USF students, faculty want clarity on potential New College merger

*Current and former campus leaders sent out a letter against a a potential merger between USF Sarasota-Manatee and New College of Florida. ORACLE PHOTO/DELANEY TORRES*

Faculty Senate Vice President Scott Perry said he can’t “get a hold of” USF President Rhea Law to learn her stance on the rumored Sarasota-Manatee and New College of Florida merger.

“I’ve always found Rhea Law to make the right statement at the right time, but she’s not being available to talk,” Perry said. “I’m not sure that anybody can really find out what she’s thinking.”

Perry said he has a “gorgeous” relationship with Law and has tried to reach her — but heard nothing back.

Amid talks of a possible New College takeover, some USF students and faculty members are urging the school’s administration to speak out.

Twenty current and former campus leaders sent a letter on April 2 urging the community to “stand up for USF Sarasota-Manatee.”

Those leaders included Former USF Sarasota-Manatee president Laurey Stryker, Former regional chancellor Karen Holbrook and Inaugural Campus Board Chairman Jan Smith.

USF spokesperson Althea Johnson said students, faculty and staff “have remained USF’s highest priority.”

“We will continue to provide the university community with updates regarding our partnership, if there are any,” Johnson said.

But Brianny Liriano, a USF Sarasota-Manatee student, said her biggest frustration is the lack of communication from USF.

“There are all these articles about it, but no one has actually talked to students,” Liriano said. “It seems like no one talks to the professors, and they are just handling it privately.”

Liriano said when she first read about a possible New College takeover, she was “shocked.”

She said the news spread quickly among USF Sarasota-Manatee students — but said she doesn’t feel USF is keeping students updated.

“What it seems like is everything is really hush-hush and no one really knows anything officially and everything is happening behind closed doors,” said Liriano, a junior psychology major.

But Perry said he thinks USF leadership is using a “strategy” when releasing information on the topic.

“They’re thinking that if they just don’t talk about it, [the rumors] might all go away,” he said.

Although Perry said the “strategy” could work, he said it makes it seem like USF is not against a New College takeover.

“The bigger risk right now is that they don’t make it clear,” Perry said. “I think we gave them a lot of opportunities to say that we’re not for sale, and they won’t do it.”

Bryanna Mansi, a junior marketing major at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, said she is “frustrated.”

Mansi said the takeover rumors came as an “immediate shock” when she read a Fox 13 article.

“Do we have to reapply? Will our degrees still say USF? Will there be more online options?” she said. “We deserve to know what’s going on.”

Mansi said because the implications of a potential merger are still unknown, students were left feeling unsure.

“It will be very difficult if New College takes over the Sarasota campus and we’re not considered USF anymore,” she said. “Does that mean we have to go to St. Pete or Tampa?”

Liriano said it doesn’t “make sense” for New College to take over USF Sarasota-Manatee.

“We have two different programs and we are very different in general,” Liriano said. “For the smaller school to take over the bigger school, it makes no sense to any of us.”

New College was once a small liberal arts school before athletic programs and a conservative push was added, according to Inside Higher Ed.

Perry said it is important for USF Sarasota-Manatee students to share how they’re feeling.

“This will disrupt and destroy a lot of our students’ career paths through USF, and I don’t want that to happen,” he said. “Students need somewhere to function and thrive. New College is completely a national embarrassment.”