### University of Florida Rejects Santa Ono as President Amid Political Tensions

In a surprising turn of events, Santa Ono's pursuit to become the next president of the University of Florida has ended in disappointment. Florida's higher education authorities have firmly rejected his candidacy for the prominent position at the Gainesville campus, shedding light on the increasing politicization of the higher education realm.

Dr. Ono, who currently holds the position of president at the University of Michigan, expressed his alignment with Florida's educational vision in an opinion piece last month. Nonetheless, on Tuesday, Florida's university board sharply differed in opinion, citing apprehensions about Dr. Ono's past leadership, particularly regarding Michigan's expansive diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and alleged inadequacies in addressing antisemitism.

During a four-hour session, the Board of Governors, which administers Florida’s 12-institution state university system, scrutinized Dr. Ono's tenure at Michigan. Despite Dr. Ono having presided over the scaling back of Michigan's diversity programs, which had been initiated before his arrival in 2022, he failed to reassure the board members of his changed stance. Consequently, even after the University of Florida’s board of trustees had given unanimous approval for his appointment in May, the Board of Governors rejected his nomination with a 10-to-6 vote.

The decision was met with mixed reactions, resonating deeply within the broader political discourse surrounding "woke ideology" in academia. Both right-wing figures and some left-wing critics accused Dr. Ono of adjusting his narrative based on his audience, further complicating his campaign for the Florida post. This outcome leaves Dr. Ono not only without the University of Florida presidency but also deprived of the associated $1.5 million base salary.

The episode elucidates the fraught intersection of politics and higher education, highlighting the contentious environment that senior educational leaders now navigate. Dr. Ono’s failed attempt underscores the complexities and heightened scrutiny involved in bridging leadership between politically contrasting states.