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Wednesday, October 19th, 2022

How DeSantis and Florida Republicans are reshaping higher education

Author:     Andrew Atterbury
Source:     Politico
Publication Date:     10/16/2022 | 07:00 AM EDT
 Link: How DeSantis and Florida Republicans are reshaping higher education
Stephan:   The main thing that stands out for me about Ron DeSantis is the contempt in which he holds the citizens of his state. He obviously sees them as nothing but pawns to be manipulated. And MAGAts like De Santis particularly do not like opportunities for fact-based education. Why? Because study after study shows that the more educated the person the more likely they are to vote for Democrats. What MAGAts want is ignorant proles who can be easily manipulated through their fears and ignorance. And yet I will bet you that Floridians vote for DeSantis again. That is one of the reasons I think Americans are going to vote themselves out of democracy.
Ron DeSantis and Florida Republicans, in an attempt to reshape the state’s 40 colleges and universities.
Credit: Gary McCullough/AP

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and conservative state lawmakers are frequent critics of Florida’s higher education system. They say universities are offering degrees in “zombie studies” and label campuses “socialism factories.”

But they aredoing more than just lambasting universities and colleges for perceived liberal bias.

DeSantis and Florida Republicans, in an attempt to reshape the state’s 40 colleges and universities, installed GOP allies in top university posts and pushed legislation that could change tenure, limit how university professors can teach lessons on race and even how Florida higher education institutions are accredited.

Most recently, the governor’s chief of staff helped Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) navigate the University of Florida presidential selection process, ultimately assisting the senator in becoming the sole finalist to lead the state’s flagship university, a move that caused hundreds of University of Florida students this week to protest.

DeSantis over the summer also appointed a top GOP legislative ally, state Sen. Ray Rodrigues, as Florida’s chancellor for […]

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2 Comments

  1. Michael Edwards-Ronning on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at 6:15 am

    I have hope that Americans won’t vote democracy out, because millions of women are outraged by the overturning of Roe. If women and young people vote in droves — as they did in Kansas two months ago — democracy will be saved. Time will tell.

  2. John B Alexander on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at 3:37 pm

    “That is one of the reasons I think Americans are going to vote themselves out of democracy.” Happening as we watch