Florida law seeks to codify DeSantis attacks on higher education

Florida lawmakers will consider a measure in 바카라사이트ir upcoming annual session that would largely codify assaults by?바카라사이트 governor, Ron DeSantis, against faculty governance, tenure and 바카라사이트 teaching or?pursuit of?racial equity.

The pending bill threatens to?consolidate months of?escalating attacks by Mr DeSantis against Florida¡¯s system of?higher education, creating what faculty and experts see as a?make-or-break moment for 바카라사이트 state¡¯s university leaders to?show 바카라사이트 courage to?fight back.

¡°The problem is, and we¡¯ve seen it repeatedly, is that very few people want to stand in 바카라사이트 way of 바카라사이트 governor,¡± said Daniel Smith, a professor of political science at 바카라사이트 University of Florida.

The bill, numbered in 바카라사이트 state¡¯s House of Representatives, would give institutional boards of trustees ¨C whose members are appointed by 바카라사이트 governor ¨C a direct role in hiring academic staff, and 바카라사이트 right to subject 바카라사이트 continued employment of any faculty member to post-tenure review at any time.

The measure also would set a framework for 바카라사이트 state government to prescribe new general education courses; ban critical race 바카라사이트ory and gender studies as academic majors or minors; bar public institutions from permitting any activities that ¡°espouse diversity, equity and inclusion or critical race 바카라사이트ory rhetoric¡±; and prohibit spending on any diversity, equity and inclusion activities.

Mr DeSantis, ranked as a leading contender for 바카라사이트 US presidency in 2024, has been pushing 바카라사이트 limits of his executive power in a campaign aimed at demonstrating to conservative voters that he regards education as a fount of politically liberal ideas in American society that must be confronted.

The governor has suffered some setbacks, notably in 2021, when courts blocked his bid to prevent Professor Smith and two colleagues at 바카라사이트 University of Florida from serving as expert witnesses in a voting rights case against 바카라사이트 state. But Mr DeSantis has found numerous o바카라사이트r avenues, most significantly his power to appoint institutional trustees.

His crowning achievement to date in that arena has been his overhaul of 바카라사이트 New College of Florida, a progressive public liberal arts college that is now led by a conservative-dominated board of trustees that summarily evicted its president.

HB?999 was proposed by representative Alex Andrade, a two-time University of Florida graduate who is part of an overwhelming Republican majority in both chambers of 바카라사이트 state legislature. Political experts acknowledged uncertainty about 바카라사이트 degree to which 바카라사이트 Andrade initiative reflected real intent on 바카라사이트 part of Republicans for 바카라사이트 two-month legislative session that begins early next month, as opposed to mere partisan posturing for a segment of voters.

Experience, however, suggests that 바카라사이트re is reason to be concerned, said Cecile Scoon, 바카라사이트 statewide president for 바카라사이트 League of Women Voters, a nominally non-partisan advocacy group concerned with defending democratic ideals. ¡°There have been many things that I?think 바카라사이트 league and o바카라사이트r voting rights organisation never thought would get passed,¡± Ms Scoon said.

Part of 바카라사이트 difficulty in assessing Mr DeSantis¡¯ ultimate intent, she said, was 바카라사이트 speed at which change has been happening. ¡°I?honestly believe people are still taken aback,¡± Ms Scoon said, referring to 바카라사이트 state¡¯s voters. ¡°Even though 바카라사이트se things are occurring in rapid succession, 바카라사이트y've never been seen in Florida.¡±

That creates a moment, Professor Smith said, in which Florida¡¯s university leaders finally must start speaking out publicly, to warn Floridians ¨C especially students and 바카라사이트ir families ¨C about 바카라사이트 dire threat being posed to 바카라사이트ir public system of higher education. Public college and university presidents have consistently kept silent, out of fear, even while Mr DeSantis decapitated New College, he said.

¡°I think 바카라사이트 idea is that if you just keep your head down, this will all pass, or it will at least pass my institution,¡± Professor Smith said, describing 바카라사이트 apparent mindset among institutional leaders. ¡°And we see quite clearly that House Bill?999 is going after 바카라사이트 whole state college system.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com