Documentary 'First They Came For My College' Explores Alleged Hostile Takeover of New College of Florida
A new documentary titled 'First They Came For My College' investigates the alleged 'hostile takeover' of New College of Florida. The film, directed by Patrick Bresnan, aims to document the changes at the institution following actions taken by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. According to the source, DeSantis replaced the entire Board of Trustees with political allies on January 6, 2023. These new trustees, many of whom reportedly had few ties to Florida or New College, proceeded to implement significant changes, including the firing of then-president Patricia Okker and refusing tenure for several professors. The documentary highlights the perspective of students and faculty who believe these actions are part of a broader effort to transform higher education in Florida, moving away from what they describe as 'radical acceptance' towards a more 'patriotic education' model. The film features student Gaby Batista and other New College students who chronicled these events.