Hundreds of books were removed from the library of New College of Florida in a dumpster, sparking controversy and drawing attention to the college’s involvement in the state’s culture wars. A board dominated by appointees of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who shut down the gender studies program at the liberal arts college, was at the center of the situation. Christopher Rufo, a DeSantis appointee, posted on social media about abolishing the program and discarding the books.

The American Civil Liberties Union criticized the college for what they called a censorious act. They compared the incident to historical attempts to control thought by erasing knowledge. However, New College administrators clarified that the discarded books were not from the gender studies program but were part of routine maintenance in the library to remove old and damaged books. Books specifically related to gender studies were reportedly set aside for donation locally.

A student who witnessed the book removal mentioned that most of the books that ended up in the dumpster were from the main library collection and not exclusive to gender studies. These books ranged from a variety of topics, such as art history, aesthetics, and psychology. The student expressed concern over the continuous changes happening on campus, with areas being dismantled and books discarded.

The campus, known for its progressive environment and LGBTQ+ community, has recently faced changes since the conservative shift in the Board of Trustees in early 2023. This included the closure of the gender studies program and the removal of various campus resources by the new administration. Professor Amy Reid, who led the gender studies program, expressed disappointment over the ongoing efforts to transform the campus environment negatively.

Student activists like Zander Moricz raised concerns about the removal of readable and apparently well-maintained books from the Gender and Diversity Center. The American Association of Libraries stated that while it is common for academic libraries to remove books that are in poor physical condition or outdated, controversial books should not be discarded solely based on their content.

The incident at New College of Florida has brought attention to the importance of book preservation and the continued debates on academic freedom within educational institutions.