Charlie Kirk's legacy doesn't deserve statue on New College of Florida campus | Opinion

Before any name is etched into the landscape of New College of Florida, it is important to note that there are long-standing reasons why the campus honors individuals with its physical spaces.

Historically, this happens in three main cases:

1. Their relationship with the campus predates the college, such as Caples Hall, Cook Hall, Robertson Hall, Bonseigneur and the recognition of early landholders like Gen. Carl Spaatz and others
2. They had a long or meaningful relationship with the institution, as with Michalson and Bates Residence halls, emeritus faculty pavers, Chae Auditorium, Lincoln Diaz-Balart Park, the Nan Freeman Mural and the Kit Reilly Mango Grove,
3. They were donors who made tangible contributions to the school’s future: Hamilton Center, Rothenberg, Pritzker and Searing Halls, Sudakoff Center, Cook Library, Neal Park and the Beruff Family Field of Dreams.

But the late conservative figure Charlie Kirk – who New College plans to honor with a campus statue – meets none of these criteria.

Kirk was some sort of advocate of free speech – he spoke in measured tones and invited college students to “prove me wrong.”

But he was not, contrary to the New College’s thinking, a model of civil discourse.

Kirk’s rhetorical style was oppositional to the kind of rigorous debate practice once associated with the New College academic model.

He did not seek to understand – he sought to dominate.

He reveled in patronizing humiliation masquerading as genuine dialogue, where students were subjected to bad-faith demands to define terms, provoked to respond to unsubstantiated statements and required to endure constant interruptions meant to throw them off balance.

This is not in the New College tradition – and it does not promote true education. But it does send a clear message about what may now pass for civil discourse at New College.

This lump of bronze will not strengthen New College.

Indeed it will likely further isolate the school from prospective students who seek a rigorous, independent education.

It will likely further isolate the school from faculty members who value their own expertise and ability to speak freely.

And it will likely further isolate the school from the alumni community, from which New College has already seen a massive decline in donations and support.

Erecting this statue on campus is an obvious attempt to establish New College of Florida's identity as part of a political movement rather than a serious learning community.

It broadcasts what many of the administration’s actions have already implicitly expressed: New College's identity is no longer rooted in true scholarship or critical thinking, but rather in strict adherence to a political brand.

If that brand demands more conservative virtue signaling, then a Charlie Kirk statue is a great choice.

And its message will be clear: “New College will tell you what to think. Prove me wrong.

Kathleen Coty is the treasurer of NCF Freedom and a New College Charter Class alumna.