The University of Florida's Presidential Pick Faces Backlash

The University of Florida had a plan to appoint Santa Ono as their new president. Ono is well-known in academic circles. However, the state college board had other ideas. They voted against his appointment. The main issue? Ono's past support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and his criticism of Donald Trump. The board members had a heated debate about Ono's record. Some accused him of not protecting Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests at the University of Michigan, where he was previously president. The rejection came just a week after the UF trustees had unanimously voted to appoint him. They offered him a salary of $1. 5 million. Ono had tried to distance himself from his previous views. He removed his name from a letter criticizing the Trump administration. He also wrote an article explaining why he no longer believed in DEI initiatives on campus. He claimed that DEI had become more about ideology and division than student success. He took credit for eliminating DEI offices in Michigan. Ono also stated that combating antisemitism had been a priority throughout his career. During the board meeting, some members were skeptical of Ono's changing views. Paul Renner, a Republican and former speaker of the Florida House, said that Ono's public record contradicted what he was telling the board. Conservative figures in Florida, including Senator Rick Scott and Congressman Jimmy Patronis, were also critical of Ono's nomination. They pointed to his past support for DEI efforts and his handling of pro-Palestinian protests at the University of Michigan. Scott called Ono the wrong choice to lead a university that he said was the "gold standard" in fighting antisemitism. Patronis urged governors to reject Ono, calling him a "DEI acolyte. " The UF trustees defended Ono, saying he had been evolving his perspective over time. They argued that he was not changing his views to fit Florida's expectations. Mori Hosseini, chair of the UF trustees, said Ono would have ensured that merit and scholarship, not ideology, were the gold standards for success. The rejection of Ono is seen as part of a wider right-wing assault on higher education. DEI and antisemitism allegations are often used as pretexts for these attacks. The Trump administration has also been feuding with Harvard over control of enrollment and curriculum. They revoked the visas of thousands of international students and ordered embassies to stop scheduling interviews for foreigners seeking to study in the US. The University of Florida's decision to reject Ono highlights the ongoing debate about DEI initiatives and antisemitism on college campuses. It also raises questions about the role of politics in higher education. As the country continues to grapple with these issues, it is clear that the fight over DEI and antisemitism is far from over.