New College threw 'woke' books in trash. How would it treat Ringling's DEI art? | Opinion

During the Feb. 13 meeting of the New College of Florida Board of Trustees, I asked President Richard Corcoran the following question:  "Mr. President, could you tell us what your administration is doing to celebrate Black History Month?"

Unfortunately, Corcoran didn't reply.

New College used to celebrate Black History Month with official symposiums, musical performances and other events featured prominently on its website and social media. 

This changed in 2024 when the college spent Black History Month under President Corcoran for the first time. According to the student newspaper, the elimination of the college's office for diversity, equity and inclusion meant celebrations had to be organized by students and a few faculty with the college's Black Student Union playing a central role.

From various accounts and reports, Black History Month 2025 on the New College campus was also student-led with little support from administration. Judging from the college's website and social media, it would be difficult to say there was any official recognition of Black History Month at all. 

Perhaps this was to be expected: Last November, after all, Corcoran published "Storming the Ivory Tower,", a book in which he characterized activities on college campuses aimed at diversity, equity or inclusion as "woke ideology" and "indoctrination."  

FSU embraced Black History Month

What a contrast to Florida State University. Indeed, during this year's Black History Month:

• FSU's website featured an essay by the university's Coastal and Marine Laboratory celebrating the work of four Black marine scientists.
• FSU's Panama City campus hosted a public address by Shevaun Harris, secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families and an FSU alumna.
• FSU's College of Social Work held a Black History Month virtual panel as part of its Courageous Conversations series on social issues.

FSU also showcased a film about African American pastor Tony Lowden – a presentation that was a collaboration involving the university’s Civil Rights Institute, the Black Student Union, the College of Social Work and the Division of Student Affairs. 

Yes, FSU and New College approached Black History Month in dramatically different ways.

Ringling art promotes diversity, equity and inclusion

The Florida Legislature is currently considering a request by Gov. Ron DeSantis to transfer the management of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art from FSU to New College. The decision might seem simple, given New College's close proximity to the museum.

However, the Ringling recently featured "Enduring Light," an exhibition of photos depicting the lives of Black Americans and the civil rights struggle.

Currently, the museum is displaying "Embodied," an exhibition that includes a painting by Jake Troyli entitled "Superfan" – a work which, according to a statement posted in the gallery, deals with "the commodification of Black and Brown bodies." 

There is also a painting by Benny Andrews of the Black Emergency Cultural Coalition whose art has been noted for focusing "on figurative social commentary that depicts themes of oppression, war, inequality, and everyday occurrences in the world."

The exhibition also includes three pieces by Linda Stein, whose work, according to a post in the gallery, is relevant "for those individuals who have experienced marginalization and trauma around their gender, background, or sexuality." 

If control of the Ringling were transferred to New College, would the museum still curate exhibitions that President Corcoran might regard as "woke ideology" and "indoctrination"?

New College threw books in dumpster

We should remember that in August 2024, Corcoran's administration closed down New College's Gender and Diversity Center, a student-run facility that housed student art and memorabilia and a library of thousands of books donated over a quarter-century period.

Students were not consulted, and almost all the objects were thrown out – though many were rescued from the garbage heap when word spread about what was happening.

Museums and universities are places where people engage with culture – in various forms and through wide-ranging perspectives – to deepen their understanding of human experience. 

That's why as the Legislature considers whether to put the Ringling Museum of Art under New College of Florida's control, we need to ask if this would really result in positive change – and especially given the recent history of the possible new steward.

Rodrigo Díaz is a 1991 graduate of New College of Florida. He is a member of NCF Freedom and the Novo Collegian Alliance, two organizations formed to protect and promote the future of New College.