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In a surprising turn of events, Florida’s state college board reversed its decision to hire Santa Ono as the next president of the University of Florida (UF). Despite his extensive academic experience and efforts to rethink his stance on certain contentious issues, the board, dominated by conservatives, voted 10-6 against his appointment.

The decision followed a heated meeting on Tuesday where members debated Ono's track record. Discussions were particularly intense around his past support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, his criticism of former President Donald Trump, and allegations that he failed to adequately protect Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests at the University of Michigan last year. Ono had served as the president of Michigan before being considered for the UF role.

The rejection of Ono's appointment came just a week after UF trustees had unanimously voted in favor of appointing him as the university’s 14th president, with a proposed salary of $1.5 million. Critics pointed to what they perceived as Ono’s attempts to "clean up" his previous record. Notably, his name was discreetly removed last month from a letter signed by over 600 university presidents condemning the Trump administration's interference in academia. Additionally, Ono authored an opinion piece in May expressing his changing views on DEI, suggesting it had strayed from its original mission of student success.

At the meeting, Paul Renner, a Republican former speaker of the Florida House, expressed skepticism about Ono's shifting perspectives. Renner argued that the public record contradicted what Ono was presenting to the board. Meanwhile, prominent conservative figures in Florida, including Governor Ron DeSantis, had voiced concerns about Ono's nomination, citing his previous support for DEI and his handling of the protests at Michigan.

Senator Rick Scott also weighed in, stating on social media that Ono was not the right choice for UF, a university he praised as a "gold standard" in combating antisemitism. Scott accused Ono of prioritizing activists over student protection and educational quality. Similarly, Congressman Jimmy Patronis urged the board to reject Ono, emphasizing a need for leadership against divisive policies.

On the other hand, UF trustees defended Ono, asserting that his evolving views were a result of gaining new insights over time, not an attempt to fit a specific narrative for the job. Mori Hosseini, chair of the UF trustees, supported Ono by stating he would have upheld merit and scholarship as core principles for the university.

The board's decision to turn down Ono reflects broader tensions within higher education, particularly concerning DEI policies and accusations of antisemitism. This development is part of a larger trend of political influence over academic institutions, as evidenced by ongoing disputes between prominent universities and political figures.