Features
O’Shea looks back on first year as college president
President Donal O’Shea summed up his first year at New College in one word, “Wonderful.” Citing the Bacon Towne Meeting and watching the sunset out of his office window as two of his most memorable moments of the year, O’Shea is looking forward to the upcoming commencement ceremony, which will mark the end of his [...]
Commencement speakers
When artist Mark Ulriksen was asked to design a cover about graduation for the New Yorker, he thought about the notion of a big crowd of people all faced with the same situation at the same time. This led him to consider what other kinds of big crowds people see when they get together for [...]
Nathan Benderson Park officials aim high with goals for their multi-million dollar project
With consistent sunshine and an almost tropical atmosphere, the city of Sarasota is an ideal place to showcase outdoor sports. Nathan Benderson Park, a local 600 acre sporting compound aside a 500-acre man-made lake that has been under construction since 2008, aims to become one of the largest venues for paddle sports, triathlons, and open [...]
Easter Seals Southwest Florida
Easter Seals Southwest Florida is a second home for children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities. The Braden Avenue campus and New College have one thing in common: both stretch to the bay. But while a new building and an expansion are evident at New College, the Easter Seals campus is well-weathered and in sore [...]
Reflection: First year draws to a close
Last semester was my first here at New College of Florida (NCF). As a way to engage with my fellow newcomers, I ran a “first-year column” in which a handful of first-years and I discussed everything from partying to romance to midterm week. In under a month, the ‘first-year’ label will be behind these students [...]
Novcollegians explore the benefits of ‘thrifting’
Throughout the student body runs a common thread: thrifting. Whether it be for furniture or for clothes, Novocollegians are notorious for their fashionable finds in thrift stores across Sarasota and Manatee county. Recently, the Catalyst was able to catch up with two of New College’s thriftiest students to examine how and why they build their [...]
Quintet to perform New College student compositions
With a strong and evolving music department, New College of Florida is developing a reputation as an important Sarasota music venue. New Music New College, which has been happening or more than a decade, will soon be featuring the Sarasota Woodwind Quintet, a part of the Sarasota Orchestra. The musical pieces that they will be [...]
LêÁnh’s Vietnamese Restaurant receives a solid sat
LêÁnh’s Vietnamese restaurant is a new destination in the same stretch of South Tamiami Trail as Big E’s Cafe and Growlers. Couples, families and students filled the tables at LêÁnh’s. Rose-tinged orange walls, track lighting and pale turquoise and cream tasseled curtains gave the restaurant a familial feel. LêÁnh’s business card depicts a staple of the cuisine [...]
Owner of Orpheum discusses time at New College
The end of the term is approaching and with it leaves another class of fresh graduates, frantically trying to prepare for life after New College. Choices about graduate studies, jobs and living arrangements have to be made, and made fast. Though New College is known for its rigorous academic program, its student-directed curriculum encourages students [...]
New College alum shares experiences with schizophrenia
College is a time of enormous change, but for alumnus Carlos Larrauri (‘08) the usual whirlwind of young adulthood took a tumultuous turn when, during his final year of college, he was diagnosed with adult onset schizophrenia. Years after receiving his initial diagnosis Larrauri has become a vocal advocate for mental health issues, recently authoring [...]