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Globe and Mail
7 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Canadian Santa Ono rejected for University of Florida presidency amid conservative backlash over DEI support
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. 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 cooperate 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. 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 they aim was 'equal opportunity and fairness for every student.' '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.' 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. 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. 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.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida leaders send letter to Hillsborough Schools demanding certain books deemed inappropriate be removed
The Brief The Hillsborough School District came under fire after the Florida attorney general demanded certain books the state deemed inappropriate be removed from libraries. Uthmeier sent a letter addressed to Hillsborough school board members, identifying several books he considered "pornographic." This comes after Florida's education commissioner sent a letter to Hillsborough Schools' superintendent last week, identifying two books he considers inappropriate. TAMPA, Fla. - The Hillsborough County School District came under fire this week after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier demanded certain books the state deemed inappropriate be removed from school libraries. Big picture view Uthmeier sent a letter addressed to Hillsborough school board members. In it, Uthmeier identified several books he considers "pornographic" and wrote that the materials should be immediately removed. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube "You should undertake an immediate review of your current collection to remove any additional harmful, sexualized content that has errantly been presented to students," Uthmeier wrote. "Your obligations under the constitution, state statute, and your own policies demand it. And so do I. I will monitor your actions to determine whether formal legal action by my office is warranted." The backstory This comes after Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz sent a letter to Hillsborough Schools Superintendent Van Ayres last week, identifying two books he considers inappropriate, but available in some high school libraries: 'Call Me By Your Name' and 'Jack of Hearts (And Other Parts).' Diaz ordered the superintendent to attend the upcoming Florida Board of Education meeting and explain why the materials are still on bookshelves. Uthmeier identified several additional materials that he believes should be removed. READ: Hillsborough County Public Schools wins 'U.S. District of the Year' award What they're saying Julie Gebhards, a parental rights advocate who has worked with Moms for Liberty, applauded the move. She said she's been sharing what she considers inappropriate content from books in question on her social media accounts to try to bring attention to them. "I'm really grateful and for just the accountability that comes when someone like the attorney general of Florida is writing to your district, and you know, leaning in saying, why aren't you doing anything about this?" said Gebhards. "This is a violation of the law. That is traction that we need desperately so that we can protect these kids from really awful content." Anti-censorship advocates, including the Florida Freedom to Read Project, meanwhile, believe this is an overreach by the state. "This is now the third attempt from somebody at the state to pressure books off the shelves against those in the community. None of these books have faced formal objections. None of them have gone through a committee review process," said Stefana Ferrell, with the Freedom to Read Project. "Every community should get to decide its standards. Based on the needs and interests of the students and the socioeconomic needs of the community." MORE: Why student loan delinquencies are soaring - and credit scores are dropping The other side In a response letter to Diaz that the district provided to FOX 13 on Friday, Ayres outlined the actions taken. The superintendent wrote he directed the Library Media Services department to remove from all schools the books identified by the state as inappropriate. He also directed the department to place "under review" any other title the state has included on lists of potentially questionable material. Ayres also outlined potential policy changes to ensure the district is in compliance with state standards and statutes. The Hillsborough school district has previously said it follows state law regarding book challenges and allows any community member to do so. The books are then subject to reviews by a school committee, the school board and potentially the state. The Source The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13's Aaron Mesmer. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Board meeting: Advocates speak up for Satellite High teacher who used student's chosen name
A protest in the rain, a person escorted from the room and, to kick off public comments, a warning from the board chair that disruptions could lead to trespasses being issued. All of that transpired just before and in the first half of a nearly four-hour May 6 Brevarard school board meeting. And just as at the April 22 meeting, the evening was filled with public comment about the fate of a teacher whose contract was not renewed. More than 28 members of the public, young and old and of different political allegiance, signed up to voice their thoughts on Melissa Calhoun, whose tenure with Brevard Public Schools will end this month. The Satellite High AP English Literature teacher's departure comes after the district opted not to renew her contract because she used the chosen name of a 17-year-old dual-enrolled student in her class without parental permission — an action in violation of a 2023 Florida Board of Education rule. She is the first known educator in the state to suffer job loss in relation to the rule. Nearly every commenter urged the board and Superintendent Mark Rendell to reconsider their decision, speaking to her merits as an educator and as a compassionate person. Loren Kingsley, a teacher of 23 years at Brevard Public Schools, spoke of how Satellite High was "the happiest place on Earth" before the district opted not to renew Calhoun. But everything changed this spring, she said. "I'm here today because I'm grieving," she said. "With one rash decision, you've stolen a highly effective teacher's livelihood, (and) you've destroyed our entire school's culture." Over the course of the night, fewer people were complimentary toward the board's decision not to renew Calhoun. Karen Fulton, chair of the Brevard chapter of Moms for Liberty, thanked board members and Rendell for their choice. "I think teachers should stay in their lane," she said. "I think teachers should teach. It might not be popular, but that's what I think." Unlike the previous meeting, when board member John Thomas made a motion to retrain Calhoun and renew her contract — a move shot down by every other board member — the board made no comment about Calhoun, though Board Chair Gene Trent repeatedly interrupted speakers during the agenda-related portion of public comment to ask how their comments related to the agenda. Ahead of that, he cautioned the audience not to be disruptive. "A warning to those in attendance: If you cause a disruption, you will be asked to leave the premise," Trent said. "If you continue to cause disruption and/or fail to leave the premise, you are in violation of Florida state statute 877-13 and you will be committing trespass, and the board will enforce these rules." During the agenda-related public comment section, one speaker was escorted from the room after Trent interrupted the man's comment, saying the speaker wasn't addressing an agenda item. The speaker continued to talk and was removed from the meeting. About 25 protesters in support of Calhoun gathered ahead of the meeting. They first congregated under the building's portico, but were told by Brevard County Sheriff's deputies that they needed to stand outside despite the ongoing rain and lightning. Inside, additional supporters joined them to address the board. Nearly everyone spoke about Calhoun, though the focus of the comments ranged from supportive classroom environments to how using a student's preferred name can affect them. Ellen Tetlow brought up how she is known by multiple names and the impact that respecting someone's chosen name can have on them. Becky McAleenan also spoke of her personal experience with using a chosen name. "Allowing a teacher to call someone by the name they choose gives them confidence in their ability to discipline themselves," she said. "I didn't ever feel big enough to wear the name Rebecca, but I damn sure rock Becky." For Fulton, the issue wasn't so simple. "I think that in education, there is a team of people that affect the child, and I think when a teacher goes against the parents' wishes, then it drives a wedge in that team, and that is not good for anybody," the Moms for Liberty chapter chair said. "It's not good for the teacher, it's not good for the parents, it's not good for the student." But for several students who spoke at the May 6 meeting, it wasn't complicated — Calhoun was respecting the student and providing a safe environment. One student, Davin, said teachers like Calhoun make him feel safe. "I don't think you'll listen to me," he told the board. "I'm just a student, but I do know this: If someone asks me if I ever saw courage in action, I'm going to say yes. I saw it in my stepdad, I saw it in Ms. Calhoun and I see it every day in teachers who still care, even when you make it this hard." Multiple speakers criticized the district's decision to not renew Calhoun, raising questions about whether or not that punishment was too harsh and if the district was interpreting statute correctly. Neither the 2023 Florida Board of Education rule that requires parental permission for a student to go by any alternative to their legal name nor House Bill 1069, the law the rule is implementing, lay out a punishment for teachers who use a student's chosen name without parental permission. "(HB 1069) states that the school board is required to adopt procedures for notifying a student's parent if there is a change in the student's services," said Pamela Castellana, whose family member attends class with Calhoun's student who goes by a chosen name. "Using the same name the student had used for five years is literally the opposite of a change." Commenters also brought up that HB 1069 says educators can't be required to "refer to another person using that person's preferred personal title or pronouns if such personal title or pronouns do not correspond to that person's sex." "If a teacher can deny a name based on any grounds, regardless of parental consent, that tells us it's not about parental rights," said Travis Furst, a veteran, father of four BPS students, husband of a teacher and self-described Republican. "It's about enforcing one belief over another." Finch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at fwalker@ X: @_finchwalker. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Community continues to urge Brevard Schools to renew Sat High teacher
