Controversial nominee for University of Florida presidency withdrawn following conservative opposition backfire
Unleashing the Unconventional: A Shocking U-Turn for Florida's Top University
In a stunning turn of events, the University of Florida's highest education board voted against the appointment of Santa Ono as their next president. This surprise decision unfolded amidst growing opposition from the right, primarily over Ono's past statements on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Covid, and transgender rights, among other topics.
Florida, under Governor Ron DeSantis, has been a hotbed for the conservative movement. However, the rejection of Ono, former president of the University of Michigan, has placed DeSantis in a tricky political predicament, marking an unusual outcome in a state where influential figures and donors typically get their way.
DeSantis' long-time supporter, billionaire Mori Hosseini, who serves as the chair of the University of Florida board of trustees, was a strong backer of Ono's bid to become the head of the prestigious Florida university. On the other hand, national conservatives, such as Chris Rufo, an activist renowned for his fight against racial sensitivity trainings and critical race theory courses, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), a Trump ally vying for Florida governor, and Donald Trump Jr., argued that Ono's past support for DEI policies made him unsuitable for the post.
Trump Jr. voiced his disapproval in a provocative social media post, labeling Ono a "woke psycho" unfit for the Florida role. This post came in the wake of Rufo's message criticizing Ono for promoting "equity and inclusion ... embedded in all areas of academic work" during his tenure as president and vice chancellor of the University of British Columbia.
Ono found himself in the hot seat as his stance on DEI policies, pandemic management, and issues like environmental justice were scrutinized during the Florida board of governors' meeting. Despite Ono's insistence that he had "evolved" on these matters during the nearly four-hour hearing, the board ultimately rejected him with a 10-6 vote, with several votes coming from DeSantis allies, including former Florida House Speakers Jose Oliva and Paul Renner, and Manny Diaz, the outgoing leader of the state Department of Education, recently appointed by DeSantis to lead the University of West Florida.
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Jordan Schachtel, a new member of DeSantis' political team, celebrated the board's decision, claiming it as a victory over wokeness, DEI, Critical Race Theory (CRT), and the University of Florida. Meanwhile, Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) praised the decision, calling it the "right choice."
The rejection may have been influenced by Trump Jr.'s vocal opposition, although White House officials denied any official engagement in the matter. Despite reportedly initially supporting Ono, DeSantis was allegedly forced to withhold his backing due to the national conservative backlash. Behind the scenes, his team was said to be discussing ways to support Ono despite the public silence.
In the aftermath of the decision, Ono tried to reassure the board that he had evolved in his thoughts about DEI, alignment with Florida's governance, and anti-DEI initiatives' absence at the University of Florida. However, his assurances were not sufficient to convince the skeptical board members.
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- The rejection of Santa Ono's appointment as the University of Florida's president, despite Mori Hosseini's support, has created a credit predicament for Governor Ron DeSantis, as national conservatives, including Chris Rufo and Donald Trump Jr., criticized Ono's past advocacy for DEI policies.
- In the general news, the unexpected rejection of Santa Ono by the University of Florida's board of governors, amidst opposition from conservatives, has marked an unusual outcome in education-and-self-development, further highlighting Florida's political climate under Governor Ron DeSantis.
