John Oliver Takes Aim at New College of Florida, Calling DeSantis’ Conservative Campus Experiment a Costly Failure
For years, conservatives have argued that America’s universities have become dominated by progressive ideology, creating campuses that prioritize activism over education. Few politicians embraced that argument more aggressively than Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who launched one of the most ambitious higher education overhauls in modern American history.
His chosen target was New College of Florida, a small public liberal arts institution in Sarasota long known for its unconventional academic culture and progressive student body. Now, more than three years after the takeover began, comedian and political commentator John Oliver has devoted an entire episode of Last Week Tonight to examining what happened next. His conclusion was blunt. The experiment, Oliver argued, has become a cautionary tale of political ideology colliding with academic reality.
The Conservative Takeover
The transformation began in 2023 when DeSantis appointed six conservative allies to the school’s Board of Trustees. Among them was activist Christopher Rufo, one of the leading figures behind the national movement against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Rufo made no effort to disguise the mission. He openly described the effort as a “hostile takeover” designed to create a blueprint that other Republican-led states could use to reshape public universities. The board moved quickly.
University leadership was replaced, and former Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran was installed as president. Programs associated with diversity and gender studies became immediate targets. Supporters argued the reforms would restore intellectual diversity and redirect the institution toward a classical liberal arts education. Critics viewed the changes as an ideological purge designed to eliminate viewpoints conservatives disliked.
Dismantling Existing Programs
One of the earliest controversies involved the elimination of New College’s gender studies program. According to Oliver, the program operated on an annual budget of roughly $7,000 and relied on a part-time manager. Despite its relatively small footprint, it became one of the administration’s first targets. The school’s diversity center was also emptied out, with books and materials collected by students reportedly removed from the facility.
To supporters of the reforms, these moves represented the elimination of politically driven programs that had expanded far beyond their original purpose. To opponents, they signaled a broader effort to erase parts of the institution’s identity.
Faculty Walkouts and Academic Disruption
The most significant impact may have been felt in the classroom. Within months of the takeover, more than one-third of New College’s faculty had either resigned, retired, taken leave, or departed under pressure. Faculty departures on that scale would challenge any university. For a small institution with limited staffing, the consequences were immediate. Students suddenly found themselves unable to access courses required for their degrees.
Oliver highlighted the case of a marine biology student who reportedly discovered there were no available classes in her field because the faculty members responsible for teaching them were no longer there. The departures fueled accusations that political goals had taken precedence over educational stability.
A Growing List of Controversies
As the administration attempted to reshape the school, several personnel decisions generated national headlines. One proposal involved the creation of a “Cancel Cancel Culture Center,” a project that reportedly sought millions in state funding to host speakers and events focused on free speech and ideological diversity. Critics questioned whether taxpayer money should fund what they viewed as a politically branded initiative.
Meanwhile, some hires created embarrassing distractions. Communications Director Fred Piccolo, a longtime political operative connected to both DeSantis and Corcoran, was arrested on indecent exposure charges shortly after joining the institution. Another controversial appointment involved David Rancourt, a Florida lobbyist with little traditional higher-education experience who was placed in a senior student affairs role. For Oliver, these incidents reinforced a broader argument that political loyalty had become more important than expertise.
The Athlete Recruitment Strategy
Perhaps no aspect of the transformation generated more attention than the administration’s aggressive athletic expansion. Historically, New College was not known as a sports powerhouse. The institution focused primarily on academics and attracted students interested in a highly individualized educational experience. That changed dramatically.
According to reports cited by Oliver, administrators lowered admissions standards and launched a massive athletic recruitment campaign designed to increase enrollment and alter campus demographics. The most notable example involved baseball. Out of 328 incoming students, 115 were athletes, including approximately 70 baseball players.
The number drew immediate scrutiny because New College did not yet possess a traditional baseball program or dedicated baseball facilities when many of those recruits were admitted. Critics accused the administration of using athletics as a tool to reshape campus culture rather than enhance educational opportunities. Supporters countered that expanding athletics was necessary to increase enrollment and stabilize the institution’s finances.
Housing Problems and Student Frustration
The influx of athletes created additional complications. Returning students reported being displaced from housing to make room for incoming recruits. For seniors who expected to finish their college careers in established campus housing, the changes became another source of frustration. The controversy further fueled perceptions that the administration was prioritizing rapid expansion over the needs of existing students.
The Cost of Reinvention
While political battles dominated headlines, financial concerns increasingly attracted scrutiny. According to state audit findings discussed during Oliver’s segment, the public cost associated with producing each degree at New College surged dramatically after the takeover. The figure reportedly approached half a million dollars per graduate in 2024, making it one of the most expensive outcomes within Florida’s public university system. At the same time, administrative spending expanded significantly.
Corcoran’s compensation package, reportedly exceeding $1 million annually, placed him among the highest-paid university leaders in the state despite overseeing one of its smallest institutions. Supporters argue such investments are necessary during periods of major institutional transformation. Critics see the spending as evidence that political leaders are rewarding allies while demanding austerity from students and faculty.
A National Blueprint or a Warning Sign?
The battle over New College extends far beyond Sarasota. Both supporters and opponents recognize the institution has become a national symbol. Conservatives view the effort as a test case for reclaiming universities they believe have become ideologically captured by the left. Progressives see it as a demonstration of how political power can be used to dismantle academic independence. That larger significance explains why New College continues attracting attention from national media figures, politicians, and activists across the country.
The Future Remains Uncertain
Christopher Rufo has since stepped down from the Board of Trustees, while former football coach Urban Meyer has joined the board. Meanwhile, Corcoran has repeatedly argued that the transformation should not be judged prematurely. He maintains that meaningful results will not be fully visible until 2028, when enrollment goals, academic reforms, and institutional restructuring have had time to mature. Critics note that 2028 also coincides with the expiration of his current contract.
For John Oliver, however, the verdict is already in. He portrayed the New College experiment as a classic example of political actors capturing an institution they claimed to want to save, only to weaken the very academic foundation that made it valuable in the first place. Whether history ultimately agrees remains an open question. What is clear is that New College of Florida has become one of the most closely watched higher education experiments in America a battle over ideology, governance, and the future purpose of public universities that is far from over.
