In a significant victory for traditional values and limited government, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis indirectly influenced the rejection of Dr. Santa Ono as the next President of the University of Florida.
The decision, which took place on Tuesday, marked a significant pushback against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and Critical Race Theory.
Dr. Ono, a former President of the University of Michigan, had been under scrutiny for his history of promoting DEI programs. Despite the University of Florida Board of Trustees' approval, the final decision rested with the Florida Board of Governors. As reported by RedState, the board, largely appointed by DeSantis, voted 10-6 against Ono's appointment, thereby upholding the governor's commitment to eliminating DEI from the state's education system.
In an unprecedented move, the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state's higher education system, voted against the confirmation of Dr. Ono as the University of Florida's 14th President. This marked the first time in the history of the 17-member board that it rejected a university trustee board's leadership selection.
During his vetting process, Ono faced rigorous questioning about his past support for DEI programs, his views on holistic versus merit-based admissions, gender-affirming care, climate change, and his response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These topics have been contentious issues in the cultural debates led by Florida's conservative leaders.
Dr. Ono's track record includes pushing DEI programs at the institutions he has led and advocating for affirmative action programs that adopt a "holistic" view of admissions. These policies echo those of institutions like Harvard, which give significant weight to essays describing one's "lived experience" as a workaround to the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action and universities. Notably, Ono also supported lockdowns and mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Christopher Rufo, an education advisor to DeSantis, highlighted Ono's progressive background. He pointed out that Ono supports various left-wing social trends, such as an "indigenous strategic plan," "climate action," and "antiracism," and believes that universities should allocate public funds to advance these causes.
Rufo also criticized Ono for his support of various left-wing trends, including the use of pronouns in his bio and the promotion of "two-spirit" genders. He argued that anyone aspiring to be the President of a Florida public university should not engage in such practices or accuse America of "systemic racism."
While it remains uncertain whether Ono would have continued to promote these progressive ideologies as the President of the University of Florida, his past actions suggest that he might have done so. Despite his praise for DeSantis' education policies, many believe that his appointment would have posed a risk. Experience has shown that individuals with left-wing ideologies often revert to their original beliefs once they secure power and contractual protection.
Even if Ono had complied with Florida's regulations on promoting DEI, there is a strong belief that he would have continued to push these initiatives covertly. It is unlikely that someone who has previously promoted "two-spirit genders" and child "sex-change" operations would suddenly moderate their views. As such, Ono was deemed unsuitable for such a high-profile position.
The decision sends a clear message to the University of Florida Board of Trustees as they continue their search for a new President. It underscores the importance of upholding traditional values and limited government, and the rejection of progressive ideologies in the state's education system.
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