Florida College Disposes of Hundreds of Books from Gender Diversity Library

A Florida college, influenced by the state’s Republican governor, has taken a drastic step by disposing of hundreds of library books that contain LGBTQ+ themes. This move is part of a larger conservative initiative that has attracted national attention toward New College of Florida, a small liberal arts institution in Sarasota.

Governor Ron DeSantis, a leading figure in the GOP and a former presidential candidate, aims to transform the campus into a model for pushing back against what he describes as “gender indoctrination” in higher education. The ongoing transformation of the school has resulted in an exodus of both students and faculty, further fueling Republican efforts to reshape higher education to align with party ideals.

Recently, a dumpster outside the Jane Bancroft Cook Library at New College overflowed with books and resources from the now-inactive Gender and Diversity Center. Videos captured a vehicle departing with the books before students were even made aware of the situation. Normally, students would have had the opportunity to purchase books that were being removed from the college’s library.

Among the books discarded were titles such as “Nine and Counting: The Women of the Senate,” “The War of the Worlds,” and “When I Knew,” a collection of personal stories from LGBTQ+ individuals sharing their experiences of self-discovery regarding their sexual orientation.

In response to coverage of the incident, New College spokesperson Nathan March claimed that the reports were misleading. He stated that the college was engaged in two distinct activities: conducting routine maintenance of its library and removing materials from the Gender and Diversity Center due to the discontinuation of the gender studies program.

“A library needs to regularly review and renew its collection to ensure its materials are meeting the current needs of students and faculty,” March asserted. He explained that the images circulating online showing the dumpster filled with library materials were part of the standard weeding process.

March also referred to Florida Statute 237 to justify why the books could not be donated or sold. However, the law does allow for the disposal of state-funded personal property through various means, including sales or transfers to other governmental entities or nonprofit organizations.

According to March, since no one claimed the books from the Gender and Diversity Center, they were relocated to a donation box behind the library. Notably, this donation box was situated just a few feet away from where the dumpster was located, and the college’s move-in day was scheduled for August 23, indicating that most students were not yet on campus.

Several students expressed frustration, stating they had not been informed about the GDC books being available for claiming. The faculty chair and board of trustees representative, Amy Reid, remarked on the implications of discarding books, asserting that doing so undermines democracy.

“Books are what matter,” Reid emphasized.

Fourth-year student Natalia Benavites pointed out that the discarded books bore the college’s seal and had a “discard” sticker affixed to their spines. When she inquired about the possibility of donating the books, she was told that state statute prohibited such actions for materials funded by state resources.

In addition to the library’s general materials, several books from the Gender and Diversity Center, which had existed separately on campus, were also disposed of. Benavites noted that many of these titles had been purchased individually and did not involve state funding.

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges and controversies surrounding educational institutions in Florida as they grapple with shifting political landscapes and the implications of new policies affecting curriculum and resources.

Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune