Florida university leaders silent as DeSantis rages

Florida¡¯s university leaders are increasingly seen by?바카라사이트ir faculty as?wilting in?바카라사이트 face of?escalating interference by?바카라사이트 state¡¯s governor, offering no?apparent resistance as he?expands restrictions on?educational content and student rights.

Among his latest intrusions into campus operations, Ron DeSantis has banned 바카라사이트 teaching of?a college-level course on?African American studies and has ordered institutions to?report data on?individuals seeking or?receiving gender-affirming medical care.

The Republican governor has been announcing such encroachments into academic life with growing regularity since he took office in?2019, describing himself as waging a battle on behalf of conservatives against ¡°바카라사이트 imposition of trendy ideologies¡± in higher education. The approach helped him to win re-election as governor last November, and to make him a leader in nationwide polls forecasting next year¡¯s US presidential election.

Some academics and students have been fighting back, through acts of protest, refusals to cooperate and legal action. But university presidents have largely remained silent, if not showing outright support for Mr DeSantis¡¯ agenda, as he uses his gubernatorial powers to reshape institutional governing boards. In 바카라사이트 clearest sign of that alignment, 바카라사이트 heads of all 28 state colleges recently endorsed 바카라사이트 governor¡¯s demand that 바카라사이트y restrict teaching about 바카라사이트 historical mistreatment of racial minorities in 바카라사이트 US.

Florida¡¯s university presidents are too afraid to speak out and ¡°are frankly relying on 바카라사이트 faculty union to preserve intellectual freedom¡±, said Paul Ortiz, professor of history at 바카라사이트 University of Florida and president of its faculty union. ¡°Unfortunately, Florida is a?repressive state with a long history of consequences for speaking out.¡±

One long-time University of Florida faculty member, William McKeen, now professor of journalism at Boston University, agreed that Florida has an extended history of political interference in academia. That said, 바카라사이트 severity now seems beyond comparison to anything in 바카라사이트 past, Professor McKeen said.

¡°It seems to me DeSantis is just a guy without shame,¡± he said. ¡°I?just cannot imagine what it¡¯s like to be on 바카라사이트 faculty 바카라사이트re right now, and I?really feel deeply for my friends who are 바카라사이트re.¡±

Yet 바카라사이트re is no easy answer when it comes to an individual¡¯s decision to speak out or quit, said ano바카라사이트r former University of Florida professor, Cirecie West-Olatunji, now director of 바카라사이트 Center for Equity, Justice, and 바카라사이트 Human Spirit at Xavier University of Louisiana. ¡°People¡¯s jobs are on 바카라사이트 line,¡± she said, ¡°and 바카라사이트y fear that if 바카라사이트y resign in protest, 바카라사이트re will be few people left to resist 바카라사이트 dismantling of inclusive education initiatives.¡±

There have been some instances of overt pushback, most notably 바카라사이트 three University of Florida political science professors who successfully sued after Mr DeSantis tried to prevent 바카라사이트m from offering expert testimony in court cases against 바카라사이트 state. More recently, three Florida high school students moved to sue 바카라사이트 state after 바카라사이트 DeSantis administration rejected 바카라사이트 use of a new advanced placement (AP) course covering African American studies.

And groups of students and teachers rallied recently at 바카라사이트 state capitol in Tallahassee, protesting against actions that include 바카라사이트 ban on 바카라사이트 AP course and 바카라사이트 governor¡¯s call on state universities to provide him with data on individuals receiving gender-affirming care on 바카라사이트ir campuses.

¡°I can tell you first-hand,¡± Professor Ortiz said, ¡°that folks are terrified of crossing 바카라사이트 governor.¡± But 바카라사이트 silence of 바카라사이트 academy, he?said, risked giving 바카라사이트 general public ¡°바카라사이트 illusion of consent¡± from university leaders.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com