A new college class will analyze “woke” ideology and its influence on American culture. It will be taught by conservative commentator Andrew Doyle at the New College of Florida.
In the “‘Woke’ Movement” course, starting next semester, students will explore the ideology and the ‘cult’-like and ‘dehumanizing behavior’ of its adherents,” according to a class description, described in the Tampa Bay Times.
A course critical of wokeness became possible at the New College after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis replaced its leaders, installing more conservative trustees.
“More and more people are finding themselves increasingly frustrated and confused by the impact of wokeness on their everyday lives…Good people feel unable to speak their minds for fear of being misinterpreted or mischaracterized, willfully or otherwise,” the course description states.
According to the Tampa Bay Times:
The class will be led by comedian and conservative commentator Andrew Doyle, an Oxford-trained historian best known for his satirical X persona Titania McGrath, and features readings from activist and New College trustee Christopher Rufo and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Students will also read passages from historian and author Ibram X. Kendi and legal scholar Robin DiAngelo, according to the course description. Both scholars helped popularize critical race theory and have become frequent targets of some free speech activists.
Doyle is a presidential scholar hired in August by the New College as part of an effort to expand its humanities and classical studies programs. He has a doctorate in literature from the University of Oxford.
College spokesman Nate March says Doyle is a “highly regarded scholar … known for his ability to engage students in critical thinking and complex discussions.”
“At a time when conversations around what is means to be ‘woke’ and what it means to be ‘unwoke’ permeate public discourse, Dr. Doyle’s (class) offers students a unique opportunity to analyze these concepts from multiple perspectives,” March adds.
Some leftist and progressive professors have left the New College since the governor appointed conservatives to its board of trustees.
In 2023, the Board of Trustees abolished the college’s gender studies program. After such changes, the college experienced a rise in applications and admissions.
