‘This is a major victory for Florida and, for all of us who are working to recapture academic institutions, another scalp on the wall,’ conservative activist says
The Florida Board of Governors on Tuesday voted against confirming Santa Ono as the University of Florida’s next president, going against a unanimous decision last week by the institution’s trustees to select him for the post.
The 10-6 vote to reject Ono, most recently president of the University of Michigan, came amid an onslaught of recent criticism highlighting the scholar’s previous full-throated dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion, his fumbling of antisemitic protests at UMich, and his activism against fossil fuels.
“Ono was grilled by governors for nearly three hours on his past support of diversity, equity and inclusion programs during his time as president of the University of Michigan, and for allowing an encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters to remain on campus for a month. He also was questioned at length about his views on antisemitism, and holistic versus merit-based admissions,” reported the Gainesville Sun.
“The selection of Ono had faced intense backlash from some Republican lawmakers after he was announced on May 4 as the sole finalist by UF’s Presidential Search Committee,” the outlet added.
In addition to several Florida Republican lawmakers who voiced concern with Ono, including U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, high-profile conservative activists Christopher Rufo and Charlie Kirk had amassed their followers to protest the pick, and even Donald Trump Jr. chimed in against Ono last week.
“WTF! Have the decision makers at @UF lost their minds!???” Trump Jr. stated in a post on X. “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!!!”
Ono had insisted he has had a change of heart on DEI policies in recent months, and the chair and vice chair of the UF Board of Trustees responded to concerns that they believed Ono was no longer interested in advancing progressive causes.
But a majority of the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state’s 12 public universities, remained unconvinced.
Rufo celebrated the news Tuesday.
“In recent weeks, we … conducted an investigation, generated a strong media narrative, and made the case that Ono was a captured left-wing ideologue who would jeopardize Florida’s reputation as the place ‘where woke goes to die,'” Rufo stated on his Substack.
“Our efforts succeeded. …This is a major victory for Florida and, for all of us who are working to recapture academic institutions, another scalp on the wall.”
MORE: U. Florida trustees approve controversial new president despite conservatives’ concerns
IMAGE CAPTION & CREDIT: Santa Ono talks with University of Florida trustees / University of Florida website screenshot