“The whole New College experience has been a complete (expletive).”
That’s what talk show host John Oliver said about New College of Florida near the end of a segment spotlighting the school during Sunday night’s episode of HBO’s “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.”
It was probably the nicest thing Oliver said at all about New College.
In fact, I’m betting Oliver is still heavily icing down his feet from the two-footed tail-kicking he administered to New College during the segment – and it’s been several hours since it aired.
Talk about going in hard!
Wow.
Here are the top three takeaways worth, um, taking away from Oliver’s commentary on the conservative takeover of New College.
New College still has work to do
In the three years since New College underwent its controversial rebranding from a small progressive liberal arts school into a heavily conservative institution with a classical focus, school President Richard Corcoran and many others have worked hard to attach a sense of gravitas and importance to the school’s new mission.
New College is a shining beacon of free speech, they say.
New College is leading the way in remaking and reshaping higher education in America, they say.
New College is writing a rousing success story, they say.
But as Oliver’s segment made clear, New College still has major image work ahead in trying to convince people that it should be a source of admiration and inspiration rather than one of mockery and scorn.
We sure don’t have to wonder which side Oliver comes down on.
Christopher Rufo’s legacy lives on. That’s a bad thing
It’s now obvious that any benefits the reborn New College gained by having Christopher Rufo as a board trustee – and by allowing such an obnoxious figure to be the early face of the ‘new’ New College – pale in comparison to the toxic stench that still clings to its clothing after hugging Rufo so tightly.
Rufo has been gone from the New College of Florida Board of Trustees for months now.
Yet Rufo’s dark legacy is still relevant and fresh enough that Oliver devoted a significant portion of the New College segment to ridiculing the guy and the school’s association with him.
Oliver is a funny dude
Whether you like Oliver or not, there’s no denying he’s a brilliant comedian and talk host.
And the New College segment served as yet another reminder of Oliver’s talent as an entertainer.
Here’s hoping the ice helps his sore feet.
Opinion Editor Roger Brown can be reached at roger.brown@heraldtribune.com. Follow him on X at RBrown_HTOpin.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: 3 thoughts on John Oliver’s look at New College of Florida | Opinion
Reporting by Roger Brown, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Roger Brown, Sarasota Herald-Tribune | USA TODAY Network
