A transgender girl was invited to give a speech at the campus of the small liberal arts college that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is working to turn into one that leans liberal.
Erin Reed, an impartial journalist, was invited to speak as a guest speaker at the New College of Florida’s public policy conversation, which is being held there as part of an effort. According to the invitation, there would be at least one listener “on each part” of the subject “gender is a cultural construct.” Additionally, the conversation may be moderated.
The proposal, which Reed shared on X, previously Online, reads,” It would be our respect to welcome you to our campus.”
Reed told Newsweek that she has n’t planned to attend the school conversation, despite having previously debated people with opposing viewpoints, including liberal activist Chris Rufo, who DeSantis appointed to the board of trustees of New College of Florida.
The governor hopes that DeSantis will transform the New College of Florida into a” Hillsdale of the South” —a reference to the conservative Christian liberal arts college in Michigan—in his bold and significant changes, which he made earlier this year as spokesman for Florida’s education policies.
Rufo, a vociferous defender of the conversation of LGBTQ+ issues and critical race theory in institutions, is one of those directors.
The New College of Florida has long been praised for its distinctive education method and has consistently been named one of the nation’s “gay-friendly” schools. However, because Sarasota College is a public institution, it has been impacted by DeSantis ‘ anti- LGBTQ+ plans.
Under the fresh conventional management, the New College of Florida has” committed itself to becoming a lighthouse for those who embrace free speech and legal conversation,” and one of those methods has been the introduction of televised debate line, according to Newsweek.
According to school spokeswoman Nathan March,” Our goal is to support attentive and reasoned dialogue about significant issues of the day.” ” In these discussions, we seek to include the best and brightest in certain areas. We are currently contacting those who want to have a conversation about significant issues. When we ask them to participate, prospective speakers are free to decline. However, we think that when different factors come together to respectfully and exchange ideas with the goal of improving our understanding of one another, society and academia may be enriched.
While there are” good and bad communities” for discussion, according to Reed, DeSantis ‘ invasion of the school places the university program among the latter. Reed disagreed with the school’s viewpoint.
It is not the right time or place to do so, she said, “given what we know about New College of Florida and how it has been changed to suit Ron DeSantis ‘ political will, how entire majors have been shut down and teachers forced out, as well as how they are actively trying to bully LGBT students into transferring out.”
Many New College of Florida individuals are reportedly leaving the state as a result of DeSantis ‘ efforts to copy the institution. Many of them are now relocating to institutions like Hampshire College in Massachusetts, which has offered to take any students who leave the school at the same education.
As a direct result of the governor’s campaign for “woke” education, fresh Citizens are leaving the state for education options, which contributes to the movement.
Florida high school students bound for college and 79 percent of current students enrolled in the state disagree with DeSantis ‘ policies, according to a March survey by the education magazine Intelligent.
One out of every 20 state college students say they intend to transfer schools as a result of his education policies, which nearly 13 % of graduating high school seniors cited as the reason they chose not to enroll in Florida state colleges.
Reed said,” No, I wo n’t travel to speak at DeSantis own college in a place where I will be arrested using the restroom,” in response to the invitation posted on social media.
Following a legal rights issue alleging continued prejudice against “protected organizations” like LGBTQ+ students, the Department of Education started an investigation into the trustees of the New College of Florida in September. The issue cited the replacement of gender-neutral bathroom signs with traditional ones, which it claimed made nonbinary college students feel angry.
The topic of gender as a social create, according to Reed, had little to do with her monitoring and activism. She claimed that the invitation to debate was” so honestly absurd that it’s interesting.”
I am a journalist who writes about political attacks on LGBTQ individuals, legislation prohibiting citizens from using the restroom and taking medication, and other issues. She added that she had spoken with some unique students about setting up a counterdebating with student groups rather than the college administration.” I tend to stay away from the “philosophical” side of things,” she said, adding that her knowledge base is much more focused on the materials reality of LGBTQ people across the country.
Update 11/10/23 11:08 a.m. ET: New College of Florida opinions were added to this account.
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Newsweek is dedicated to debating conventional wisdom and making links while looking for common ground.
