After 1500, Western civilization experienced the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, the Reformation, the Industrial Revolution, colonialism, the new world, the counter-reformation, Islam, religious wars, world wars, the scientific revolution, Marxism, socialism, utopianism, nuclear threats, the cold war, imperialism, alliances, nationalism, regional governments, global organizations, multinational corporations, global trade, the scientific revolution, urbanization, motorized transportation, electricity, radio, telephony, motion pictures, computers, Darwin, the agricultural revolution, and the internet.
In this unique period of tremendous change what is truly “conservative”? With this much change, conservativism might best be described as a philosophy that preserves the incremental progress of society!
DeSantis wins on 2 points as being more “conservative”, preserving the institutions, practices and values of our society. He is in favor of the traditional “nuclear family” as a preferred social model. New College is clearly more LGBTQ oriented. He favors the powerful against the common man. His acolytes have decided that they can govern New College in their way “because they can”. His budding presidential campaign is focused solely on his side, and he claims that he will destroy the opposition if given the power of the presidency which he “best understands”.
DeSantis claims to represent “traditional values” and organized religion. In reality, he represents only fundamentalist Christians. He is a reactionary. Not mainline Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Unitarians, Deists, Hindus, Muslims, Confucians, or agnostics. New College has a long tradition of students exploring and practicing various religious and spiritual traditions.
DeSantis claims that he is fighting against “wokeness”, a situation where the prevailing social, cultural and political views prevents other views from being expressed. New College is NOT the home of wokeness. Students value radical individualism. Each semester they have to convince a faculty member that their “program of study” will lead to graduation with a recognized major. Students generally “lean left” but seek to discover new worlds. Socially, there certainly are pressures to adopt the prevailing political views, but the radical individual ethos of New College has always protected students from domination by any group.
Viewing New College as a “child” of the last 500 years, it is dedicated to conserving the modern world of progress!
DeSantis proposes a radical reformation of the curriculum. New College seeks to preserve its model.
DeSantis proposes to introduce sports and Greek organizations. New College advocates for the preservation of its individual choice-based situation.
DeSantis proposes enrollment growth at any cost, simply for growth’s sake. New College has a more conservative view, restricting admission only to those who would benefit from its unique offerings.
DeSantis wants to transform NC into the “Hillsdale of the South”. New College wishes to remain true to its founding principles.
DeSantis is very concerned about “unusual” students. New College is inherently dedicated to individual rights.
DeSantis envisions a utopian “Hillsdale of the South”. That matches his religious beliefs but not those of Florida and USA students. New College has a long history of realistically surviving as a small, countercultural institution committed to its mission, vision and values. New College was founded on an idealistic basis but has accepted the constraints of reality.
DeSantis proposes a traditional standard curriculum for all students to ensure that they are acquainted/indoctrinated with western civilization. New College students have thrived for 50 years without these artificial restrictions.
DeSantis proposes a more standardized curriculum. New College has promoted extensive “independent study” to ensure that every student has a broad perspective that allows him or her, conservatively, to make proper judgements.
Finally, New College is firmly based upon individual responsibility. “In the final analysis, each student is responsible for the quality of their own education”. Ironically, this is the most extreme “conservative” principle. The individual is responsible. Not the university or faculty. Not the state. Not the parents. Not social classes. Not parents. Not expectations. Not history. Not random chance. Not race, gender or nationality. Not peer pressure.
In the “final analysis”, DeSantis is no conservative. He is a reactionary willing to do whatever it takes to claim a social conservative position to the right of Trump. New College is merely a pawn in his Quixotic quest.
Good News 