As the University of Florida begins its third search for a new university president in three years, Florida Republican legislators are urging the school’s Board of Trustees to ensure Jewish students are protected.
Sen. Rick Scott and Reps. Byron Donalds and Greg Steube sent a joint letter on Wednesday to the university board urging full transparency in the search and interview process for the best candidate who “will continue UF’s efforts as a leader in combating antisemitism and protecting Jewish students.”
The public university in Gainesville, Fla., “has set a gold standard for fighting antisemitism and protecting Jewish students, and its leadership must follow suit,” the letter stated.
The congressmen’s letter specifically criticized the board’s selection process, which they said was “shielded from the public,” and listed their opposition to the board’s recent choice for the position, Santa Ono, former president of the University of Michigan. (Ono was unanimously selected to serve as university president in May but was later rejected by the Florida Board of Governors.)
Ono “failed to quickly and proactively stand up for Jewish students at the University of Michigan,” the letter stated regarding the pro-Palestinian student encampments set up on the Michigan campus in April 2024.
“Ono allowing an illegal, pro-terrorist encampment to take over the University of Michigan campus for nearly a month, putting Jewish students in danger and failing to uphold even the most basic standards of leadership was a complete disqualifier to us,” the legislators wrote.
They added that Ono’s “record of embracing divisive and radical DEI policies showed that he is willing to appease and prioritize far-left activists over ensuring students are protected.”
“It is our hope that the next president of the University of Florida can continue to propel our flagship university to number one while standing for what’s right—especially in the wake of a terrifying rise of antisemitic rhetoric on college campuses across our nation,” the letter concluded.
