An academic freedom watchdog voiced concern that New College of Florida (NCF) won’t respect speech from critics of slain[1] conservative activist Charlie Kirk. But New College President Richard Corcoran says the community can rest assured the school won’t apply a double standard.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE[2]) sent letters[3] marked “urgent” to Florida universities sounding alarms about a State University System (SUS) directive[4] from Chancellor Ray Rodrigues. In September, Rodrigues stressed to public universities that “celebrating or excusing campus violence — and in this case, the murder of Charlie Kirk — by members of our university system will not be tolerated.”
FIRE Faculty Legal Defense Fund Fellow Graham Piro in letter to Corcoran said the organization was horrified by Kirk’s killing, but is just as concerned about a crackdown on free speech by students and faculty voicing distaste for Kirk.
“While many may be offended by posthumous criticism of Kirk or celebration of his assassination, such expression is nonetheless protected by the First Amendment,” Piro wrote. “NCF’s First Amendment obligations bar it from investigating or punishing protected political expression — even that which some may view as poorly timed, tasteless, inappropriate, or controversial.”
Corcoran, though, said the school can respect free speech and still make sure political violence doesn’t fester at the Sarasota school.
“I wish to make clear: New College of Florida does not — and will not — punish constitutionally protected speech, regardless of whether such speech is considered offensive, controversial, or unpopular. Our institution’s obligations under the First Amendment are clear, and we will continue to honor them,” Corcoran wrote in response to Piro.
“At the same time, it is important to recognize that condemning violence is not equivalent to endorsing censorship. The assassination of Mr. Kirk was an abhorrent act that strikes at the very heart of free inquiry. Ensuring that our campus remains a place where dialogue can occur without fear of violence is entirely consistent with, and in fact essential to, our constitutional responsibilities.”
Of note, Kirk owned a Longboat Key home in Sarasota County, where New College is located. Following the 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder’s death, New College announced plans to commission a statue of Kirk[5] on campus. More recently, it was announced that the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative championship being hosted at New College next Spring will be named after Kirk[6] as well.
Corcoran, who has stressed the importance of open debate since taking over as President of the liberal arts school, met Kirk on multiple occasions.
This isn’t the first time New College under Corcoran has gone back and forth on the definitions of free speech and academic freedom, something the college President noted in his letter to Piro.
He said FIRE in 2023[7] wanted the university to punish NCF Trustee Christopher Rufo in 2023 over controversial statements the high education activist had made. FIRE at the time criticized New College for not renewing a contract for history professor Erik Wallenberg.
“Statements by New College trustee Christopher Rufo this week about Wallenberg’s non-renewal, as well as the circumstances surrounding his dismissal, strongly suggest that disagreement with Wallenberg’s viewpoints in teaching and extramural speech were motivating factors in the decision not to renew his contract,” FIRE Campus Rights Advocacy Director Alex Morey wrote in a letter to New College at the time.
Corcoran responded then that Rufo was not involved in personnel decisions at the university, but also noted the irony of FIRE encouraging punishing the Trustee for exercising his own right to free speech.
“Mr. Rufo’s comments did not state that the contract was not renewed for a retaliatory reason. Even if he had said this, his speech is still protected,” Corcoran wrote in a 2023 letter.
His most recent letter to FIRE noted that the exchange seemed to end there.
“You also have yet to respond to our response to your letter from June 8th, 2023, concerning Christopher Rufo and his First Amendment rights,” Corcoran wrote. “The letter is again enclosed, and calls into question your commitment to truly upholding ‘free speech.’ I think our letter merits a response.”
Above all, Corcoran stressed in his letter that New College will always “will always promote robust debate, safeguard free expression, and ensure the safety and dignity of all who participate in public discourse on our campus.”
“We reject both violence as a response to speech and censorship as a response to controversy,” Corcoran wrote.