An overhaul of New College has led to roughly a third of faculty leaving the institution. But with an Alt New College effort online, are some of those previously affiliated with the school hurting the brand of the institution they left behind?

New College of Florida on Friday issued a cease-and-desist letter to Bard College, demanding it stop branding a new venture at AltNewCollege.org.

“It has recently been brought to our attention that your organization is making, or inducing others to make, unauthorized use of our client’s ‘NEW COLLEGE’ mark in commerce, and that you are also offering educational services under the confusingly similar ‘ALT NEW COLLEGE’ mark,” attorney John Malloy wrote in a letter to Bard College. “It is this law firm’s considered opinion that the unauthorized use of the ‘NEW COLLEGE’ mark and the confusingly similar ‘ALT NEW COLLEGE’ mark constitute trademark infringement and unfair competition in violation of federal and state laws.”

Bard College, a private New York school, announced the launch of Alt New College and offered its first free webcast on Sept. 18, livestreaming a conversation with Russian American journalist Masha Gessen and University of California, Berkeley professor Judith Butler about recent attacks on Gender Studies academia. It was introduced by Libby Harrity, a former New College student forced to transfer to Hampshire College after allegedly spitting on New College trustee Chris Rufo.

Bard is working on the new effort in part with former professors at New College. A website even uses an empty set, a former unofficial mascot of the school, as the logo for the effort. In a press release announcing the effort, former New College Gender Studies Professor Nick Clarkson provided a statement critical of his former employers at New College and the state university system.

“Florida has passed a horrifying slate of anti-trans laws in 2023, and New College's new administrators have ensured that New College will no longer be a refuge from state violence,” Clarkson said. “Canceling the Gender Studies Program is an attempt by the trustees to suppress feminist, queer and trans knowledge. I'm excited to see gender studies teach-ins and events pop up to resist their attempts to silence us."

Notably, Gov. Ron DeSantis this year signed a state law dropping gender studies courses from the curriculum at any public institution, including all of Florida’s state universities and colleges. New College trustees dropped the course in accordance with that law.

New College leaders say Bard College is effectively co-opting the Sarasota institution’s decades-old brand.

“Imitation is the best form of flattery,” said New College communications director Nate March, “but in this case it’s highly illegal.”

The cease-and-desist letter screencaps parts of the Alt New College website and marketing material advertising “New College News” and a commitment to “Supporting the academic freedom & founding vision of New College. One section of the site says the institution’s “courses and lectures are being developed in partnership with the New College community,” mentioning that association ahead of Bard College.

“There can be no dispute that these actions have been willful, and were carried out in an effort to trade off the goodwill associated with New College’s marks and/or to cause confusion,” the cease-and-desist letter reads. “Therefore, statutory damages, triple damages, punitive damages, a disgorgement of profits, and attorneys’ fees are inescapable under these circumstances.”

The attorneys demand Bard College stop using the branding and transfer control of the altnewcollege.org web domain to the Sarasota university instead. 

Hometown Florida builder Christopher Alan Homes has been named a top finalist by the Horizon Council for the 2023 Industry Appreciation Awards, Large Business of the Year category. The Industry Appreciation Awards celebrates and recognizes Lee County businesses that drive the local economy, employ the workforce and shape the industries. Winners will be announced Oct. 27 at a luncheon hosted at in the Caloosa Sound Convention Center at The Luminary Hotel. Christopher Alan Homes is one of three finalists in the Large Business of the Year category, which honors a Lee County company that offers high-quality products and services, provides superior customer service, demonstrates strong ethical standards, is community-minded, actively supports employee development and exhibits exemplary leadership within its industry and with its clients, contributing to the economic growth and free enterprise of Lee County. The Horizon Council is a public-private board established in 1991 to advise the Lee County Board of Commissioners on economic development issues. The Council has up to 80 members representing cities; chambers of commerce; economic development and trade organizations; community, business, and education organizations; along with various officers and at-large members. As the voice of business in Lee County, the Council’s mission is to improve Lee County’s business environment, retain and encourage the expansion of existing businesses, and attract new and diversified employers. It is the only public-private partnership of Lee County Government and business leaders. 

The law firm of Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen, and Ginsburg, P.A., is pleased to announce that Tyler J. Brown has joined the firm as an associate in their Sarasota office. Brown was officially sworn in by 12th Judicial Circuit Judge Andrea McHugh. His legal practice focuses on commercial litigation, real estate litigation, and appeals. Prior to joining Icard Merrill, Brown served as a law clerk with the firm in 2022. While in law school, he was a member of the Moot Court Board and competed in several competitions across the country. He is both a state and national champion and has argued in front of state supreme court justices, federal circuit court of appeal judges, and made an appearance before the Florida Supreme Court. He was presented the Judge John M. Scheb Excellence in Appellate Advocacy Award and was recognized by the Judge Scheb Sarasota Inn of Court for his dedication to appellate advocacy. Brown was inducted into the Order of the Barristers for his outstanding achievements in written advocacy and service. In 2023, his classmates voted to award him the Moot Court Board Award of Excellence. Brown received his undergraduate degree in hospitality and tourism management from Florida International University, and his J.D. from Stetson University College of Law. 

PGT Innovations (NYSE: PGTI), a national leader in the premium window, door, and garage door industry, is now producing and offering Diamond Glass as the standard glass in its WinDoor product portfolio. Diamond Glass is a laminated, ultra-lightweight glass featuring Corning® Architectural Technical Glass™. It is up to 45 percent lighter and three times more scratch resistant than traditional laminated glass. The next-generation glass technology stems from a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Corning Incorporated which PGT Innovations announced earlier this year. Diamond Glass can be used for either laminated or laminated-insulated windows or doors. In this first phase of the launch, Diamond Glass is available to order from select Florida dealers in the following products: Garage Door (GD9995A); Bi-fold Door (BF1199A); Pivot Door (PV9998A); Picture Window (PW9020); Terrace Door (TD9050); and Sliding Glass Door (SGD8100). PGT Innovations continues to envision new products to add to its robust brand product portfolios, as well as reimagining solutions to improve existing products to continue pushing the industry forward and shaping a brighter future for all. For more information on Diamond Glass, visit windoorinc.com. 

Pictured: WinDoor® 9050 Terrace Door with 9020 Picture Window sidelites featuring PGT Innovations’ new Diamond Glass.

Sarasota County is proud to announce that it has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) “Gold” certification and national accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council, an honor recognizing an array of sustainability efforts across the county. Unlike certification for individual buildings, this designation evaluated sustainability and resilience efforts across the entire county, measuring progress in land use, ecology, quality of life, energy, transportation, water resources, and other categories.  Sarasota County’s continuing growth in popularity has made the area a destination for many, while also highlighting the need to protect limited resources and foster sustainable, equitable communities that respond to change. The county has implemented numerous programs and initiatives toward those goals, from energy conservation projects to water quality programs. LEED, the world’s most widely used green building rating system, helps buildings, communities, cities, and counties by providing a road map toward high performance in key areas of social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Sarasota County achieved Gold certification through the LEED Cities and Communities rating system for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions to improve community-wide sustainability and the residents' standard of living. The certification process, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, a non-profit with a 30-year history of helping shape healthy, vital built environments, assigns points in nine categories: integrative process, natural systems and ecology, water efficiency, energy and greenhouse gas emissions, transportation and land use, materials and resources, quality of life, innovation, and regional priority. Sarasota County received 65 points out of 110 possible to earn LEED Gold certification, including scoring maximum points for demonstrating achievements in Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Performance (14/14), Resilience Planning (4/4), Transportation Performance (6/6), Quality of Life Performance (6/6), Natural Resources Conservation and Restoration (2/2), and more. With the LEED Gold certification, Sarasota County joins an elite but growing group—including the City of Sarasota, also recently honored—to be certified using the LEED for Cities and Communities rating system. Questions? Call 311 (941-861-5000 from outside Sarasota County) or email sarasota@ifas.ufl.edu. 

CR Fitness, the leading franchisee of Crunch Fitness, is proud to announce the promotion of Al Billiteri to the position of Vice President of Corporate Sales. Al's journey to this key role reflects his resilience,
adaptability, and exceptional contributions to the organization. Al Billiteri's tenure at Crunch Fitness began on May 12, 2012, when he joined as a General Manager. Since then, his progression within the company has showcased his dedication and leadership. His migration through various roles, including General Manager, Area Manager, Regional Director, Senior Director of Corporate Sales, and now VP of Corporate Sales, highlights his commitment to personal and professional growth. Following his college graduation, Al aspired to be a Firefighter EMT and completed his training in 2007. However, that year, a nationwide economic crisis and a state-wide hiring freeze, motivated Al to find a different career path. It was during this time that he had the opportunity to explore the fitness industry and worked as a Sales Manager at Lifestyle Family Fitness from 2006 to 2010. This is also where he met now CEO of CR Fitness, Tony Scrimale. Al’s decision to transition into the fitness sector was driven by a deep desire to make a positive difference in people's lives, and it's a decision he’s never looked back on. Al's leadership has had a profound impact on Crunch Fitness. Under his guidance, the corporate sales department has witnessed remarkable growth, expanding by an impressive 300% within a single year. This achievement reflects Al's innovative approach, which includes a shift toward digital advertising, incorporating ads and commercials on in-club television monitors as well as significant enhancements to the Crunch Perks website. In addition, he has overseen the expansion of the corporate sales team from four representatives to a strong team of ten over four states. Beyond his professional achievements, Al's personal story adds depth to his character. A former collegiate football player, Al's background in sports instilled in him a sense of discipline, teamwork, and determination. Al resides in Sarasota Florida and in his spare time, he indulges his love for coaching youth tackle football and spending time with his three boys: Frank, John, and Dominic. 

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner will begin mailing vote-by-mail (absentee) ballots to domestic voters today for the November 7 City of Venice General Election. Only registered City of Venice voters are eligible to vote in this election. Turner said more than 6,100 ballots will be in the mail today to registered City of Venice voters who have a vote-by-mail request on file with the elections office. This mailing follows the vote-by-mail ballots sent last week to registered military and overseas voters with requests on file. Turner also noted that voters have until 5 p.m. Thursday, October 26 to request a ballot be mailed to them for the coming election. A voter may request a vote-by-mail ballot in one of the following ways: Online at SarasotaVotes.gov/VotebyMail. In person at any of three elections offices in Sarasota, Venice or North Port, by phone to 941.861.8618.A voter may update his or her signature any time by submitting a Florida Voter Registration Application to the elections office. However, a signature update for use in verifying a vote-by-mail ballot for a particular election must be received in the elections office before the voter’s ballot is received. For more information, visit SarasotaVotes.gov or call 941.861.8618. 

Since 2003, Berlin Patten Ebling has grown exponentially, now serving clients throughout the Gulf Coast with six offices, a team of dedicated attorneys, and an unwavering commitment to adhering to the ideals established on day one. From the beginning, the firm that specializes in real estate, community association law, estate planning and litigation has emerged as an innovator in Florida’s legal community, guiding thousands of clients through life’s biggest occasions. With an impressive track record of 5,000 real estate deals completed last year alone, totaling $2.5 billion in closed real estate sales, Berlin Patten Ebling has solidified its reputation as the go-to, trusted and approachable advisor. Over the span of two decades, Berlin Patten Ebling has truly evolved with the times – and embraced innovation. From the “old days” of team lunch outings at O’Leary’s or spicy sandwiches at Sangria to their now-famous annual Post Holiday Madness Party, the firm has stayed true to its spirit. And by hosting hundreds of seminars for Realtors and brokers, prioritizing communication, and providing valuable counsel, the firm also lives up to its core values, vision, and client-first culture.

“The reality is that it’s beyond my expectations,” said Founder and Managing Partner Evan Berlin. "I’m in awe of how far the firm has come. Something wows me every day, and as we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we look forward to continuing our journey, providing top-notch legal representation and making a difference in the lives of our clients and our community.” 

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New College of Florida has entered into an agreement with the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Education to resolve a compliance review brought under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The compliance review is related to OCR Docket No. 04-23-2301, which pertains specifically to the New College website (NCF.edu) and content on third-party websites where New College posts content, such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. The noncompliant aspects of New College’s online presence, especially NCF.edu, are the result of years of inattentiveness to maintaining online compliance standards and effective guidelines for digital communications. New College leaders have taken immediate action to address the matters raised and will continue to do so in a collaborative manner with OCR. Members of the New College staff met with OCR representatives on September 13 to review potential areas of concern. Subsequently, an accessibility committee has convened and work has commenced on correcting identified issues. The execution of the agreement terms will take place over approximately eight months and will include significant upgrades to NCF.edu. OCR has conducted more than 100 similar investigations involving elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools in Florida and nearly 2,000 such cases nationwide. The Florida Department of Education entered an agreement to resolve a compliance review case earlier this year, and cases with nearly identical website issues as New College’s have been resolved at other State University System schools through the same agreement process. 

Do you know a board member, volunteer, philanthropist, staff member, or a corporate organization with a giving heart that has meaningfully impacted our community in the past year? Nominate them today! Nominations close Friday, October 6th, 2023 at midnight. 

Nominate Here!