New College student orientation leaders push back when told to remove Pride, BLM pins

New College of Florida leadership instructed its student orientation leaders to remove Black Lives Matter and Pride pins from their polo uniform shirts, pants and bags as they worked during the college's mandatory introductory program for new students.

Xabier Rezola, a 21-year-old student and orientation leader at New College, said that he and all 17 orientation leaders were instructed to remove the pins from their shirts and told to wear only their name tags. Instead, the orientation leaders chose to put the pins on their pants and backpacks, which the college's leadership also told them to remove.

New College did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Fall Orientation, which takes place from Aug. 20 through Aug. 23, is when incoming students attend seminars and activities to acclimate to New College before the first day of class on Aug. 28. Students are assigned to orientation leaders who lead groups through the scheduled orientation activities.

Rezola said he and several other orientation leaders planned to continue wearing the pins. He also said he found it "infuriating" because the college had a civil discourse meeting Tuesday morning about respecting other people's beliefs.

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/education/2023/08/22/new-college-of-florida-tells-student-workers-to-remove-pride-blm-pins/70649925007/