Free Speech Doesn't Exist for All at New College of Florida

Letters to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, June 27, 2025.

Selective free speech at New College

Ignore the PR spin by a New College of Florida official: the school only

encourages free speech for those who support its controversial agenda.

free speech at New College of Florida under President Richard Corcoran (‘Free speech

has a home at New College of Florida. Here’s how we've built it.’)

In part, Abramson’s article was a reply to my own column of June 18.

First, Abramson states that the college’s problematic free speech rating from the

Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression “predates the current leadership at

New College” and "stemmed from the wording of some old student conduct codes that

we have since improved.”

However, the latest revision of New College Regulation 6-3005 Student Code of

Conduct took place Nov. 19, 2024, 21 months into Corcoran’s presidency. The latest

free speech rating is dated April 5, 2025.

The problematic current rating shouldn’t be attributed to any prior administration.

Second, Abramson writes that “faculty and staff who announce a desire to undermine

the (college’s) mission” aren’t welcome. Was this why Professor Erik Wallenberg was

dismissed from the college?

Did his public criticism of Gov. Ron DeSantis and New College Trustee Christopher

Rufo “announce a desire to undermine the mission”?

I believe professors should be allowed to say whatever they want on their own time.

This is part of academic freedom − or just freedom. I suspect that for Abramson,

professors should watch what they say outside of work or face consequences.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much room here for compromise: Either one believes in the

freedom I described, or one doesn’t.

Rodrigo Díaz, alum, New College Class of 1991, Tampa