SARASOTA — On Tuesday, New College of Florida announced it will commission a statue of Charlie Kirk to honor his legacy following his assassination last week. Community members will privately fund the statue.
“Charlie Kirk knew that universities are ground zero for free speech and the marketplace of ideas. These ideas are not luxuries, but the foundation of a free republic,” said New College President Richard Corcoran. “His life and tragic death remind us all that a nation cannot survive if it abandons these rights. At New College, we will not step back from this responsibility — we will champion it and seek to be known as the number one college in the nation when it comes to supporting civil debate and freedom of speech.”
The announcement comes as New College prepares to launch its 2025–2026 Socratic Stage series, a platform for academic freedom, public discourse, and debate. The series will begin on Sept. 23, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Mildred Sainer Pavilion with Dr. Scott Atlas, Chanel Rion, Ben Domenech, and Mollie Hemingway, who will deliver a lecture titled “Truth, Bias and Power: How the Transformation of America’s Media is Reshaping Society.”
President Corcoran emphasized that the statue and the Socratic Stage are both part of New College’s larger mission: to ensure that students, faculty, and the wider community experience free speech and civil discourse at its highest level.
“Since its founding in 1960, New College has stood as a place where the free exchange of ideas is not only protected but celebrated,” said New College Board of Trustees Chair Debra Jenks. “This statue will serve as a reminder of that history and our responsibility to carry it forward. Public discourse is not optional in a free society — it is essential.”
“Charlie Kirk inspired me to lead our Turning Point chapter at New College. Meeting him affirmed my commitment to champion free speech and open dialogue. Our chapter is honored to help the effort to establish a tribute statue on campus. We want to raise awareness, help secure support, and ensure that future generations inherit a legacy of open dialogue and the courage to speak freely,” said Jackson Dawson, President of New College’s Turning Point USA chapter.
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lib224
He was more of a divider than a debater.
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 Report this
Cat L
Charlie Kirk created phone banks out of his followers that systematically harassed college professors out of their jobs, particularly focusing on women and most especially black and brown women. He stood for propaganda and indoctrination, so I guess it's an appropriate symbol for New College's current form.
It is my fondest hope that the statue be urinated upon, regularly.
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 Report this
GoldenGopher
Add Trump and DeSantis to the table and call it “The End of Civility.”
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 Report this
Charles
GoldenGopher — Add Joe Gruters and his Trump dark money pot at the fourth seat for local flavor (rewarded with his wife appointed to head the foundation of the college, without any experience in such) — all sad
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 Report this