Arrr, me hearties! Gender studies be walkin' the plank at a state school. Listen ye, why it be matterin'!
2023-08-11
Arr, me hearties! The scallywags at New College o' Florida be votin' to scrap their gender studies program this fine week. I be one o' the board o' trustees, and let me spill the beans on what went down and why 'tis the wise choice, ye see.
On Thursday, the New College of Florida board of Trustees voted to abolish the university's gender studies program, making it the first public university in America to take this step. This decision is part of a broader transformation that aims to revive classical liberal education and restore the founding mission of the college. In January, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appointed a group of reformers, including the author, to the New College board of trustees.In the first few months, significant changes were made to the college's administration, including firing the president and replacing the provost. This led to student protests and media condemnation, but the board continued their work. These changes have already shown positive results, with the interim president securing new funding, launching a campus-renovation plan, and recruiting the largest incoming class in the college's history.
The faculty has also undergone changes, with many ideological, left-wing professors leaving the university. In their place, new hires with Ph.D.s from prestigious institutions and a commitment to classical liberal education have been recruited. Given the college's new mission, the trustees decided to abolish the gender studies program, which had affiliations with a significant portion of faculty.
The decision to abolish the program is supported by three arguments. First, public universities should align with the mandate of the taxpayers who support them. Second, there is a precedent for abolishing academic departments that prioritize ideological activism over scholarly mission. Finally, the mission of New College is to restore classical liberal education, which is incompatible with gender studies and queer theory.
Overall, the decision to abolish the gender studies program at New College of Florida sets a new historical precedent and showcases the ability of civic-minded leaders to reorient public universities towards higher principles.