Selective free speech at New College
Here are two comments concerning Bruce Abramson’s June 23 guest column about 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
Protesters exhibited people power
In her column June 18, Ingrid Jacques claimed that the “No Kings” protests backfired on the protesters.
They assembled to protest governmental actions that violate democratic principles, but Ms. Jacques pointed out that our government allowed the protests and “did nothing to stop them,” thus proving that “our democracy is alive and well.”
For that, she thanked the protesters.
This overlooks the real beneficial results.
Five million people showed up at more than 2,000 sites, highlighting key issues like the need for social safety nets, exhibiting people power, encouraging greater involvement and amassing nationwide approval.
Richard L. Mizell, Sarasota
Americans paying price of disastrous regime
To the gentleman who told us we must ignore the media and support President Donald Trump’s success, I ask: What success?
Since he took office, we’ve seen our nation plunge into chaos and conflict, and become isolationist and aggressive, instead of being an international partner and peacemaker.
Our institutions have been decimated by an unelected tech magnate with a reported drug problem, and with his departure we are only just beginning to understand the carnage that he and his kid hackers have wrought.
Things are so bad that Moody’s downgraded our credit rating for the first time since 1949.
Our former allies are strategizing on how to function without us, as we’re now international pariahs.
Trump cozies up to dictators and does their bidding, while abandoning those with whom we’ve fought and traded for decades.
And now he’s taking us into an illegitimate war.
There is no winning here. All Americans have lost and are going to be paying the price of this disastrous regime for years to come.
We need the honest media now more than ever, as they provide our only way to know just how bad things are and how much worse they will get if he’s not stopped.
Tina Steele, Sarasota
Lawmakers: Stop sadistic federal agents
The recent video of an immigrant landscaper being arrested in California makes my blood boil.
These federal agents are sadistic and must be stopped.
What is wrong with our elected representatives, Reps. Greg Steube and Vern Buchanan, and Sens. Rick Scott and Ashley Moody?
Why are they not doing all they can to stop these heinous crimes from being committed by agents of our government?
It appears we now live in a police state with masked, cruel agents given license to arrest people and commit the real crimes.
Go to the lawmakers’ websites to find ways to contact them.
No matter what political party we claim, we must not allow this behavior to continue.
Linda Spoolstra, Sarasota
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Free speech doesn’t exist for all at New College of Florida | Letters
Reporting by Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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