📰 Old School Catalyst: Keeping Student Journalism Alive | Palm Court Podcast S3

Libby Harrity Goes to Law School

Mike, Megan, and Grant catch up with Libby Harrity as she kicks off her studies at Rutgers Law School in Newark [https://www.newark.rutgers.edu/academics/schools-colleges/rutgers-law-school]. We hear tales from Hampshire College [https://www.hampshire.edu/] recorded before its closure was announced. But mostly , we hear what Libby's been up to and what she's looking to do next. Show Notes * Since we recorded this episode, Hampshire announced it would be closing [https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/04/21/hampshire-alumni-reflect-on-an-education-that-changes-lives/].  * LSAC: Law School Admission Council [https://www.lsac.org/] * Raiders are pirates; the Scarlet Raider is a fox [https://www.rutgers.edu/news/rutgers-newark-unveils-new-scarlet-raider-mascot] * Aimé Césaire [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aim%C3%A9_C%C3%A9saire], Martinican poet [https://poets.org/poem/notebook-return-native-land-excerpt], theorist [https://www.reddit.com/r/IndianHistory/comments/1hwf4xn/an_excerpt_from_aim%C3%A9_c%C3%A9saires_discourse_on/#lightbox], and politician [https://www.jhiblog.org/2017/06/07/politics-the-only-common-ground/] * “Super yachts” is a reference to an infamous alum [https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/politics/2023/05/04/ron-desantis-office-used-new-college-florida-alum-bob-allen-as-board-liaison/70174462007/].  * The recent Truthout cameo [https://truthout.org/articles/trumps-education-plan-seeks-to-make-cruel-domination-into-common-sense/] * The People’s Electric Law School [https://www.peopleselectriclawschool.org/] * Emma Curtis’ On Site/Sight mural [https://ufdc.ufl.edu/NCF0004056/00001/citation] depicting sandhill cranes was painted over [https://wslr.org/new-college-paints-over-student-murals-to-beautify-campus-ncf/] * CAFA: Coalition for Academic Freedom in the Americas [https://cafa-claa.org/] * Florida’s state government used to be considerably different [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reubin_Askew] * DeSantis loyalists aren’t in every university presidency in Florida – just most of them [https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article308741010.html] * Betty Osceola [https://www.facebook.com/buffalotiger.airboattours/] and the Miccosukee Tribe [https://nativenewsonline.net/sovereignty/federal-court-halts-construction-of-alligator-alcatraz-near-miccosukee-villages] have staunchly opposed the Everglades Detention Facility [https://www.globaldetentionproject.org/countries/americas/united-states/detention-centres/2831/everglades-detention-facility-formerly-dade-collier-training-and-transition-airport-nicknamed-alligator-alcatraz]  Callbacks: Libby Harrity [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64iUCIMDwV4], Amy Reid [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDeI7C-Ra4Y] Please send stories, pictures, audio: palmcourtpodcast@gmail.com [palmcourtpodcast@gmail.com]

The Making of The End is Nigh! with Celi Mitidieri, Beaux Dejaune, Axel Alexander, and Andy Trinh

There’s more than one New College documentary out there! We chat with Celi Mitidieri, the Ringling filmmaker of two short docs showing the takeover from the inside, along with several New College alums, main characters of the latest film. They explain how their cohort engaged in the fight for the right to party, how transfers affect culture, and the importance of maintaining a community with real people in real spaces. Inside info is dropped on the unusual ways the unoccupied Pei dorms are used nowadays and we get a Gen Z take on the diverse historical and fictional end-of-the-world narratives that were the inspiration for apoCOUPlypse 2025, one last joyful celebration of the New College that once was … along with reflections on the way nothing ever really ends.  * CULTURE WAR is a short documentary on the takeover [https://www.celimitidieri.com/film/culturewar].  * THE END IS NIGH is currently being edited, but you can learn more about it on Culture War’s Seed & Spark [https://seedandspark.com/fund/the-end-is-nigh#story] and Linktree [https://linktr.ee/culturewarfilms?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio] pages. Maybe sign up for the newsletter?  * Alexandra Levy/Old School Catalyst about the COUP [https://oldschoolcatalyst.com/politics-in-public-universities-uwf-and-usf-st-pete/]. * “Camilla Mortenson’s silent protest” was a silent march and wall party in protest of walls being shut down over noise complaints. (Camilla may or may not have been one of the organizers, but she was notably present [https://www.instagram.com/p/DM22q7ExXCb/].)  * The party pitch deck [https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1beFJgrrYOR6dn8zysTTZHY6m79XnfxmoJorHdqcpHDk/edit?usp=sharing].  * The film pitch deck [https://www.canva.com/design/DAHCE9LwSmE/Lr6H1cdLdr3J1clz0HKa_g/view?utm_content=DAHCE9LwSmE&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h50023dea3a].  * “Zombie studies [https://www.monsterstudies.ucsc.edu/monstrous-happenings/burying-desantis-zombie-ideas]” was a favorite slam from the governor.  * HCL-8 is the Teaching Auditorium mentioned in previous film-focused eps. * “Transitory population [https://nathanallen140396.substack.com/p/the-new-college-surge-from-last-place]” is a growing problem with NCF student metrics.  * In May 2015, a student and a guest died of fentanyl overdoses [https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2015/11/20/fentanyl-like-drug-involved-in-new-college-overdose-deaths/29330321007/]. * COUP Crash Course [https://docs.google.com/document/d/16GOGa-bh6h2nUoesBwlBPM5tnf34N2quY8i_FjuKYm8/edit?usp=sharing].  * Viet Thanh Nguyen spoke at Alt Grad 2025 [https://www.novocollegian.org/new-commencement-2025]. * True numbers of international athletes are difficult to determine; many enter in spring semester (in part to avoid counting them against the “First Time In College” enrollment metrics). The official count is 14.3% [https://www.ncf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2024-2025-Fact-Book-Publisher-File-7.18.25.pdf].   * The New College Student Alliance archives [https://ncfcatalyst.com/the-ncsa-archives-a-guilty-pleasure-for-history-buffs/] are an ongoing project [https://ncfcatalyst.com/new-college-memory-stays-alive-within-the-ncsa-archives/]. Callbacks: Miles Iton [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd8KKcnXpF0], Jonathan White [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-palm-court-podcast-120127709/episode/captain-jonathan-white-the-lorax-speaks-a-career-in-public-service-and-much-more-178522591], Harry Hanbury [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1UlUKcJOwnayobRLL9bLAw].  Please send stories, pictures, audio: palmcourtpodcast@gmail.com [palmcourtpodcast@gmail.com]

The Story of First They Came for My College with Producer and New College Alum, Harry Hanbury

An alum, documentarian, and friend joins us to talk about First They Came For My College, as well as a personal story of coming from a Catholic, all-boys, military academy, wearing a saber on mass transit, Hawaiian shirt reputations, supervising Shark Week, alumni connections with the Avatar franchise, and what it’s like to turn 300 hours of student-shot footage into a 105-minute film.  * The trailer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29WXahafjsM] can also be seen at https://newcollegefilm.com [https://newcollegefilm.com/] …  * …where there’s a screenings page [https://www.newcollegefilm.com/screenings], a "request a screening [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5fnVRhRV43T4pQUnJTmdyIzlrJMT4RZo7o709hl4ZDde1KQ/viewform?usp=send_form]" form, and a page where people can donate [https://givebutter.com/first-they-came-for-my-college-oiibgt] to help bring the film and its protagonists to campuses and theaters around the country. * President Okker was Dean of the College of Arts and Science at Mizzou [https://english.missouri.edu/people/okker].  * Holly Herrick has spoken about the film in Austin [https://youtu.be/AIL2Y6Yy9q0](check 49 minutes in).  * Harry's thesis [https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/1995/] is apparently the earliest among New College’s Foucault theses [https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/do/search/?q=foucault&start=0&context=38850287&facet=].  * Smitty Smith,’73, and InSync Plus has quite the client list [https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?companies=co0586472]. * Deep Springs [https://www.deepsprings.edu/] also has a student-led system.  * NCF had a more military pedigree [https://pragmatos.net/2023/02/05/skating-on-thin-ice/] than many realize.  * The original Public Ivies list [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Ivy] * Retro Report: Voyage of the Mobro 4000 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrugoT8N5cE] * Shark Week Uncaged [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKcYGhwXsP0]  * Alex P. Keaton [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFfN1bWOajU] * Warnock [https://www.warnock.senate.gov/about/] and Ossoff [https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/about] * Us Kids [https://docuseek2.com/gd-uk] featured X González, ‘18.  * AltLiberalArts [https://www.altliberalarts.org/] was Alt New College, until they got a C&D [https://www.ncf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-09-28-Cease-and-Desist-Letter-Bard-College.pdf].  * Pahokee [https://www.amdoc.org/watch/pahokee] * The Gender and Diversity Center Library was student-owned, but dumped during the summer [https://archive.fo/20240828052821/https://www.chronicle.com/article/new-colleges-book-dumping-went-viral-a-beloved-student-led-center-was-the-biggest-loss].  * The alt alumni association holds a well-attended Alt Grad [https://www.novocollegian.org/alt-grad] annually.  * Grant collects NCF news [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UFUPKZMtKirvErobkalVyTiCHOe-cYeunvDF022D5KI/edit?usp=sharing].  * Fulbrights were once a point of pride [https://substack.com/home/post/p-187696504].  * The ACT-UP poster [https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/objects/159258]  * The director of Mr. Nobody vs Putin talks about New College [https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/arts/2026/03/20/echoes-russia-florida-this-new-oscar-winner-sees-them/].  Callbacks: Old School Catalyst [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXaRVEKlGP0], Libby Harrity [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64iUCIMDwV4], Jeb Lund [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAt8-wKEUns], Amy Reid [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDeI7C-Ra4Y]. Time Stamps: 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:14 Festival Premiere Buzz 03:03 Remote Production Workflow 03:34 Student Filmmakers Footage 04:20 Trailer Miracle Story 07:14 Festival Tour Plans 09:48 Swag and How to Support 10:25 Harry New College Origins 11:43 Military School and Closet 13:45 Choosing New College Cheap 17:31 Postgrad Media Career Start 19:56 Shark Week and Hollywood Tie Ins 22:17 From Shark Week to Journalism 23:37 Retro Report Origins 24:34 Teaching Then Pandemic Pivot 26:26 Documenting the Takeover 29:56 Student Filmmakers Inside View 33:39 Resistance and Culture Clash 37:15 Cinema Verite and Fairness 40:05 Higher Ed Under Attack 46:26 Festivals Campus Screenings Next 50:21 Oscar Connection and Farewell

Oscars Predictions 2026 Plus Film Series Reminiscences and a Cameo From the Spanish Metro

We catch up with former Film Pharaoh Eugene Lowe, along with Tom Ronca and Suzanne Clayton to talk New College films: finding them, watching them, showing them, and making them … both back in the day and touring the festival circuit now. Get your hot Oscar picks right here! Also, a surprise visit from the Madrid metro, a gas-leak power outage, and Ernest Borgnine playing Timothée Chalamet.  * La Strada [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ecB_XKUv8E] * Gary McDonogh, anthropologist [https://www.facingsouth.org/1984/11/past-and-present] and scholar [https://www.brynmawr.edu/news/growth-and-structure-cities-chair-gary-mcdonogh-writes-new-book-barcelona] of cities [https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1654&context=ess] * The Village Voice on Thundercrack [https://www.villagevoice.com/having-a-ball-anthology-invites-you-to-play-with-two-cult-queer-legends/] * Canyon Cinematheque [https://www.instagram.com/canyoncinema/] * Rewind This! [https://mubi.com/en/films/rewind-this/trailer]  * First They Came For My College [https://www.avclub.com/first-they-came-for-my-college-exclusive-trailer], you’ll be [https://www.voxmagazine.com/arts/true-false-film-review-first-they-came-for-my-college-2026/article_8ab0caa0-01b9-4a07-96a6-07d05d9012e4.html]hearing much [https://themaneater.com/134704/true-false/tf-firsttheycameformycollege/] more [https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/first-they-came-for-my-college-documentary-texas-premiere-sxsw-florida/] about [https://www.kbia.org/kbia-news/2026-03-04/true-false-conversations-first-they-came-for-my-college-documents-resilience-and-anguish-amid-a-southern-colleges-transformation?_amp=true].  * The trailer for FTCFMC was edited by alum Smitty Smith [http://linkedin.com/in/smitty-smith-353124a5], whose previous trailer was for Avatar: Fire and Water. * Alum Steve Rosenbluth, halfway to EGOT [https://conceptoverdrive.com/press.php]  * Dreams With Sharp Teeth [https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9ji22] * “Giorgio with the hair [https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/ancient_aliens_giorgio_tells_all]” * Marty [https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1013427-marty]  * Magnolia [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnamcFv_N9Q] and Hard Eight [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwLWHNuJ-2M]  * Save the Green Planet! [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhM2PSNvArg] * Uncle Buck’s girlfriend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV3T5hFCZhE] * Train Dreams [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Nk8TrBHOrA] * If I Had Legs I’d Kick You [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywFDoT7LBbQ] * Arco [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4RrOe8IbI8] and Chainsaw Man [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l96zmDlWCBk] * The Secret Agent [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UfrzDKrhEc]  and Sentimental Value [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKbcKQN5Yrw]  * Color Me Lurid [https://search.worldcat.org/title/Color-me-lurid-:-the-weird-world-of-George-Kuchar/oclc/225705599] * Darmstadt’s Filmkreis [https://filmkreis.de/]  * The Swan Song of Fedor Ozerov [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTVU0zqP_7g]  * Apenas Coisas Boas [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV_aVs6rhjk] (Only Good Things)  * Kontinental ‘25 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckllkXFuGjE] * The Grandmother [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahpV0kETGF4], a Lynch short * Hundreds of Beavers [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m39iu2YW-oM] Callbacks: Oscars 24 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oscars-and-film-at-new-college-with-harrison/id1700372902?i=1000648549660], 25 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT80JTxDTQ4], In Memoriam [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA--cYvbhO0]. Please send us your stories, pictures, audio: palmcourtpodcast@gmail.com [palmcourtpodcast@gmail.com]  For your Clone Stamp Greetings card, write Eugene at: solero55@gmail.com [solero55@gmail.com]. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome Back Oscars Crew 02:16 New Guest Eugene Joins 03:32 Eugene New College Origins 05:01 Thundercrack Screening Story 06:53 Film Series Programming Rules 09:04 Teatro and VHS Nostalgia 11:02 New College Documentary Buzz 13:04 VFX Awards and Industry Paths 15:09 Ancient Aliens Editing Tales 17:35 Oscars Season Kickoff 22:07 Top Contenders Sinners vs Battle 25:23 Marty Supreme and Chalamet 27:52 More Nominees Begonia Weapons 29:29 Train Dreams Favorite 30:47 Best Picture Longshots 32:10 Hamnet Acting Buzz 33:08 F1 Sound and Editing 34:49 Best Actress Race 35:30 Rose Byrne Dark Horse 37:26 Best Actor and Blue Moon 39:01 Director Song and Score 41:50 Animation and Shorts Talk 43:43 International Film Locks 45:23 Indie Picks and Programming 48:44 Lynch Memoriam Speculation 50:50 Train Movies Metro Cameo 53:07 Signing Off and Thanks Follow, Like, and Share wherever you get your pods. Visit us at https://palmcourtpod.com for more.

📰 Old School Catalyst: Keeping Student Journalism Alive | Palm Court Podcast S3

The Palm Court Podcast returns for Season 3, diving deep into the history and future of student journalism at New College! Hosts Mike Palmer, Grant Balfour and Megan Cytron welcome the Old School Catalyst crew: former faculty advisor Maria Vesperi and former student editors Isaac Tellechea and Sophia Brown. They are also joined by a recorded contribution from former Catalyst editor Gaby Batista. This episode chronicles the journey of the student newspaper, the Catalyst, from its early days to its necessary shuttering and serving as the inspiration for the independent nonprofit, Old School Catalyst. Discover how the changing political climate and administrative turnover at New College moved these journalists to build an external platform to continue their vital work and protect student free expression. Journalism in Crisis: Maria, Isaac and Sophia discuss the incredibly stressful and compressed experience of covering the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid political "takeover" of New College starting in spring 2023. Covering events with nuance while being directly affected made for an invaluable, challenging journalism education. The Birth of Old School Catalyst: After realizing the campus environment would no longer sustain student journalism, Maria and the team worked with alumni, pro bono attorneys and organizations like PEN America to incorporate the paper as an independent Florida nonprofit. Learning by Doing: Isaac Tellechea details the current editorial process, emphasizing student agency and the "rolling deadline" approach for publishing stories like the recent exposé focusing on New College's free speech concerns. Beyond New College: Sophia Brown emphasizes that Old School Catalyst aims to be a resource for student journalists nationwide. Old School Catalyst is not just a campus paper—it's a critical experiment in preserving academic freedom and the independent student press in an increasingly challenged higher education landscape nationwide. Connect and Support Old School Catalyst: Read & Subscribe: Find all their published articles and subscribe to their newsletter at oldschoolcatalyst.com. Connect: Follow them on Instagram @OldSchoolCatalyst. Get Involved: If you are a student journalist facing similar barriers, reach out and share your story! Like, Follow, and Share the Palm Court Podcast! Share this episode with anyone interested in journalism, New College, or the future of free speech in higher education. 00:00 Welcome to Season Three 00:38 Introducing the Old School Catalyst Crew 01:40 Maria Vesperi's Journey in Journalism 05:19 Reviving the Catalyst at New College 08:02 Isaac Tellechea's Experience with the Catalyst 13:46 Sophia Brown's Role and Reflections 18:39 Challenges and Achievements of the Old School Catalyst 22:25 Challenges of Running a Student Newspaper 23:17 Encouraging Student Reporters 25:03 Story Selection Process 27:08 Current Coverage and Editorial Decisions 27:39 Mission and Broader Impact 30:39 Navigating Journalism in a Challenging Environment 39:20 Reflections and Future Aspirations 39:42 Gaby Batista's recorded message 48:37 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks Shownotes: St. Pete Times was ⁠a journalism innovator⁠ [https://reporterslab.org/2022/08/22/politifact-at-15-lessons-about-the-truth-o-meter-innovation-and-pirates/] The Catalyst goes back⁠ to 1965⁠ [https://ufdc.ufl.edu/NCF0001715/00001/allvolumes?search=catalyst] ⁠Reagent ⁠ [https://ufdc.ufl.edu/NCF0001721/00001]was one of several not-quite replacements in the 1980s  USF Oracle still ⁠covers news⁠ [https://www.usforacle.com/2025/09/10/usf-sarasota-new-college-professors-split-merger-talks/] ⁠Fall 2020⁠ [https://ncfcatalyst.com/testing-delays-and-symptom-checker-struggles-mark-new-colleges-first-month-of-covid-19-testing/] was a ⁠tough time⁠ [https://ncfcatalyst.com/fashionably-safe-new-college-mask-fashion/] Older alums remember the⁠ Anthro Lab⁠ [https://ufdc.ufl.edu/NCF0002182/00001/images] as “The Barn” Maria Vesperi ⁠stepped down⁠ [https://ncfcatalyst.com/a-farewell-to-catalyst-sponsor-maria-d-vesperi/], sort of Brad Thiessen is now ⁠Florida Poly’s provost⁠ [https://floridapoly.edu/news/florida-poly-appoints-dr-brad-thiessen-to-lead-academic-vision-as-provost-and-vp/] ⁠Alaska Miller⁠ [https://ncfcatalyst.com/board-of-trustees-shuts-down-faculty-seeking-tenure-community-members-a-deep-dive-into-their-most-divisive-meeting-yet/], outspoken cog-sci student ⁠News structure⁠ [https://www.stylemanual.gov.au/structuring-content/types-structure/inverted-pyramid-structure] Brown spoke at ⁠two 2023 commencements⁠ [https://ncffreedom.org/%5B-%5D-blog/f/witnessing-2-new-college-of-florida-graduations] Alex Levy’s ⁠message to student journos⁠ [https://ncfcatalyst.com/a-peek-into-the-experience-of-a-student-journalist-at-new-college/] Chloe Rusek’s⁠ attempt to interview Corcoran⁠ [https://ncfcatalyst.com/a-peek-into-the-experience-of-a-student-journalist-at-new-college/] Sophia Brown’s ⁠bookstore series⁠ [https://oldschoolcatalyst.com/how-the-lynx-celebrates-the-literary-world-of-florida/] Florence Fahringer’s and Andy Trinh’s ⁠Childcare Center item⁠ [https://oldschoolcatalyst.com/new-college-expels-its-childcare-center/] WSLR ⁠reports⁠ [https://wslr.org/florida-colleges-rank-poorly-in-fires-free-speech-assessment/] on ⁠NCF⁠ [https://wslr.org/family-sues-new-college-foundation-for-return-of-donated-funds/]⁠ [https://www.usermag.co/] Taylor Lorenz⁠ [https://www.usermag.co/] & ⁠Drop Site News⁠ [https://www.dropsitenews.com/] PCP Callbacks: ⁠Sophia Brown/PEN America⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpnoHzeZknI], ⁠Kathryn Joyce⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfyTw7yAGwE], ⁠Steven Walker⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6X-f-ZDAUo]