A new documentary, *First They Came for My College*, delves into the tumultuous events at New College of Florida, where the institution has become a flashpoint in the ongoing fight for academic freedom. The film sheds light on the sweeping changes imposed by Governor Ron DeSantis, who has targeted the liberal arts college in an effort to reshape it according to a conservative agenda.
A Sanctuary Under Siege
New College, a beacon of progressive education for over fifty years, has recently found itself under siege. In 2023, DeSantis took drastic measures to overhaul the institution’s leadership, removing long-standing trustees and replacing them with allies committed to eradicating what they deem “woke ideology.” This shift included the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes, alongside a controversial ban on critical race theory.
As the new board of trustees, which features individuals like Richard Corcoran, a former Florida House Speaker known for his divisive rhetoric, took control, the campus atmosphere dramatically shifted. Books authored by Black and Indigenous writers were reportedly discarded, and the university’s previously vibrant LGBTQ+ community faced increasing hostility.
Gaby Batista, a former student and activist featured in the documentary, reflected on the pervasive atmosphere of confusion and fear that gripped the campus community. “As a student at a public university, you don’t expect to learn the names of your board of trustees or see their actions directly affecting your life,” she stated. Batista’s experiences underscore a broader sentiment shared by students grappling with the loss of their beloved college identity.
Community Resilience Amidst Change
The film’s creators, director Patrick Bresnan and producer Harry W. Hanbury, aimed to capture the students’ struggle for their college’s soul. Their approach to filmmaking was deeply collaborative; they provided students with camera phones to document their protests, meetings, and personal reflections, allowing for a more authentic narrative.
Bresnan noted the importance of building trust with students who had grown wary of outsiders. “Instead of focusing on a large production team, we invested in getting to know the students,” he explained. This intimacy facilitated a storytelling dynamic that placed students at the forefront of their own narrative.
Footage captured by students vividly depicts the emotional responses to DeSantis’s administration, including protests marked by chants of “Only Nazis ban books.” The film also showcases students finding solace in community events, from exuberant drag performances to spirited celebrations, as they seek to reclaim their campus from the encroaching conservativism.
A Cautionary Tale
As the documentary unfolds, it raises critical questions about the purpose of higher education. Are universities merely businesses focused on profit, or do they serve a higher calling in expanding consciousness and fostering human development? These questions resonate deeply, especially in the context of escalating attacks on academic freedom across the United States.
Over the past few years, funding cuts and legislative pressures have led to the closure of numerous gender studies programmes and a chilling effect on academic discourse. Batista remarked on New College’s role as a “canary in the coalmine,” suggesting that the institution’s struggles reflect a broader national trend toward suppressing academic freedom.
Bresnan conveyed a sense of urgency in documenting these events: “At a certain point, the film became very serious in documenting our country’s turn toward fascist practices.” He hopes that *First They Came for My College* will serve as a historical record, prompting viewers to reflect on the implications of these actions for future generations.
Why it Matters
*First They Came for My College* serves as an urgent reminder of the fragility of academic freedom in today’s political climate. By spotlighting the resilient spirit of New College students, the documentary not only documents a specific struggle but also raises alarms about the broader implications of political interference in education. In an era when intellectual diversity is increasingly under threat, this film calls for vigilance and action to protect the principles of academic inquiry and freedom that lie at the heart of higher education.
