Dr. Richard Thripp premieres satirical video playing Gov. Ron DeSantis pitching Presidency of New College of Florida to Mr. Richard Corcoran
June 17, 2023
I gave a speech about the radical right-wing takeover of New College of Florida today. I wanted to bring to life the corruption and absurdity of the new president (Richard Corcoran) and his compensation. So, I recorded a satirical video pretending to be Governor Ron DeSantis explaining it to him. It was a hit and premiered as part of a longer speech to an audience of about 40 people in DeLand who showed up in a thunderstorm for speeches by me and 2 other community leaders. I also distributed the handout with a transcript and footnotes, shown below.
Video:
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Transcript of a satirical video dramatization by Dr. Richard Thripp of how Governor Ron DeSantis might have explained the New College presidency to Mr. Richard Corcoran in December 2022, presented by Dr. Thripp in DeLand, FL on June 17, 2023 in a speech titled “On The Right-Wing Takeover of New College of Florida.”
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Richard [Corcoran]! I have some great news for you. We have a plum job for you. And I'm really sorry it didn't work out at FSU,[1] but I think you're going to like this one even better. We really appreciate what you did as Commissioner of Education, and, we just came off a huge win in November—[we] beat Charlie [Crist] by over 19 points, but, we gotta keep that momentum going. And the way we keep that momentum going is red meat to the base. And so we gotta keep being in the news, going against wokes, going against blacks, going against LGBTQ, going against women.
And so we're gonna need you to be the new [interim] president of New College of Florida. And we're gonna take that college—and I know your wife has done some fine work, and she's gonna be continuing that work with you[2]—we're gonna say this is the new Hillsdale College of the south, and you're gonna be the president, and you're gonna get a huge pay raise. You’ll actually be making more than the president of FSU. You’re gonna make a million dollars a year, inclusive of benefits,[3] and all you’re gonna have to do is be there a few hours a week. You don’t really have to do anything.
Umm, you’re gonna look real good too—all you gotta do—we’re gonna get the numbers up, so the enrollment goes up, and, we’re just gonna bribe students to go there. They’re gonna be frat boys,[4] they’re gonna be—it’s not gonna be an honors college anymore, ‘cuz we’re just gonna admit whoever we can find, but we’ll still, you know, call it The Honors College.
And, I just need you to keep up the drumbeat, go on Fox News, you’re a great speaker—you did great work for me in the Department of Education, and, umm, I know Casey’s [DeSantis] been a little upset about this ‘cuz she is still burned up that you—you backed Adam [Putnam] in 2018 [gubernatorial primary]. [5] But, I told her, you know, we gotta win, and this is gonna help us win [the Republican primaries for President of the United States in 2024].
We gotta get that money, we gotta keep it up being in the press all the time, and you’re gonna help us there at New College, and you won’t have to do a lot. You can just drive in on Monday, and probably be home by Wednesday evening with your kids, and, umm, you’ll be able to get that boat—you’ll be able to get that lake house that you’ve been talking about,[6] and, uhh, you know, we take care of our own here in the DeSantis family, and we’re gonna take care of you.
*** FOOTNOTES ***
[1] Richard Corcoran had tried to become President of Florida State University in 2021.
[2] Anne Corcoran founded the Classical Prep charter school in Spring Hill, FL and she works with the Barney Charter School Initiative of Hillsdale College, a radical right-wing religious college in Michigan.
[3] In February 2023, the Board of Governors of the State University System of Florida, which consists of 17 members of which 14 are appointed by the Governor, approved Richard Corcoran’s contract as interim president of New College of Florida for the term of 2/27/2023–9/01/2024. The prior president’s base salary of $305,000 increased to $699,000 for Mr. Corcoran, with total compensation of over $1 million inclusive of $104,850 retirement supplement, $84,000 housing stipend, $12,000 automobile stipend and auto insurance, and other benefits.
[4] "Corcoran has said he wants to establish fraternities and sororities, likely creating a culture clash with New College’s artsy queer kids, activists and autodidacts." – The New York Times, April 29, 2023.
[5] “‘He’s a vindictive ************. She’s twice that,’ said a higher-up on one of his campaigns. ‘She’s the scorekeeper.’” – Politico, May 19, 2023.
[6] Mr. Corcoran reported a net worth of only $341,750 in a December 2016 financial disclosure.
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This video was part of a larger presentation about New College of Florida, with slides that I've uploaded here:
https://www.slideshare.net/thripp/on-the-rightwing-takeover-of-new-college-of-florida