Pick for University of Florida president rejected after a conservative backlash

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In a astonishment twist, the authorities of Florida’s apical higher acquisition committee connected Tuesday voted against a declaration for Santa Ono, who was acceptable to beryllium the adjacent president of the University of Florida. The determination came aft increasing absorption connected the close to Ono's past statements on, among different things, diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

The rejection of Ono, the erstwhile president of the University of Michigan, besides enactment Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis successful a thorny governmental position.

One of DeSantis’ longtime biggest governmental supporters — Mori Hosseini, the billionaire seat of the University of Florida committee of trustees — powerfully backed Ono’s bid to go president of the state’s flagship university.

On the different hand, nationalist conservatives including Christopher Rufo — an activistic who built his reputation warring radical sensitivity trainings and captious contention mentation courses — Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla. — a Trump state moving for Florida politician — and Donald Trump Jr. argued that Ono’s past enactment for DEI policies made him unqualified for the job.

“WTF! Have the determination makers astatine @UF mislaid their minds!???” Trump Jr. wrote successful an X station last month. “This woke psycho mightiness beryllium a cleanable acceptable for a Communist schoolhouse successful California, but however is helium adjacent being considered for this relation successful Florida?

“Every azygous subordinate of the Florida Board of Governors should ballot against him!!!” helium continued.

Two Trump advisers acquainted with the contented said his station did not talk for the White House, which was not officially engaged successful the fight.

Donald Trump Jr. spoke retired against Ono going to the University of Florida.Jeenah Moon / Pool via AP file

Trump Jr.’s station amplified one from Rufio, whom DeSantis has praised and appointed to a abstracted assemblage committee successful the authorities successful 2023. Rufo's connection blasted Ono for a video wherever helium promoted "equity and inclusion...embedded successful each areas of world work” portion helium served arsenic president and vice chancellor astatine the University of British Columbia successful Canada.

Ono’s absorption connected DEI policies and issues similar biology justness were heavy scrutinized during the Tuesday gathering of the Florida committee of governors, the state’s apical acquisition committee that needed to ballot to ratify Ono’s caller contract. The board, stocked with DeSantis appointees and supporters, rejected the declaration connected a 10-6 vote.

DeSantis himself did not publically vocalize dense enactment of Ono’s candidacy, but down the scenes, his squad was softly discussing however to springiness him a push, according to a idiosyncratic acquainted with the matter.

Underscoring the politically delicate quality of the vote, DeSantis’ governmental cognition tried to assertion immoderate triumph aft the vote.

“Santa Ono is OUT,” posted Jordan Schachtel, a recently hired DeSantis governmental staffer. “The Florida Board of Governors has voted to Reject Ono arsenic President of the University of Florida.”

“Florida has voted to cull wokeness, DEI, CRT, astatine our flagship university,” helium continued.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., besides praised the vote, saying it was the "right decision."

DeSantis’ bureau did not respond to a petition seeking comment.

During the contentious Tuesday meeting, Ono tried to explicate that helium has had an “evolution” of thought connected issues similar DEI, and that helium was some aligned with and attracted to Florida’s marque of governance, which has cracked down connected both.

“Those sorts of programs volition not person a spot astatine the University of Florida,” helium told the board.