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The post from UF’s official X account calling DEI “discriminatory by design”(WCJB)<\/p>\nGAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – Officials with the University of Florida are publicly bashing DEI policies on social media after members of the Trump administration weighed in on the university\u2019s presidential search process. The statement comes nearly a year after state leaders rejected UF\u2019s choice for president partially because he wasn\u2019t hard enough on DEI.<\/p>\n
In a post from UF\u2019s official account on X, the university called DEI \u201cdiscriminatory by design\u201d. The post was in response to the U.S. Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, who sided with U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) who shared concerns with the university\u2019s presidential search process.<\/p>\n
The post from UF’s official X account calling DEI “discriminatory by design”(WCJB)<\/p>\n
\u201cFlorida has led the fight to get discriminatory DEI out of our schools and universities,\u201d McMahon wrote on X Friday. \u201cUF deserves a president who will continue to drive those reforms.\u201d <\/p>\n
Last year, the Florida Board of Governors rejected UF\u2019s sole finalist for president, Dr. Santa J. Ono, in part because of his stance on DEI.<\/p>\n
McMahon was responding to Rick Scott, who highlighted his concerns with the lack of transparency in the university\u2019s presidential search process Wednesday. <\/p>\n
University of Florida officials responded to Scott on the same day they responded to McMahon, saying they fully complied with Florida law and regulations as they selected Dr. Stuart Bell as their sole finalist for president.<\/p>\n
\u201cReasonable people may hold differing views regarding any candidate,\u201d university officials stated. \u201cBut it is wrong to suggest that UF circumvented the law or operated outside the bounds of transparency established by the State of Florida.\u201d<\/p>\n