A week ago, I listened to 2 faculty from The New College in Florida talk about their situation [View all]
Last edited Wed Feb 21, 2024, 06:08 PM - Edit history (1)
ATTENTION!! I made an error in naming the Iowa institution, the speaker was from University of Iowa.
I deeply apologize for my error.
There was also a faculty member from Iowa State about her situation as well.
The situation with New College is pretty horrific. Faculty are leaving in droves, programs are being canceled (like Women's Studies).
The student's murals were all painted over as part of "regular maintenance" over last summer. These were murals commissioned by the college before the takeover.
Many students are leaving as well.
Those who are left behind are extremely demoralized, depressed, and frightened. Every day is a struggle.
The professors do have a union, so even with canceled academic programs, they are given other duties at the college. However, the state legislature is seeking to end the union so that faculty can be fired at will.
Meanwhile, students are in a serious crisis. Many of them came to New College hoping to escape difficult family situations (many of them are LGBTQ+).
Now, they are trapped. Most of them cannot afford to go elsewhere, and many of them are vulnerable if they leave campus.
The faculty in Iowa reported much the same, although they do not get the news coverage that Florida does.
She said that she has had to completely redo her Art History curriculum to leave out all LGBTQ+ artists, such as: Leonardo, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Andy Warhol, not to mention so many artworks. She cannot teach ancient Greek art at all, since so much of it deals with the worship of the male body by men.
She said that she doesn't want to leave, though, because her students need her more than ever.
What a complete shitshow.
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