2 DeSantis-appointed trustees showed up at New College. Here's how it went.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2 DeSantis-appointed trustees showed up at New College. Here’s how it went.

New conservative board members Christopher Rufo and Eddie Speir got a mixed reaction during their campus visit Wednesday.

By
Ian Hodgson Times staff
Divya Kumar Times staff
Published Yesterday | Updated Yesterday

SARASOTA — In an unusual visit to the New College of Florida campus Wednesday, two of the six people appointed to the school’s board of trustees this month by Gov. Ron DeSantis told faculty and students they are coming with a mandate to rescue an institution they described as failing and in need of a turnaround.

Christopher Rufo, a conservative journalist and commentator, called himself “a drastic solution to a crisis.” He was accompanied by Jason “Eddie” Speir, the founder and superintendent of a private Christian high school in Bradenton.

Their appearance drew a range of responses, from those who disputed the new trustees’ descriptions of New College to others who said they saw a chance for the school to improve under new leadership. It was a prelude to Tuesday, when the school’s newly reconstituted board will meet for the first time, now populated with several strong conservative voices.

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[Glorfindel]

1. Florida: Vote for clowns, expect a circus

I'm sure there's lots more fun and games in the offing!

[3Hotdogs]

2. Speir, leader of a school, founded on the basis of a fantasy....

This guy is going to rescue the college.

[gibraltar72]

3. Marching orders will be from Larry Arnn and Christian Nationalist Hillsdale College.

[Casady1]

4. Rufo is unqualified

for any occupation that needs intelligence.

[Midnight Writer]

5. I bet they are going to begin the "turnaround" with a series of "investigations".

They don't know how to "fix" anything, just make noise and accuse others.

[Freethinker65]

6. One assumes students can easily transfer elsewhere.

Changing the courses emphasized and available will change the students choosing to apply and attend.

Are there enough right winged students interested in spending money to attend what they are proposing? I thought one MAGA mantra is that education is a liberal elitist plot and unnecessary for true, do it yourself, Americans. Being undereducated and anti-science is admirable. No need to attend college and pay for that.

Perhaps developers can swoop in and take the land from State colleges set up to fail? Win/win for GOP MEGA donors using MAGA to increase their wealth and power.

[Timeflyer]

8. Attended the meeting--these guys are handpicked DeSadist henchmen

ready to MAGAfy a public college in the Hillsdale College/Bob Jones University image. Spiers is clearly out of his depth intellectually when faced with student questions. He sold his Colorado software firm and moved to FL, was going to retire but "God had different plans." So he started a private Christian school to rake in tuition bucks, using primarily Bob Jones University Press texts. He said he was bullied by the media, or somebody, when he asked on twitter whether the on-field collapse of football player D. Hamlin was related to the COVID vaccine. So, that's who's qualified to run a university in 2023 in Florida? And he wants the board of trustees meeting to start with a prayer--and you better give him the freedom to do that, or he'll cry victim.

Rufo is glib piece of polished conservative talking points. He made it clear that money for the school will dry up, and the place will be closed, if DeSadist' wishes are denied and the school remains as it is. Students, parents, faculty all know what's going to happen--Christofascist takeover, because the elected leaders have made these decisions.

Glad I went to the meeting, because they want us to shut up, stay home and let them takeover, and it's tempting when the fight seems hopeless. But the few dems and liberals left in the state won't give up (yet).