Overflowing Dumpsters and Unanswered Questions
In a controversial move, the New College of Florida has discarded hundreds of library books, including many focused on LGBTQ+ topics and religious studies, into a landfill. The disposal has sparked outrage among students and community members alike.
On Tuesday afternoon, a dumpster located in the parking lot of the Jane Bancroft Cook Library was seen overflowing with books and collections from the now-defunct Gender and Diversity Center (GDC). Video footage captured a vehicle driving away with the books before students were notified. In the past, students had the chance to purchase books that were being removed from the college’s library collection.
Books of significance discarded
Among the discarded titles were notable books such as “Nine and Counting: The Women of the Senate,” “The War of the Worlds,” and “When I Knew,” a collection of stories from LGBTQ+ individuals recounting when they realized they were gay. Before the books could be taken for disposal, local activists from the SEE Alliance and a few students managed to retrieve several books from the GDC.
New College’s official response
Following a report, New College spokesperson Nathan March issued a statement denying the allegations. He claimed the college was carrying out a routine “weeding” of its campus library and removing materials from the GDC due to the discontinuation of the gender studies program.
“A library needs to regularly review and renew its collection to ensure its materials are meeting the current needs of students and faculty,” March wrote. “The images seen online of a dumpster of library materials is related to the standard weeding process.”
March cited Florida Statute 237 as the reason the books could not be donated or sold. However, FS 237 actually allows New College to dispose of state-funded personal property by “selling or transferring the property to any other governmental entity … private nonprofit agency … (and) through a sale open to the public.”
He added that many books might have been damaged by water from Tropical Storm Debby. While the exact number of damaged books is unclear, the video of the book-filled dumpster did show some books with visible water damage.
March also mentioned that since no one claimed the GDC library books from their previous home in the Hamilton Center, they were moved to a location behind the library meant for book returns. The donation box, however, sits several feet from the book-filled dumpster, and with New College’s move-in day not until Aug. 23, most students were not on campus yet.
Condemnation from ACLU
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida issued a statement condemning the book disposal as a direct attack on free speech and academic freedom.
“This is not merely an administrative oversight; it is an intentional act of censorship that strikes at the heart of our democratic values and the very purpose of education,” said Bacardi Jackson, executive director of the ACLU of Florida.
Shocked faculty and student outcry
Several students mentioned that they were never informed about the availability of the GDC books for claiming. Before Thursday’s board of trustees meeting, Amy Reid, the faculty chair and representative on the board, expressed her shock upon learning about the book disposal. “When you throw away books, you also throw away democracy,” she remarked.
The incident has raised significant concerns about the transparency and decision-making processes at New College of Florida, prompting calls for better communication and accountability from the administration.
