After a coordinated campaign by conservatives attacking his “evolution” on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, a divided state university system Board of Governors on Tuesday blocked Santa Ono from becoming the University of Florida’s next president.
Tuesday’s 10-6 vote was a major rebuke to the UF Board of Trustees, which last week unanimously selected Ono for the post, and trustees Chairman Mori Hosseini, an influential Republican donor with longstanding ties to the state university system.
Ono, an immunologist who recently stepped down as president of the University of Michigan, drew fierce criticism from high-profile conservatives inside and outside of Florida for such issues as his past embrace of diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, programs, as well as his handling of on-campus protests following the 2023 attack by Hamas in Israel.
Echoing what he told the UF trustees last week, Ono emphasized Tuesday that his position on DEI — which DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature have outlawed in public schools and universities — has evolved, as it has for many other higher-education leaders throughout the country.
“All of us in this past few years, there’s been a seismic change,” Ono said. “All of us have had to navigate this, and what I’m saying to you is that I believe that the direction of Florida is the right one.”
But Ono’s assurances didn’t convince some of his harshest critics on the board, including former state House Speaker Paul Renner, who posted a 22-page document titled “The Case Against Dr. Santa Ono” on social media after Tuesday’s meeting began. The document included a section called “The Timeline on DEI Conversion” and another called “Santa Ono’s Misrepresentations to UF Trustees.”
“At the heart of the criticism is Santa Ono’s long history of public comments about systemic racism in America being ‘one of its greatest sins’, the politicization of the climate crisis at the universities he has run, divestment of his university’s endowments from fossil fuel companies to fight global warming, and his support for racial preferences in admissions,” the document said.
Renner peppered Ono with questions about his previous statements regarding DEI efforts at the University of Michigan and positions he espoused decrying systemic racism while he was president of the University of British Columbia.
“Do you believe American society today is systemically racist?” Renner asked.
“I do not. And I believe that sort of ideology is divisive, and that’s why the reform happening in Florida is attractive to me,” Ono said.
Ono also faced fierce questions from board members Alan Levine, Tim Cerio and former House Speaker Jose Oliva.
“Your recent reversal on an entire architecture of ideology is nothing short of incredible,” Oliva said.
Ono earlier said he halted DEI programs at the University of Michigan this year and repeatedly relied on his background as a scientist when defending himself against attacks.
Oliva asked Ono to explain the science behind DEI programs and services. Ono said his “evolution” was based on his personal experiences.
“Everyone is kind of evolving, not only me as a scientist, but the sector is evolving,” Ono said, adding that “Florida’s pointed in the right direction.”
Charlie Lydecker, a board member who served on the UF presidential search committee, said Ono “is the leader we believe could help the University of Florida become the number one public university in America.”
But member Aubrey Edge wasn’t convinced.
“You’ve had a lot of, what seems to be, long-held principles, and then 18 months ago, they kind of all changed,” Edge said. “To me, the problem is, that’s not leadership. True leadership is really standing up for principles, no matter what the environment is.”
Critics’ probing of Ono was so intense that it sparked heated pushback from Lydecker, who said the Board of Governors was intended to “ratify, up or down” a selection unanimously made by UF’s trustees.
“This is not a court of law. I’ve been on this board for five, six years, and we have never used this as a forum to interrogate and in this case, it feels to me patently unfair,” Lydecker said. “Candidly, this process does not feel fair to me.”
Ono’s presidential contract would have linked his job performance with his adherence to positions that are part of DeSantis’ overhaul of the state’s higher-education system.
Hosseini called the skepticism around Ono “heartbreaking” and pointed to former President Ronald Reagan’s metamorphosis from a Democrat who supported unions to one of the nation’s most beloved Republicans. He said the Board of Governors needed to rely on UF’s trustees, who stepped in after questions were raised about former UF President Ben Sasse’s short tenure.
“The board of trustees are there as a backstop. So if this man doesn’t do what he says he’s going to do, we’re there. We’re your boots on the ground … That is the basis of this board of governors and yet you all decided today is the day we’re going to take somebody down,” Hosseini said.
Hosseini also made a veiled reference to Christopher Rufo, a prominent conservative and member of the New College of Florida Board of Trustees who helped lead the crusade against Ono.
“We should not leave it to just one trustee at another university, who goes on social media and says something,” Hosseini urged. “Give this man (Ono) a chance, like Americans did to President Reagan.
Animosity between the pro-Ono faction and his critics also erupted when board member Eric Silagy asked Hosseini about “a number of detractors in this process” who may have expressed an interest in the UF presidency.
“Who on the board of governors wanted to be president of the University of Florida?” Silagy asked.
“Paul Renner,” Hosseini said, sparking an immediate response from the former House speaker.
“I did not initiate that,” Renner said.
Renner said a UF trustee asked him about the presidential post.
“I contacted the governor’s office. I was told to go talk to Mori Hosseini, and he said he wasn’t interested, and that’s the end of it,” Renner said. The conversation took place before DeSantis appointed him to the Board of Governors in February.
“Under no circumstances, would I serve at this time at the University of Florida,” Renner said.
The vote against naming Ono president appeared to catch Brian Lamb, the chairman of the Board of Governors, off guard.
“OK, the motion fails. First time that’s really happened, so let me just react to that,” he said.
–Dara Kam, News Service of Florida
Pogo says
@Sing along
Engin Ruslpostur says
Sadly, Paul Reiner needs 22 pages to beat around the bush to say he is a sexist and a racist who somehow believes that making the world a level playing field is unfair to white males. Newsflash, if you lose a job to a woman or heaven forbid, a person of color in a fair contest, then that’s on you. You weren’t the better choice. And DEI DOES NOT give jobs to unqualified non whites an women. It just insures they are fairly considered. I worked in corporate America as an officer in several large companies during a 40 year career and NEVER saw DEI be used ans an anti white male tool. However, I did see sexism and racism used that way many times. Shame on you Paul Renner and Sham on the whole board.
Jim says
Well, I’m glad to see the Republican party start eating their own. Reminds me of the Chinese Communist Party under Mao Zedong. If you EVER stray from the path of righteousness, you are forever banned. There is no question DEI can go to far but, at the same time, it’s amazing to me that, instead of making effort to moderate DEI, the Republican solution has to declare it the enemy of the State. Anyone who ever said anything kind or supportive of DEI is now banned from public service. I wasn’t a fan of Santa Ono anyway so I’m not shedding tears. I just continue to be perplexed by this fixation on DEI over other much more important issues in education.
The system has shown itself to be quite wonderful in picking great university presidents; just look at the previous one, Ben Sasse.
Michael J Cocchiola says
Paul Renner is a piece of TACO MAN turd.
Orange taco says
If I learned anything it’s that DEI is necessary as there are many racist people here in murikkka. The r cons cater to the white supremacist groups and have destroyed any semblance of equality in government. Funny how the republicans rejoice that they starve children to death in one country murder them in another and end their healthcare and lunch programs here at home!
Edith Campins says
I am sure they can come. up with some totally unqualified, alcoholic, drug user to appoint. We’ve already have Hegseth, Ladapo and RFK. Bring on the clowns.
Joe D says
Wow….what a SLAP IN THE FACE of quality STATE (at least for now, not private) higher education in the State of Florida!
MAGA extremists are turning Florida State Colleges ( one by one) into low quality , non-competitive, Politically driven ideological factories that Florida families and out of State families will (and SHOULD) avoid like the PLAGUE (if they have the financial means to chose out of state colleges and universities) when considering options for their college students. Just give it a few years, and see what happens to EMPLOYMENT, and ADVANCEMENT opportunities for their Florida college students “dumbed down” MAGA censored graduates. Companies won’t consider them knowledgeable or qualified enough to work in the REAL world of Diversity and Historical Facts (ie: critical race theory). They won’t be prepared to ask critical questions, to think for THEMSELVES, to embrace the REALITY of the rest of the NON-MAGA WORLD.
I attended a STATE University. The Pennsylvania State University (PSU)…many (MANY) years ago. It was a large DIVERSE ( and INTERNATIONAL) institution. It was highly rated in Science and Engineering. It taught me to THINK INDEPENDENTLY, to QUESTION the STATUS QUO, to think outside the box. I had students in my class from every race , religion, nationality and country. It was a WELCOMING and ENLIGHTENING experience.
It TRULY prepared me to advance in the REAL WORLD, get along with DIVERSE groups of people, and realize that all people add to the value of what it takes to be an AMERICAN!
Unfortunately the America of today appears to be a closed off world, where “outsiders” are vilified, and the idea that you can “agree to disagree” is gone. You are either 100% with me, or you are my 100% my sworn ENEMY!
The idea that no matter where (or under what circumstances) you were born, you had the opportunity in the FREEDOM of the USA to become ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO BE, if you just WORKED hard enough, and were given a FAIR CHANCE…isn’t the AMERICA of today.
THOSE days are dead…if you aren’t BORN into privilege or opportunity…you’re simply OUT OF LUCK! The decades old movie song “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer” lyrics have (sadly and unfortunately) NEVER been more TRUE , than NOW!
And we as AMERICAN citizens and voters are sitting back watching, and just ALLOWING it to happen.
Historians are going to look back on this period of time as a time when the Constitution, the Rule of Law, and Democracy were in their DARKEST OF DAYS…not from an outside invader, but from within.
I’ll repeat one of my FAVORITE QUOTES: All that is needed for EVIL to TRIUMPH, is for GOOD MEN, to do…..NOTHING!
Whatheheck says
The dumming of the masses is working. The authoritarians and their communist idols are winning, free thinking, free press forbidden one step at a time.
Laurel says
The rich get rich,
and the poor get children.
Atwp says
A Republican donor is voted against. Welcome to the real world of white America. What non white person would vote Republican is beyond me.
Ed P says
The rapid collapse of DEI was due to a number of factors.
On the surface it was a feel good strategy and appeared to be a rational idea.
Tactically, the implementation was impossible. Those excluded from the group resented the program. Existing employees/non DEI hires felt they were being overlooked in management’s attempt to execute the program. Once the DEI was employed, they felt they were discriminated against if they failed to be promoted or receive a pay increase.
Human nature is such that once the tears of appreciation passes one cheek, all is forgotten. Basically, people believe they deserve more, are under appreciated, under paid, and over worked. Not everyone but it is the majority mindset. Middle managers were in a no win scenario.
If it had been a successful experiment, why would any business abandon? The negative fallout prevailed. It’s really that simple.
melly says
“a coordinated campaign”
Because The Left never puts forth coordinated campaigns to amplify the voices of their faithful. It’s only bad if The Right does that.
Samuel L. Bronkowitz says
Tokens get spent