Sarasota, FL - New College of Florida reinstated a controversial course on "wokeness" taught by Andrew Doyle, amid criticism of the institution's conservative transformation under Governor Ron DeSantis's administration.
New College of Florida has reinstated a course on “wokeness” to its catalog after its earlier removal sparked criticism.
The course, titled The 'Woke' Movement, is taught by British media personality Andrew Doyle, known for his outspoken critiques of "woke culture."
Initially included in a November 9 prospectus, the course was later omitted from subsequent versions before reappearing on November 15, without Doyle’s name attached in internal enrollment systems.
The administration attributed the discrepancies to confusion over course listings, confirming the course was never officially canceled.
The course describes "wokeness" as "a kind of cult" with illiberal methods, featuring a reading list that includes works by Judith Butler, Ibram X. Kendi, and Doyle himself.
Also included are books by Christopher Rufo, Vivek Ramaswamy, and John McWhorter, reflecting a critical view of contemporary social justice movements.
Students expressed concerns about the course's ideological leanings, citing a lack of balance under the college's new conservative administration.
Recent changes at New College, driven by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and a restructured board, have led to staff and student departures amid accusations of creating a hostile learning environment.
Doyle, employed as a presidential scholar, gained prominence through his satirical Twitter persona Titania McGrath and his commentary on conservative media outlets such as GB News.
His inclusion at New College is part of a broader wave of right-leaning hires aimed at transforming the institution into a conservative model for higher education.
The controversy over Doyle’s course and other ideological hires reflects the heightened national focus on New College as a testing ground for reshaping American academia.
Critics argue the changes have prioritized political agendas over academic rigor, further polarizing the campus climate.