A Different Kind of Jan. 6th
New College alums have our own remembrance
Today there are a lot of posts all over social media sharing the January 6th event most people know about: the MAGA uprising of 2021. (I often think of it happening in 2020 because it is so closely tied to the presidential election of the previous November, but nope, it was 2021.)
Two years later, New College of Florida suffered its own attack, this one unfortunately far more successful, when Gov. DeSantis appointed a six “conservatively-aligned” members to the NCF Board of Trustees.
I have to be honest with you: even as a NC grad (‘88-’92) I barely knew what the New College Foundation did, or why it existed. Politics and higher ed in general were not my jam, and after I graduated my personal life went through a series of catastrophic tragedies that sheared me away from my former collegiate community. I gave money to the Foundation when I had it, and occasionally flipped through the Nimbus when it showed up in my mailbox.
But then…January 6th, 2023.
Word spread like wildfire, as did panic and despair. It was almost too much to deal with, and I know a few people simply put down the whole matter and walked away:
“New College is gone. It’s been conquered and destroyed. We have to move on!”
But then I saw people stepping up to do something. Alt-Grad 2023 happened on a wing and a prayer and a whole lot of moxie; a bunch of news outlets and journalists took note; alumni started meeting, then organizing.
It reminded me of what it meant to be a part of New College.
Yes, I went to the 50th Reunion in 2010, fresh off a divorce and dead broke and looking like hell (no pictures, please!). It was fun to see people and visit campus, but it was just an excursion as I geared up for grad school and a new life.
But two years ago, as I watched both the Novo Collegian Alliance and NCF Freedom form, and saw people showing up every damn week for the town hall, and kept up with the NC(F) Daimon group on facebook, it put me back in the mix. I cared again.
Eventually I got hired to do the NCA newsletter, which in turn led to working as the part-time administrative coordinator for the organization. It’s been so impressive to see the work going on behind the scenes.
I am reminded every day of why New College is so unique and special: the people. The students, the alumni, the faculty, the staff! We are a strange little island of misfit toys but hot damn we are amazing!!!
Which is why, on this dreadful of days to remember what will likely go down as one of the worst events in New College history, I’d like to encourage people to donate to the NCA.
The organization has done some amazing things like supporting the alternative graduations ceremonies of the past two years (the full video of the 2024 event is online for you to watch!), alumni reunions, research travel grands for current students, and supported critical needs like personal hygiene supplies (which are what you think they are) on campus.
We’re in this together, and we’re in it for the long haul. I’m proud to be an alumna of New College of Florida.