Is Sydney Gruters using restricted New College Foundation donations to pay Richard Corcoran's bloated compensation? Plus, the education of a New College President.
Corcoran's salary is as outrageous as the ideological takeover of New College. This is indicative of the larger malaise that has cast a huge pall over higher education in Florida. We are quickly becoming an academic pariah.
I agree. Good people can disagree about academic curriculum and whether DEI programs go too far, but these disagreements should not be exploited as a springboard to gut a fine public college. Floridians lose when academic performance is sacrificed at the altar of political ambition, but that's where we are.
Regent and Liberty. Two phony baloney schools. I'm not anti- religion. Notre Dame, Fordham- both founded in religious principles and yet manage to stay schools of repute. Anyway I find it hard to believe that Corcoran's drive is religiously-grounded, or at least nothing more than the dark Christian Nationalism that passes for religion today. He is all about money. When it starts to dry up, and it will one day, he will be gone to the next ATM opportunity.
Thanks for your comment. If you have a look at Richard Corcoran's past statements as a legislator, it seems to me he believes he is on a mission. Given his writings and statements, I believe it's a strong possibility he believes he is on a holy mission.
From where I sit, his education at the law school founded by the Christian Broadcasting Network is important. This country has a history of following televangelists who are enriching themselves while amassing their flock and not necessarily walking their talk. Corcoran's political career look similar to me - preaching a message of accountability and results, but failing to deliver and enriching himself along the way. I'll be writing about that in Part Two.
Thank you for reading and commenting Ben. It is terrible to see how a school with such a great academic history is being gutted, while the ones doing it are enriching themselves.
Thanks for your comment Mike. Public institutions owe the public transparency about their funding. Public institutions must be transparent about how they pay the bills. Your information provides more reason for New College Foundation to open their books.
Corcoran's salary is as outrageous as the ideological takeover of New College. This is indicative of the larger malaise that has cast a huge pall over higher education in Florida. We are quickly becoming an academic pariah.
I agree. Good people can disagree about academic curriculum and whether DEI programs go too far, but these disagreements should not be exploited as a springboard to gut a fine public college. Floridians lose when academic performance is sacrificed at the altar of political ambition, but that's where we are.
Regent and Liberty. Two phony baloney schools. I'm not anti- religion. Notre Dame, Fordham- both founded in religious principles and yet manage to stay schools of repute. Anyway I find it hard to believe that Corcoran's drive is religiously-grounded, or at least nothing more than the dark Christian Nationalism that passes for religion today. He is all about money. When it starts to dry up, and it will one day, he will be gone to the next ATM opportunity.
Hi Maria,
Thanks for your comment. If you have a look at Richard Corcoran's past statements as a legislator, it seems to me he believes he is on a mission. Given his writings and statements, I believe it's a strong possibility he believes he is on a holy mission.
From where I sit, his education at the law school founded by the Christian Broadcasting Network is important. This country has a history of following televangelists who are enriching themselves while amassing their flock and not necessarily walking their talk. Corcoran's political career look similar to me - preaching a message of accountability and results, but failing to deliver and enriching himself along the way. I'll be writing about that in Part Two.
Cathy Antunes is doing really important work to bring us closer to transparency and having full information about the Foundation's books
The Foundation has lost a lot of credibility with New College alumni
Thank you for reading and commenting Ben. It is terrible to see how a school with such a great academic history is being gutted, while the ones doing it are enriching themselves.
Thanks for this great look. By the way, I have the SUS-level Operating Budget data estimated for 2024–25, though I looked more at Athletics. The $1 million in the account "Foundation Support-Athletics" is categorized as "Contracts & Grants" not "Intercollegiate Athletics". The definitions are in Florida Statues 1011.47 and the Florida Constitution. We also know E&G funds are going to Athletics on dubious grounds. It raises the question if these are restricted funds being used for athletics, as well. https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/mike.sand2391/viz/NCFEstimatedRevenuesandDeptIDseperatedbyRevenueType/Sheet3 https://mikesand.com/s/NCF_OBOB_202408_decoded.xlsx mikesand.com
Thanks for your comment Mike. Public institutions owe the public transparency about their funding. Public institutions must be transparent about how they pay the bills. Your information provides more reason for New College Foundation to open their books.