Latest news with #FloridaBoardofGovernors
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Santa Ono blocked from UF presidency amid DEI backlash
The Brief Florida Board of Governors rejects Ono 10-6, defying unanimous UF trustee vote. Political pressure over DEI stances derails once-clear path to top post. The surprise vote intensifies scrutiny of ideological litmus tests in state universities. ORLANDO, Fla. - After a coordinated campaign by conservatives attacking his "evolution" on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, a divided state university system Board of Governors on Tuesday blocked Santa Ono from becoming the University of Florida's next president. What we know Santa Ono, former University of Michigan president and a prominent academic leader, was blocked from becoming the next president of the University of Florida after a 10-6 vote by the state university system's Board of Governors. This came despite unanimous support from UF's Board of Trustees and a strong push by influential GOP donor and trustees chairman Mori Hosseini. Critics pointed to Ono's past support of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and questioned the sincerity of his recent ideological reversal. What we don't know It remains unclear who the new front-runner for the UF presidency will be, or how much influence political actors and outside critics like Christopher Rufo will continue to wield in the selection process. It is also uncertain how this decision might affect ongoing debates around academic freedom and politicization in Florida's higher education system. The backstory Ono had a long public record of support for DEI programs and climate-related divestment policies during his tenures at the University of British Columbia and the University of Michigan. Florida's Republican-led government has recently outlawed DEI in public higher education, creating a high-stakes litmus test for any prospective university leader. Ono claimed his views had "evolved" and praised Florida's approach, but some board members viewed his change as politically expedient rather than principled. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on reporting by The News Service of Florida.
The Province
4 days ago
- General
- The Province
Former UBC president Santa Ono rejected by University of Florida after DEI backlash
Ono faced sharp criticism from political conservatives about his past support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs Published Jun 03, 2025 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 4 minute read CP-Web. University of Florida president-elect Santa Ono, left, answers a question, as Mori Hosseini, right, chairman of the UF Board of Trustees listens, during a meeting of the Florida Board of Governors to vote on Ono becoming Florida's 14th president at the University of Central Florida's downtown campus in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Photo by Joe Burbank / AP ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Longtime academic Santa Ono was rejected Tuesday for the University of Florida presidency by the State University System board amid sharp criticism from political conservatives about his past support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs and other initiatives they view as unacceptable liberal ideology. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state's universities, voted 10-6 against Ono, who was most recently president of the University of Michigan. The University of Florida Board of Trustees had voted unanimously in May to approve Ono as the school's 14th president, and it is unprecedented for the governors to reverse such an action. Now the search will start all over. Ono's proposed contract included a number of ideological requirements, such as how well he stopped programs that focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI. He was to co-operate with Gov. Ron DeSantis' Office of Government Efficiency — similar to the office created by President Donald Trump — and appoint other university officials and deans who are 'firmly aligned' with Florida's approach. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Several prominent conservatives raised questions about Ono before the vote over pro-Palestinian protests, climate change efforts, gender ideology and DEI programs at the University of Michigan and his previous academic positions. These actions, Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said on the X social platform, show 'he is willing to appease and prioritize far-left activists over ensuring students are protected and receive a quality education.' Others raising objections include Donald Trump Jr. and Florida GOP U.S. Reps. Byron Donalds, Greg Steube and Jimmy Patronis. Donalds is a Republican candidate for governor. Writing in Inside Higher Ed, Ono said he supported DEI initiatives at first because the aim was 'equal opportunity and fairness for every student.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'But over time, I saw how DEI became something else — more about ideology, division and bureaucracy, not student success,' Ono wrote, adding that he eventually Limited DEI offices at Michigan. 'I believe in Florida's vision for higher education.' University of Florida president-elect Santa Ono, attends a meeting of the Florida Board of Governors to vote on Ono becoming Florida's 14th president at the University of Central Florida's downtown campus in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Photo by Joe Burbank / AP DeSantis, a Republican who has pushed reforms in higher education to eliminate what he calls 'woke' policies such as DEI, did not take a public stand on Ono but did say at a recent news conference that some of his statements made the governor 'cringe.' Ono faced similar pointed questions at Tuesday's meeting — especially from former Republican state House speakers Paul Renner and Jose Oliva — leading board member Charles Lydecker to object to the procedure. 'We have never used this as a forum to interrogate. This is not a court of law. Candidly, this process does not seem fair to me,' Lydecker said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Oliva, however, questioned how to square Ono's many past statements about hot-button cultural issues with his more Conservative stance now that he sought the Florida job. 'Now we are told to believe you are now abandoning an entire ideological architecture,' Oliva said. 'We are asking someone to lead our flagship university. I don't understand how it becomes unfair.' Steube, writing on X, praised the board for its decision. 'Great news for my alma mater and the state of Florida! The Board of Governors heard us loud and clear: Santa Ono was the wrong choice for UF,' the congressman said. Ono was to replace Kent Fuchs, who became the school's temporary, interim president last summer after ex-U. S. Sen. Ben Sasse stepped down. Sasse left the U.S. Senate, where he had represented Nebraska, to become the university's president in 2023. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. UC President Janet Napolitano (left) and then-UBC President Santa Ono at UBC in Vancouver on July 23, 2019. Photo by Arlen Redekop / PNG Sasse announced in July he was leaving the job after his wife was diagnosed with epilepsy. Later reports surfaced that Sasse gave six former staffers and two former Republican officials jobs with salaries that outstripped comparable positions and spent over $1.3 million on private catering for lavish dinners, football tailgates and extravagant social functions in his first year on the job. Ono is also the former president of the University of British Columbia and the University of Cincinnati. He left UBC in July 2022, at which time board chair and governor Nancy McKenzie said Ono had made the university a more inclusive campus. His legacy began, she said, with the development of UBC's strategic plan when Ono first arrived six years earlier. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'And flowing from that he's made significant strides toward equity, inclusion and diversity in our practices and in our workforce, and really worked to build a very inclusive culture,' McKenzie said. Ono, who was born in Vancouver and learned to ride his bike along tree-lined Main Mall at the Point Grey campus where his dad taught in the 1960s, became UBC president in 2016 after Dr. Arvind Gupta left abruptly as president in 2015, only one year into a five-year term, following rifts with the board of governors. With files from Gordon McIntyre Read More Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks Sports News
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pick for University of Florida president rejected after a conservative backlash
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In a surprise twist, the state of Florida's top higher education board on Tuesday voted against a contract for Santa Ono, who was set to be the next president of the University of Florida. The decision came after growing opposition on the right to Ono's past statements on, among other things, diversity, equity and inclusion policies. The rejection of Ono, the former president of the University of Michigan, also put Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a thorny political position. One of DeSantis' longtime biggest political supporters — Mori Hosseini, the billionaire chair of the University of Florida board of trustees — strongly backed Ono's bid to become president of the state's flagship university. On the other hand, national conservatives including Christopher Rufo — an activist who built his reputation fighting racial sensitivity trainings and critical race theory courses — Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla. — a Trump ally running for Florida governor — and Donald Trump Jr. argued that Ono's past support for DEI policies made him unqualified for the job. 'WTF! Have the decision makers at @UF lost their minds!???' Trump Jr. wrote in an X post last month. 'This woke psycho might be a perfect fit for a Communist school in California, but how is he even being considered for this role in Florida? 'Every single member of the Florida Board of Governors should vote against him!!!' he continued. Two Trump advisers familiar with the issue said his post did not speak for the White House, which was not officially engaged in the fight. Trump Jr.'s post amplified one from Rufo, whom DeSantis has praised and appointed to a separate university board in the state in 2023. Rufo's message blasted Ono for a video in which he promoted "equity and inclusion ... embedded in all areas of academic work' while he served as president and vice chancellor at the University of British Columbia in Canada. Ono's focus on DEI policies and issues like environmental justice were heavily scrutinized during the Tuesday meeting of the Florida board of governors, the state's top education board that needed to vote to ratify Ono's new contract. The board, stocked with DeSantis appointees and supporters, rejected the contract on a 10-6 vote. DeSantis himself did not publicly vocalize heavy support of Ono's candidacy but, behind the scenes, his team was quietly discussing how to give him a push, according to a person familiar with the matter. Underscoring the politically sensitive nature of the vote, DeSantis' political operation tried to claim some victory after the vote. 'Santa Ono is OUT,' posted Jordan Schachtel, a newly hired DeSantis political staffer. 'The Florida Board of Governors has voted to Reject Ono as President of the University of Florida.' 'Florida has voted to reject wokeness, DEI, CRT, at our flagship university,' he continued. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., also praised the vote, saying it was the "right decision." DeSantis' office did not respond to a request seeking comment. During the contentious Tuesday meeting, Ono tried to explain that he has had an 'evolution' of thought on issues like DEI, and that he was both aligned with and attracted to Florida's brand of governance, which has cracked down on both. 'Those sorts of programs will not have a place at the University of Florida,' he told the board. This article was originally published on
The Hill
5 days ago
- General
- The Hill
State board rejects University of Florida pick amid conservative backlash
The Florida Board of Governors rejected Santa Ono to serve as the president of the University of Florida (UF) on Tuesday amid backlash from conservatives over Ono's past stances on diversity, equity, and inclusion on (DEI) college campuses. The board, which oversees the state's university system, voted 10-6 to block the former University of Michigan president from serving as the UF president weeks after the university's Board of Trustees voted unanimously in favor of Ono. The move from the state's board of governors marks the first time in its 22-year history that it has rejected a university's presidential selection. The board's rejection means that UF will have to start its presidential selection process over. Ono faced pushback from conservatives, as well as members of Florida's congressional delegation, over his past stances on DEI, which has become a target of the Trump administration. Last week, the president's son Donald Trump Jr. called on 'every single member' of the board of governors to vote against Ono. However, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who appointed most of the state's board of governors, avoided jumping directly into the fray over Ono's nomination. 'We have expectations about what we want in higher education. We won't want it to be a fountain of activism and leftist indoctrination and if you go in that direction, then you will not have support to continue,' DeSantis said at a press conference last week. 'People have pointed out a lot of statements that he has made that are not exactly what we're looking for in a state where woke goes to die and I cringe at some of these statements.' The chair of UF's board of trustees, Mori Hosseini, who is a DeSantis ally, has backed Ono as the pick to lead the university. Ono wrote in a recent op-ed that his views on the issue have evolved. 'Like many, I supported what I believed to be the original intent of DEI — ensuring equal opportunity and fairness for every student,' he wrote in Inside Higher Ed earlier this month. 'That's something on which most everyone agrees. But over time, I saw how DEI became something else—more about ideology, division and bureaucracy, not student success.'
NBC News
5 days ago
- General
- NBC News
Pick for University of Florida president rejected after a conservative backlash
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In a surprise twist, the state of Florida's top higher education board on Tuesday voted against a contract for Santa Ono, who was set to be the next president of the University of Florida. The decision came after growing opposition on the right to Ono's past statements on, among other things, diversity, equity and inclusion policies. The rejection of Ono, the former president of the University of Michigan, also put Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a thorny political position. One of DeSantis' longtime biggest political supporters — Mori Hosseini, the billionaire chair of the University of Florida board of trustees — strongly backed Ono's bid to become president of the state's flagship university. On the other hand, national conservatives including Christopher Rufo — an activist who built his reputation fighting racial sensitivity trainings and critical race theory courses — Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla. — a Trump ally running for Florida governor — and Donald Trump Jr. argued that Ono's past support for DEI policies made him unqualified for the job. 'WTF! Have the decision makers at @UF lost their minds!???' Trump Jr. wrote in an X post last month. 'This woke psycho might be a perfect fit for a Communist school in California, but how is he even being considered for this role in Florida? 'Every single member of the Florida Board of Governors should vote against him!!!' he continued. Two Trump advisers familiar with the issue said his post did not speak for the White House, which was not officially engaged in the fight. Trump Jr.'s post amplified one from Rufio, whom DeSantis has praised and appointed to a separate university board in the state in 2023. Rufo's message blasted Ono for a video where he promoted "equity and in all areas of academic work' while he served as president and vice chancellor at the University of British Columbia in Canada. Ono's focus on DEI policies and issues like environmental justice were heavily scrutinized during the Tuesday meeting of the Florida board of governors, the state's top education board that needed to vote to ratify Ono's new contract. The board, stocked with DeSantis appointees and supporters, rejected the contract on a 10-6 vote. DeSantis himself did not publicly vocalize heavy support of Ono's candidacy, but behind the scenes, his team was quietly discussing how to give him a push, according to a person familiar with the matter. Underscoring the politically sensitive nature of the vote, DeSantis' political operation tried to claim some victory after the vote. 'Santa Ono is OUT,' posted Jordan Schachtel, a newly hired DeSantis political staffer. 'The Florida Board of Governors has voted to Reject Ono as President of the University of Florida.' 'Florida has voted to reject wokeness, DEI, CRT, at our flagship university,' he continued. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., also praised the vote, saying it was the " right decision." DeSantis' office did not respond to a request seeking comment. During the contentious Tuesday meeting, Ono tried to explain that he has had an 'evolution' of thought on issues like DEI, and that he was both aligned with and attracted to Florida's brand of governance, which has cracked down on both. 'Those sorts of programs will not have a place at the University of Florida,' he told the board.
