Latest news with #SantaOno
Yahoo
an hour ago
- General
- Yahoo
Historic university garden vandalized in apparent anti-Israel statement: 'Don't waste your tears'
Hundreds of the University of Michigan's iconic peonies were reportedly cut in an act of vandalism – apparently perpetrated by at least one unidentified pro-Palestinian agitator. The Ann Arbor school's W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden, located in Nichols Arboretum, is home to North America's largest collection of historic herbaceous peonies, according to The Associated Press – and it boasts about 800 plants with 10,000 flowers at peak bloom. However, about 250 – or one-third of them – were found Sunday morning with most of their flowers cut off. Anti-israel Protesters Torch Diplomas Outside Columbia University On Graduation Day While no group has taken credit for the gratuitous act of destruction, according to the university's Division of Public Safety & Security (DPSS), papers found around the site outlined the apparent motive. "Plant lives don't matter. Human lives do," the papers read in part. "Stop the war. Resist Imperialism." Read On The Fox News App "Palestinian lives deserve to be cared for. More than these flowers," they continue. "Don't waste your tears on the peonies. They are not even dead and will grow again next spring." "Make no mistake, the criminal tactics used in the recent act of vandalism at Nichols Arboretum are wholly unacceptable," read a statement by the university. "We unequivocally condemn the destruction of property and any act of vandalism on our campus," the statement continued. "Damaging a beloved community space intended to foster reflection and bring hope to the whole community is counter productive. We urge all community members to channel their voices through constructive and meaningful dialogue." University Of Michigan President's Home Spray-painted With Anti-israel Messages: 'Intifada' UMich is no stranger to acts of vandalism by anti-Israel agitators – university President Santa Ono's home and the surrounding area were spray-painted with the words "intifada" and "coward" in October. The Upjohn Garden incident also transpired on the same day as an alleged terrorist attack on a pro-Israel demonstration in Boulder, Colorado, that left multiple people injured. The suspect, Mohamad Sabry Soliman, "stated that he wanted to kill all Zionist people," according to a federal complaint. The DPSS is actively investigating the matter, which the school describes as a "criminal incident." A Public Affairs representative for the university declined to comment further on the incident when reached by Fox News article source: Historic university garden vandalized in apparent anti-Israel statement: 'Don't waste your tears'
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Ono is the right choice for UF and for the Jewish community
On May 27, the University of Florida Board of Trustees voted to unanimously select Santa J. Ono, Ph.D., as the next UF president. The trustees spent 2 ½ hours asking Ono tough, pointed questions to address concerns, if not accusations. Some people have stated these concerns in public and often in passing, while some have exploited the obscurity and anonymity of the internet to sow doubt about Ono's fitness to hold the position. Ono addressed these questions, in public, on the record, live-streamed and over an extended period. Among the accusations being leveled against Ono: the claim that he is antisemitic. As a distinguished professor of neurology and a member of the Jewish community at the University of Florida, I feel uniquely qualified to address both the need for leadership that protects free speech and the UF Jewish community, as well as to help identify someone who can lead one of the most complex R1 universities in the country. Antisemitism is discrimination or hostility against Jewish people based on religion, ethnicity, or cultural identity. It has no place at the University of Florida, or anywhere else in our society. I have personal experience with antisemitism, so I know it when I see it. Therefore, I want to state unequivocally: Santa Ono is an ally to the Jewish community. He is not antisemitic and suggesting otherwise is both factually incorrect and deeply harmful. Don't take my word for it, though. In a letter sent to Ono just last week, Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, wrote to Ono, 'I know you have worked hard to demonstrate your support for the Jewish community, sometimes at personal cost and threat to you and your family.' In his own words: Santa Ono: I'm the right choice for UF president. I would make a great school the best. I've had the privilege of serving this incredible institution for almost 23 years, and I can tell you that we are at a pivotal moment. Our university is rising in stature, in impact, in national recognition and in complexity. From AI to healthcare to elite athletics and a dynamic admissions environment, UF needs a leader who can meet the moment and take us to the next level of excellence. It was not an easy task to find that type of leader, and not one the UF Presidential Search Committee took lightly. The committee set out to find a candidate who was a nationally respected educator and scholar. The committee sought a proven leader with academic gravitas and passion for both research and innovation. We sought a champion for academic freedom, interdisciplinary collaboration and individual student success. Our quest was to identify an individual capable of making strong connections with all stakeholders including students, faculty, donors and lawmakers. As a member of the search committee, I can attest that we did our homework. We received interest from a long list of exceptional individuals, including sitting and highly accomplished presidents of major U.S. universities. From that distinguished pool, one candidate rose to the top, and that person was Santa Ono. UF vs New College: Don't let politics rule UF president decision. Just look at New College. He didn't just meet the qualifications, he exceeded them. Ono is a scholar of international reputation, a visionary leader, and a person who understands the delicate and powerful intersection of education, innovation, community and public service. He is deeply committed, and he brings with him a track record of excellence in research, teaching and engagement at every level. He is also someone who shares the values of this institution, and he brings a passion that will energize every corner of our campus. In short, he is the leader we need to meet our rising moment. I truly believe that the people of Florida and our elected leaders are going to love working with him, and I am hopeful the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees Florida's state universities, will feel the same when they meet June 3 at the University of Central Florida to consider confirming him. One of the great things about this country and this state is our commitment to public dialogue and transparency. The committee worked hard. We took our charge seriously. And we delivered a candidate of the highest possible caliber to lead UF and the state of Florida into the next generation. Michael Okun, M.D., is the Adelaide Lackner Professor of Neurology and Executive Director of the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at the University of Florida. He was one of the individuals serving on the 15-member UF Presidential Search Committee. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Ono the right choice for UF, will stand against antisemitism | Opinion
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Don't let politics rule UF president decision. Just look at New College.
The Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the State University System under a constitutional amendment passed in 2002, faces an unprecedented situation as it makes a decision on whether to ratify the University of Florida's choice of Santa Ono as the school's new president. While the UF board was unanimous in supporting Ono, vocal opposition to his candidacy has come from a trustee of another institution overseen by the State University System – New College of Florida. And that New College trustee is Christopher Rufo, the provocative commentator best known for his social media and blog posts. The Board of Governors should take this opportunity to look past the headlines and benchmark how New College has actually fared under the watch of leaders like Rufo. It should do so by using standard state metrics over the past two-plus years – because these metrics show New College has been a debacle under Richard Corcoran, the president Rufo helped to install at the school's leader. It's a warning for the Board of Governors as it decides the fate of UF. Every June, all Florida state universities send their annual statistics – known as "the metrics" – to the Board of Governors in a standardized format as part of their annual planning. The latest annual release of metrics for New College is grim, and particularly so when it comes to incoming first-year students who enter the college directly from high school. For example, from fall 2022 to fall 2024, there has been: A decrease in the percentage of incoming students with a 4.0 grade point average (from 55% to 42%). A decrease in the percentage of incoming students who finished in the top 10% of their high school graduating classes (from 29% to 14%). A decrease in the average SAT score of incoming first-year New College students (from 1233 to 1153). And while New College continues to tout increased total enrollment, from fall 2022 to fall 2024 the number of freshmen – those going directly from high school to New College – only increased by 28. The other 150 new students were transfer students Indeed, the number of "first time in college" students at New College actually declined from fall 2023 to 2024. Many of these transfer students aren't from Florida, and many aren't even coming to New College from the United States. Just look at the lengthy roster of New College's 2024-25 men's soccer team: Based on their "home country" listings, the overwhelming majority of team members are from countries outside the United States – and some have come from distant nations like France, Ghana, Brazil and Australia. All of this is taking place at an incredible cost – literally. According to annual Florida CFO Reports on Component Units, expenses at New College have exploded. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, New College's expenses were $60 million; they were $94 million during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. But after spending all of these additional millions, New College has only added around 180 students. The New College debacle isn't a result of a change in policy. For example. the school's elimination of its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion office was largely a non-issue: In February 2023 I personally spoke in favor of eliminating the DEI office at New College, both because of my own negative experiences with it and to make the point that it wasn't actually important to the school. More: New College of Florida 2025 graduation marks achievement and endurance However, the New College debacle is a result of a change in management: Corcoran had no background as a higher education leader when he was hired by Rufo and other trustees, and his lack of experience continues to negatively impact the school. For example, the New College board didn't tell Corcoran to boost enrollment through a shambolic athletics program. Corcoran did that on his own initiative, and even recruiting large numbers of student-athletes hasn't worked out the way he'd hoped. That's because student-athletes don't simply want spots on team rosters; they want actual playing time, and that's much more difficult to attain when so many other athletes have been recruited to those teams. It's the kind of thing someone with higher educational experience might have known. Mistakes like these could be seen as growing pains for the "new" New College; indeed, during a 2023 interview, Rufo compared the approach at New College to remodeling a kitchen. 'You do the demo," Rufo said, "then you do the build." More: New College picked wrong guy for commencement speaker. Here are 5 better options. | Opinion But it was an astonishing analogy, and it displayed Rufo's lack of understanding that for generations New College students – most of them from Florida – had been attracted to the school precisely because of the unique academic system that previously existed. And in terms of course offerings, very little has truly changed at New College. The horrible statistics, embarrassments and anecdotes coming from New College should serve as blinking red warning lights for the Board of Governors as it weighs the fate of UF. The first warning: A university needs a university administrator, or it will fall apart. The second warning: It is Florida's families who lose when Florida's public universities are mismanaged because out-of-state trustees are prioritizing scoring points on social media over examining data – and over doing the hard work of accountability and governing. It's not too late to put New College under real leadership or even to fold its unique academic program into another institution. And this is certainly no time to replicate Rufo's destructive failure of oversight at New College at the University of Florida. Mike Sanderson is a New College of Florida alum. He is the former editor of The Catalyst, New College of Florida's student newspaper. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Don't let UF repeat New College of Florida's bad lessons | Opinion
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Loyalty pledges': New UF president's $15M contract ties pay to DeSantis' agenda
The University of Florida's tentative $3 million-a-year offer for President-elect Santa J. Ono includes an unusual clause that may ease some of his right-wing critics' biggest concerns: His job performance — and potentially his pay — will be tied to how well he upholds educational reforms championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Ono, a three-time university president most recently at the University of Michigan, is poised to lead Florida's flagship public university under a five-year deal worth up to nearly $15.4 million plus benefits. If the Florida Board of Governors ratifies Ono's appointment on Tuesday, it's possible he'll be breaking his own record for highest-paid public university president. But it's not just the money raising eyebrows — it's the terms. Appended to the final page of Ono's draft contract is an exhibit containing 'key metrics' that the UF's Board of Trustees — heavily populated with DeSantis appointees — will use to evaluate his salary raises and performance bonuses. Beyond traditional benchmarks like student success and research output, Ono will be judged on his cooperation with the governor's Office of Government Efficiency (known as 'Florida DOGE') and how effectively he combats attempts to spend funds on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The metrics also task Ono with appointing a provost and deans who are 'firmly aligned with and support the principles guiding Florida's approach to higher education,' as well as weeding out courses with 'low return on investment' from curriculum. Read more: DeSantis halts UF's search for liberal arts dean amid conservative backlash The inclusion of specific political directives in a university president's performance review is 'unusual — if not, unprecedented,' said James Finkelstein, a researcher at George Mason University's school of policy, who along with research professor Judith Wilde has analyzed more than 300 contracts for college presidents. 'These are loyalty pledges,' he said. Both were struck by the lack of clear quantitative measures for the metrics, and said their placement — tucked into an exhibit at the contract's end — potentially signals an effort to quietly anchor political oversight into the role. 'This is just a way for them to keep him in check based on what they've seen him do before,' Wilde said, referencing Ono's prior outspoken support of DEI programs. As president of Michigan, Ono pushed for a 'DEI 2.0' plan and oversaw a diversity office once considered at the forefront of academia's DEI movement. But amid escalating public scrutiny and potential funding threats from the Trump administration, Ono shuttered the office in March. The measure shows how Florida's flagship institution is formalizing political expectations for Ono, who conservative critics have renounced as a left-wing opportunist feigning opposition to DEI to appease the state's Republican base. Questions about whether Ono sincerely believes DEI is a well-intentioned movement run amok by political ideology have swirled since May 4, when he emerged as the sole finalist for the UF presidency. UF spokesperson Cynthia Roldan, reached through email, declined to answer questions about why and when the performance metrics explicitly tied to prohibiting DEI spending and other DeSantis-backed measures were added into Ono's draft contract. Similar metrics aren't included in the contracts of previous UF presidents or recently appointed presidents at other state universities. Ono's contract also guarantees him a tenured faculty position within UF's ophthalmology department, securing him a post-presidential salary equivalent to the highest-paid full professor in the department. But the new deal also strips out some of the fringe benefits seen in his and his predecessor's prior contracts. Former UF President Ben Sasse's five-year, $10 million agreement included plenty of goodies, including tuition benefits for his entire extended family, as well as covered travel expenses for his wife and children. By contrast, Ono's tentative UF contract is notably leaner — and stricter. One notable requirement: Ono must reside in the Dasburg President's House on campus. This follows controversy during his Michigan tenure, when he purchased a home 40 miles from campus despite being contractually obligated to live in university housing. Gone, too, are some of the quirkier perks. Ono, a trained concert cellist, had previously insisted that the University of Michigan fund transportation and storage for his three cellos. That request is absent from his UF contract. Despite shedding perks, Ono's deal remains a financial powerhouse, solidifying UF's top job as one of the most lucrative posts in public higher education. And with that comes unprecedented accountability to a state-led ideological vision. 'I guess the only real similarities I see between the two [contracts] are the ability to get a world-class salary right up front,' said Wilde. 'And now, a very public test of political loyalty.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Annual sale: 5 reasons to subscribe to The Gainesville Sun
There's no shortage of news in Gainesville and Alachua County. The University of Florida is getting a new president. Some local restaurants are closing. High school athletes are earning accolades. Guy Fieri is telling his Food Network audience all about our local dining scene. We tell you all about it. Already a subscriber? Whether you get home delivery of the print edition or have a digital-only subscription, these benefits are included! Check out our activation guide for help on getting started. With a subscription, you can be one of the first to learn about breaking news with news alerts, flip through a digital replica of the print paper, get exclusive newsletters and more. Download the free app and start to personalize it to your liking. Additionally, you can download articles for offline reading and sign up for breaking and topical news alerts. Also in the app, you'll find the eNewspaper, available exclusively for subscribers. As an added benefit, subscribers can access the eNewspaper from any of our more than 200 sister papers across the United States, plus each edition of USA TODAY. ► SPECIAL OFFER: Save on a new subscription today. We know when you subscribe, you expect more. Each day, you can expect to see some of our best storytelling, investigative work, sports analysis and more. Just log in with your account to enjoy your exclusive access. Here are some examples: Here's how much Dr. Santa Ono will receive as president of the University of Florida Jalisco Town serving up modern Mexican dishes that are as delicious as they are beautiful Enjoy a streamlined, fast-loading experience that makes it easy to view the stories, photos and videos you're most interested in. Through the app, you can personalize notifications so you can know the news right when it happens. You can select alerts for breaking news, news, sports, entertainment, weather and business. Quiet times for your alerts can be set within the app. Miss out on recent news? Get the latest effortlessly with our Catch Up feature. Want alerts when we publish something new on a topic you're interested in? Sign up to follow specific topics of interest with the "Add Topic" button at the top of articles. Personalize your feed further in the For You front. The app also provides you access to daily horoscopes and access to over 100 games. Want to follow the news from another city? You can add up to five of our sister publications across the country to get more news right in the app. ► DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more To keep our subscribers informed, we email the most important articles to their inbox each day in the form of a Daily Briefing newsletter. ► SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS: Browse our entire portfolio of newsletter offerings to pick more topics that interest you specifically. Right now, we have a special introductory offer. Visit our subscription page to start supporting our work. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Why subscribe to The Gainesville Sun: Unlimited access, personalized app
