If you aren’t in the room to see the Board of Governors interact with Richard Cocoran, you might not realize the extent to which people are laughing at him — often literally. In addition to laughing, there’s gasping, grimacing, scowling, and poker face. But laughter is common, and the through line is the humiliations.
6. October 2024: “I don’t see President Corcorcan”
Richard Corcoran scrambles in Miami
At most meetings, Corcoran prefers to spend his time out in the hall. At the October 2024 meeting in Miami, it just so happened that was when Chair Lamb wanted to chat about the struggles NCF is having.
Clip (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vMW3Ql0cMQ
5. January 2025: Athletics spending “violation of Board of Governors Rule”
In a Budget Committee athletics-funding discussion, former Budget Committee Chair Eric Silagy tells the meeting that the NCF Board of Governors documents showing $1.5 million of E&G spending on athletics must be a mistake because “that’s a violation of Board of Governors rule.” It was not a mistake.
NCF Budget Documents FY 2024-25 - $1.5 million E&G for Athletics
Original: https://thefloridachannel.org/videos/1-30-25-florida-board-of-governors-meeting/
Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPctjUv5ep0
4. December 2024: “Not the opinion of the Board of Governors”
In the December 2024 Zoom meeting, Governor Jones made a comment that New College was “the best for last.” Governor Levine made a totally gratuitous crack “the best for last” was “not the opinion of the Board of Governors.”
3. June 2025: Does that mean you’re paying students $19,000/year to attend?
In Boca Raton, Governor Dunn had a question about the negative sign in front of the cost-per-student of -$19,000. “Does that mean you’re paying students $19,000 a year to attend?” Following the gasp, what followed was a rambling, 5-minute monologue that touched on all aspects of American higher education, investment, and nonsense.
2. June 2025 (Part 2: Public Comment): “Blah blah Williams! Amherst! Startup! Liberal Arts! Incredible Growth!”
Coming several hours after Corcoran’s monologue, Mike Sanderson’s public comment mocked the nonsense of Corcoran’s comment — and dropped “my most colorful report yet.” What was the question Corcoran was asked? (The negative -$19,000 cost per student is what he had been asked about.)
1. Nov 2025, Tampa: The Doge Report Slide
When the report on efficiency in the state universities was presented, the operating cost per student was so high for New College that one observer called it “giving Corcoran the finger.” From the laughter from the center the table, to grimacing around the edges, to Silagy leaning in, to the scowls from the NCF VPs in the audience, the failure of Richard Corcoran was literally 10 feet high.
