As such, we work closely with community organizations and require our students to complete internships related to their courses.
Gender Studies at New College is an interdisciplnary academic program and Area of Concentration that explores, analyzes, and questions "gender" and related issues of social, individual, historical, and cultural identities and representations. Drawing on continuing scholarly developments in the Natural and Social Sciences and in the Humanities, Gender Studies at New College encompasses work that c
06/25/2025
Culture War (video/Documentary:TU) (id: 22197) | Mometu Culture War Culture War 0:27:55 / 2025 / NR A small Liberal Arts College in Sarasota, FL finds itself in a culture war against the government for the basic right of educational freedom. Now, the community must learn how to find resistance amid a reality they didn't sign up for. Genres Documentary LG...
12/30/2024
A big cheer to all Novo Feminists -- long may we continue to stand up for our rights, for education, and for books (we can't forget the GDC books!) https://msmagazine.com/2024/12/28/ms-magazine-top-feminists-2024/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR18OzaqC17e8woDwjpf-G0CV-2O_GJ2lT8Lf6DxHa252c-z8pRKQOPiyBk_aem_5KYXYroGU_P23YjbShD53g
Ms. Magazine’s Top Feminists of 2024 - Ms. Magazine From top athletes, to community activists, to badass lawmakers, here are our 25 picks for the top U.S. feminists of 2024, and two of the best things they did or said.
08/24/2024
an excellent article by Ryan Quinn in Issues in Higher Ed:
New College of Florida dumping books—and losing professors The conservative transformation of the institution continues, with gender studies texts being tossed and the faculty chair, plus other professors, taking leave.
08/24/2024
A recent interview with Amy Reid and Carrie Baker in Ms Magazine -- of interest to all who care about the NCF GSP
From the Frontlines of the MAGA War on Higher Education: The Ms. Q&A With New College of Florida Professor Amy Reid - Ms. Magazine From the Frontlines of the MAGA War on Higher Education: The Ms. Q&A With New College of Florida Professor Amy Reid
09/05/2023
A really lovely view of the murals so thoughtfully installed by Novos.... and recently painted over https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/new-college-students-describe-the-meanings-of-murals-wiped-out-by-new-admin-s-beautifying-191863365508?fbclid=IwAR2tptxfJ1F7OjRTKi-KYrJtn2gciFM9Hyl9nj0AaHuBdYU84sw5ZCj86zA
New College students describe the meanings of murals wiped out by new admin's 'beautifying' Student artists at New College of Florida engaged in a mural project beginning last fall, decorating the exterior walls of the campus’ Fine Arts Complex with elaborate, colorful murals. This summer, without warning, the new administration, bent on expunging the school's existing culture in service...
Here is the text of the comments I made at the BoT on August 10 in Defense of the Gender Studies Program. Honor & respect!
To: The NCF Board of Trustees
From: Amy Reid, Member of the NCF Board of Trustees;
Professor of French & Director of the New College Gender Studies Program
Re: Clarification about the NCF Gender Studies Program
Date: August 10, 2023
“We stand with Gender Studies.
Women’s and Gender Studies have been central to the American Liberal Arts for 50
years. Established at New College as a joint-disciplinary AOC in 1995, our Gender Studies Program (GSP) has grown because of the participation and support of faculty in all three Divisions. We recognize the value of the GSP for the College’s Liberal Arts curriculum, as a hub of interdisciplinary inquiry for faculty and students, and as a significant resource for programming for the whole campus community.”
On April 12, the above statement in support of the Gender Studies Program was unanimously endorsed by the New College Faculty.
I share it with you today because of on-going attacks against our program by individual members of this Board and others affiliated with the Administration. Last week, for example, Interim President Corcoran extoled to this Board an opinion piece written by alum Bob Allen that maligned our program and specifically targeted three faculty members, one of whom has since resigned while another sits before you as a member of this Board (see the August 1, 2023 “Updates” sent to the BoT from [email protected]). Today I want to set the record straight.
The GSP was founded in 1995, when the Faculty approved offering a “joint-disciplinary AOC,” just a few months before I was hired. Over the years, I was part of a cohort of new and senior faculty who built an interdisciplinary program that responded to student interest, supported faculty development, and reflected the curricula at the country’s best colleges and universities. For years we had no real budget, just occasional grants for programming; when I was named the first Director of the program, I received no salary. Still the program grew, although we had no “in field” faculty, because of the dedicated faculty who served on our Steering Committee and with the support of affiliates from across the campus. We began offering a full AOC (or major) in 2014 and finally, in 2018, the College hired its first faculty member whose doctorate and primary teaching responsibility was in Gender Studies.
We are a small program with a limited budget (a few thousand dollars for programming and OPS funds for a less-than-halftime office manager), but we have generally graduated between 2-8 “AOCs” each year and have contributed to campus life in significant ways: cosponsoring talks and workshops; hosting our “Feminist Friday” brown bag series; and supporting student research with our Bates Awards, named one of the early faculty members—I’m sure alumni on this Board remember Peggy Bates well. Last year we had 11 Bates Award recipients, which reflects both the academic ambitions of our students and the rigor and mentorship which are the hallmarks of a New College education.
Unsurprisingly, the GSP has been particularly hard hit by the “ridiculously high” number of faculty departures, to borrow a phrase from Provost Brad Thiessen. Among the faculty who have resigned, taken early retirement, or gone on unpaid leave for the coming year are a dozen GSP affiliates: professors of Biology and Chemistry, Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology, and Political Science, Music, Religion, English, French, and Creative Writing. Hear the scope of that loss for the College, and understand that while each of those faculty members had primary teaching responsibilities in a given field, they also each recognized Gender Studies as an integral part of that academic tradition and as an important component of the American Liberal Arts for half a century.
What will Gender Studies do this fall? We will, like others before us, “persist.” Over 40 students completed the Introduction to Gender Studies course which was offered in both Fall and Spring semesters last year, due to high student interest. We, the faculty, New College, the institution, and we on this Board have a responsibility to continue to offer the courses necessary for students who want to complete AOCs in Gender Studies—including several members of the incoming 2023 class. When students ask me about the future of Gender Studies at New College, I generally reply, “I am here,” and today I’ll add, with a nod to Michèle Lalande, the poet of Québec’s Révolution Tranquille, “I am not alone.” Our current course schedule lists 2 courses in Gender Studies and 2 cross-listed courses, plus an additional 11 “gender studies-eligible courses” taught by faculty in Art & Art History, Anthropology, Biology, Classics, History, Literature, Sociology, Religion and, yes, French.
Finally, I will remind this Board that beyond our responsibility to support the academic program of the College, per BOG regulation 8.012, the termination of any degree program must follow an established process that includes “review by the appropriate curriculum, financial, and administrative councils of the university; A plan to accommodate any students or faculty who are currently active in a program; [… and] A process for evaluation and mitigation of any potential negative impact [… ] on current representation of faculty and students.”
We are still here -- and we are not alone!
On Thursday, August 10, the NCF Board of Trustees voted (against my strong opposition) to begin the process of dismantling our Gender Studies Program. While I couldn't stop that ill-conceived and irresponsible move, I can assure you all that our Gender Studies program is still here, that we are looking forward to welcoming students back to campus in just 2 weeks, and that we will continue to provide spaces for learning and discussion and support on campus -- including our Feminist Friday series. The GSP was built on the support of faculty, students & staff across the campus and will continue thanks to that support.
Please reach out with questions.
Honor & Respect to all -- Amy Reid
Thanks NMNC. Solidarity and freedom to study and learn and be challenged for all. For anyone who missed it, today the current Board of Trustees voted 7-3 to move towards abolishing the Gender Studies program (see Sarasota-Herald Tribune, Tampa Bay Times, Chronicle of Higher Education, etc.). Dr. Amy Reid's statement presented to the Board today is an important account of the history, impact, and value of this academic program.
05/01/2023
Sharing this interesting and informative article from NursingClio--a health history newsletter that's good to know about!
Pennyroyal, Mifepristone, and the Long History of Medication Abortions Around midnight on September 16, 1866, Dr. W. A. Wilcox of Saint Louis, Missouri, was called to the home of “Mrs. L,” a thirty-year-old married mother of two. Mr. L had been out for the evening and…
To all Novocollegians --
Yesterday was a hard day for our community. Decisions made by our Board of Trustees will have devastating long term consequences for our academic program -- consequences that are borne more directly and more immediately by 5 of our most dedicated and inspiring teachers.
In Haiti, folks typically acknowledge each other with greetings of: Onè! Respè!: Honor and Respect.
That is what I want to say this morning to Becca, Hugo, Gerardo, Lin, Nassima and Matt -- and to all of us who've been working to uphold the mission and ideals of New College these last trying months.
Honor & Respect
Courage to all,
Amy
So glad that the NCF Faculty spoke up on behalf of the Gender Studies Program!
To: The NCF Community From: The NCF Faculty
re: Statement in Support of Gender Studies Date: April 17
At our meeting on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, the New College Faculty unanimously endorsed the following statement in support of the Gender Studies Program.
“We stand with Gender Studies.
Women’s and Gender Studies have been central to the American Liberal Arts for 50
years. Established at New College as a joint-disciplinary AOC in 1995, our Gender Studies Program (GSP) has grown because of the participation and support of faculty in all three Divisions. We recognize the value of the GSP for the College’s Liberal Arts curriculum, as a hub of interdisciplinary inquiry for faculty and students, and as a significant resource for programming for the whole campus community.”
On behalf of the New College Faculty Matt Lepinski
Chair of the Faculty [email protected]
Nicolas Delon
Vice-Chair of the Faculty [email protected]
Drawing on continuing scholarly developments from discipline across campus, Gender Studies at New College encompasses work that could also be called women’s studies, masculinity studies, le***an and gay studies, q***r studies, or feminist studies; it also intersects with the issues raised in the various fields of ethnic studies.
We encourage students to explore gender and sexuality as social and cultural concepts that have real impacts on their selves, and to translate their knowledge into practices that improve the lives of marginalized groups. As such, we work closely with community organizations and require our students to complete internships related to their courses. We also host nationally-known lecturers, bring field-leading guest instructors for our January term student projects, and hold weekly informal conversations on current topics. Your support makes these events possible, and, in so doing, helps us provide a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ students and contribute to a broader sense of inclusion on campus where all students feel valued.