governor DeSantis additionally urged colleges and universities, at their discretion, to use their existing statutory authority to grant out-of-state tuition waivers on a case-by-case basis for those students who may have a financial hardship when transferring from another state to a Florida postsecondary institution. New College will begin reviewing prospective cases on these terms without delay.

As we have stated before and will hold true in perpetuity: New College will not tolerate violence, intimidation, harassment, or threats against the Jewish Community, or any other group. Free speech and expression, with the goal of fostering civil discourse, are required at New College.