Space debris strikes home in Naples: A close encounter with the cosmos

Residents of Naples, Florida, were left stunned when a piece of space debris crashed into a home, sparking a wave of curiosity and concern about the dangers lurking above. The incident, which occurred around 2:30 p.m. on March 8, serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of objects hurtling through Earth’s atmosphere. According to NPR, the space debris, a large battery pallet from the…

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"Fallout" Series Debut: Exploring the Wasteland of Post-Apocalyptic Entertainment

In a much-anticipated debut, the “Fallout” television series has arrived, bringing the beloved video game franchise to the small screen in a post-apocalyptic spectacle that has fans buzzing with excitement. Developed by Amazon Studios and based on the iconic video game series created by Interplay Entertainment and Bethesda Game Studios, the television adaptation promises to immerse viewers in the…

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New College collaborates to find a mission statement that unifies

New College students, faculty and alumni made small talk in the Harry Sudakoff Conference Center as they waited for the feedback meeting to start. In less than 30 minutes members of the New College community would get a chance to discuss among each other a topic that has been controversial on campus since the President’s Office announcement email back in February – a revision of New College’s…

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Newstock 2024: A Showcase of New College Culture

Good music, food and art. What more could one want? Newstock, the annual outside extravaganza hosted by the Student Activities and Campus Engagement (SAuCE) office, was another vibrant celebration of music, student art vendors and food trucks. Second-year Alejandra Martinez, the Traditions Event Coordinator for SAuCE and lead planner of Newstock, shared insights into the preparations and…

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The imperfect art of delay: Trump’s criminal trial

Three times not such a charm for former President Donald Trump in his approaching trial for 34 felony counts of falsifying bank records to cover a sex scandal. Trump’s lawyers have made their third unsuccessful attempt at delaying the trial. Maybe they had an upcoming trip to Mar-a-Logo planned? Jury selection in the trial began on April 15 and was concluded later that week. The trial began on…

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K-12 youth learn African American history through Manasota ASALH Freedom School

David Wilkins, president of the Manasota Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), has led the recent initiative to sponsor a Sarasota Freedom School. In an email interview, Wilkins told the Catalyst about the history of Freedom Schools, how Sarasota’s school runs and why it is an important addition to the community in the current cultural and political…

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New College and Ringling partner for AAPI month activities

New College of Florida’s Asian Pacific Islander Student Association (APISA) and Ringling College of Art and Design’s (RCAD) Asian Student Association (ASA) are two recently founded affinity groups at schools just a stone’s throw from each other. As Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Month approaches, the two groups decided to spend a weekend celebrating their cultures through a visit to…

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More plastic grass?

The April 17 message from an on-site observer was simple but clear: “Looks like more turf is going in. And a lot of it.”  On Thursday, April 18, Catalyst reporters documented that the grass of the Mildred Sainer Fine Arts Complex courtyard was indeed slated to be replaced with artificial turf. This follows the replacement of living grass in ACE Plaza and in front of the Jane Bancroft Cook…

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A look into the Spring 2024 Art Thesis Exhibition

Historically, the Art program hosts an opening reception for their yearly, and occasionally semesterly, Art Thesis Exhibitions. This Spring, thesis students Annie Dong, Lianna McDonald and Cindy Xin Zhang showcase their work centering their Chinese identities. “Finding Vitality” consists of varying mediums, such as bookmaking, murals and traditional painting to exemplify themes of belonging,…

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Pollution from phosphate mines continue to impact Florida

According to a report by the Bradenton Herald, a power failure at Piney Point’s pretreatment facility in Manatee County caused 6,000 gallons of untreated waste to spill into the surrounding area on the morning of Mar. 21. The facility is one of many phosphate mining plants in Florida under heavy scrutiny for the pollution they produce from both standard operations and accidents such as the one at…

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All’s Well That Ends Well, or does it?

When there’s a will, there’s a play. This spring Shakespeare’s classic All’s Well That Ends Well will be brought to life at New College’s Black Box Theater (BBT) under the creative direction of Professor of English and Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies (TDPS) Nova Myhill. The not-so-love story of Helena and Bertram will be performed from April 25-28 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2…

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First-year Cxntry Wall hosts want to keep New College’s norm-defiance alive

For days, first-year Ellary Combs found herself walking through the bustle of New College’s cafeteria with a petition sheet in hand. After having seen current students’ Wall ideas in the fall for the first time, Combs and first-years Abigail Nelson and Emma Braun knew that they wanted to throw their first ever Wall in the Spring semester. The Wall they wanted to host was ambitious. Combs would…

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Organizing Ramadan 2024 at New College

Muslims celebrated Ramadan this year between March 10 and April 9. According to the Islamic Networks Group, “In Ramadan, Muslims commemorate the revelation of the Qur’an and fast from food and drink during the sunlit hours as a means of drawing closer to God and cultivating self-control, gratitude, and compassion for those less fortunate.” The Catalyst has covered Ramadan in previous years, and…

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King Charles III Diagnosed with Cancer: Uncertainty Surrounds British Monarchy

Less than two years after his coronation, Buckingham Palace announced on Feb. 6 that King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer, sending shockwaves through the United Kingdom and raising questions about the future of the British monarchy. The Palace released a statement confirming that the 76-year-old King has been undergoing medical treatment. Details regarding the type and severity of the…

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House Bill 3: Ron DeSantis' Latest Education Reform

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 3 on March 25, prohibiting children under 14 from joining social media and requiring a platform to obtain parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds. The bill does not name any specific social media platforms, but states that its targets are social media sites that promote “infinite scrolling,” display likes, feature auto-play videos and have…

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Revisiting POLARITY in light of the upcoming student thesis exhibition

The New College community anticipates the Art program’s thesis exhibition each academic year, this semester being no different. With the “Finding Vitality” thesis exhibition coming to the Isermann Gallery on the Caples campus from April 18 to May 10, the Catalyst offers a retroactive look into last fall’s thesis exhibition, “Polarity.” “‘PO L  A   R    I      T       Y’ explores the dichotomy…

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The Unbreakable Spirit of New College

Submitted by Robin Jacobs (’03) These days, I find myself more and more connected to the New College community and its values. In the past year, I have shown up virtually and submitted comments to New College board meetings. I have made phone calls to legislators in Florida, advocating for their support of the school.  I know more fellow, inspiring alums than ever before and reconnected with…

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