Republican Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska is expected to resign from the Senate to become president of the University of Florida. Sasse was once president of Midland University, reviving that ailing school during his tenure. He was a prodigious and successful college fundraiser. But to Democrats and progressives, his being a Republican renders him unqualified to run a college or university.
In response to his expected appointment, left-leaning groups at the University of Florida demanded that Sasse’s appointment be stopped, reports The College Fix:
A campus protest is scheduled for Monday, the same day Sasse is scheduled to be on campus to talk to faculty, staff and students as part of the hiring process. The Young Democratic Socialists chapter at UF posted on Instagram about the protest, stating: “FUCH THE REPLACEMENT! Join us in protesting against the announcement of Dr. Ben Sasse as the sole finalist as UF’s next president.”…Although Sasse, who represents Nebraska, was one of the handful of Republican senators who voted to convict former President Donald Trump at his second impeachment trial, the UF College Democrats also published a statement Friday that denounced the choice.
“Senator Sasse is an outspoken anti-gun control, anti-choice, anti-academic freedom, and anti-LGBTQ+ politician,” the group stated on Instagram. “This selection does not reflect the diversity of our Gainesville and University of Florida community and blatantly harms the communities UF claims to value.”
The College Democrats also claim Sasse will serve “as a puppet” for Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and encouraged its members to join the protest. “Political influence that dismantles academic freedom and actively attacks our student body has no place in our educational institutions. The University of Florida College Democrats strongly condemns the recommendation of Ben Sasse and will not stand for his approval,” the group stated.
A petition launched Friday is also gaining steam. “This decision is met with indignation from the student body as Ben Sasse has political views that do not align with the values that the students at the University of Florida hold. They are discriminatory and non-representative of our student population,” states the petition…Sasse is the sole candidate and is expected to resign to take the helm as president of the University of Florida if its leaders officially offer him the position. The University of Florida Presidential Search Committee unanimously recommended him as the sole finalist for consideration by its Board of Trustees, according to a news release published Thursday by the university. The UF Board of Trustees will formally consider Sasse’s candidacy at its meeting Nov. 1, the university tweeted Thursday.
