A new documentary titled *First They Came For My College* delves into the tumultuous changes at Florida’s New College, a once-celebrated bastion of liberal arts education. The film captures how the institution, home to a mere 700 students, became a focal point in Governor Ron DeSantis’s contentious campaign against what he terms “woke ideology.” With significant alterations made to its administrative structure and curriculum, the documentary paints a vivid picture of the struggle for academic freedom in an increasingly politicised educational landscape.
A Historical Transformation
Over the span of 50 years, New College cultivated an environment characterised by independent thought and progressive values. However, in 2023, this legacy was abruptly challenged when Governor DeSantis intervened by overhauling the school’s board of trustees. Appointing a group of conservative allies, he aimed to reshape the college into an institution reminiscent of Michigan’s Hillsdale College, which is known for its evangelical orientation.
The impact was immediate and severe. Books by Black and Indigenous authors were discarded, and the gender studies department faced closure. The campus atmosphere shifted dramatically, as students reportedly felt compelled to suppress their identities and personal expressions due to rising homophobic sentiments. In an emblematic act of disregard for the college’s heritage, a beloved community garden was bulldozed to make way for a baseball stadium.
Student Activism and Community Response
As the atmosphere at New College soured, students mobilised to reclaim their institution. Gaby Batista, a prominent protest leader and former editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper *The Catalyst*, remarked on the confusion sparked by these rapid changes. “As a student at a public university, you don’t expect to have to learn the names of your trustees or directly engage with their policies,” she reflected.
The documentary provides a unique lens into this student-led resistance. Director Patrick Bresnan and producer Harry W Hanbury endeavoured to tell the students’ stories authentically, engaging them directly in the filmmaking process. By distributing camera phones to students, they allowed young voices to contribute to the narrative, showcasing real-time protests and personal moments of reflection. The outcome is a vivid tapestry of student life amid upheaval.
“Once we knew we were on the same wavelength, we were like, ‘Let’s do the damn thing,’” Batista stated, highlighting the collaborative spirit that emerged from the crisis.
The Broader Context of Higher Education
*First They Came For My College* does not merely recount events at New College; it situates them within a broader attack on higher education instigated by the former Trump administration. The film illustrates the alarming trend of funding cuts to universities that resist conforming to political agendas, a move that has led to the closure of numerous gender studies departments across the United States.
As the filmmakers document the resistance at New College, they invite viewers to consider fundamental questions about the purpose of universities. “What are universities for?” one student questions in the film. “Are they businesses to extract wealth from people, or are they places where we not only expand consciousness but also gain skillsets to improve humanity?”
A Cautionary Tale
The film’s title evokes a sense of foreboding, emphasising that the situation at New College serves as a warning for the future of academic freedom. Bresnan’s stark assertion that “this is fascism” encapsulates the filmmakers’ belief that the ongoing assault on educational institutions represents an urgent threat to democratic values.
As Batista aptly concludes, “We were the canary in the coalmine. New College was their little political playground.” The documentary is poised to resonate with audiences, drawing parallels to historical moments of civil rights struggles and underscoring the need to remember and learn from these challenging times.
*First They Came For My College* premiered at the True/False documentary festival and is scheduled to screen at the South by Southwest festival on 12 March.
Why it Matters
The events unfolding at New College reflect a troubling trend in the United States, where educational institutions are increasingly becoming battlegrounds for ideological conflicts. This documentary not only raises awareness about the erosion of academic freedom but also galvanises public discourse around the essential role of universities in fostering critical thinking and diversity. As political pressures mount, the fight for safeguarding educational integrity remains more crucial than ever.
