Our best-in-the-nation public universities don’t deserve DeSantis’ ire

Florida’s universities don’t deserve the shenanigans associated with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ war on “woke.” DeSantis said as much in January, noting that “Florida also ranks No. 1 in public higher education. This is a record we can all be proud of.”

The governor was right. For five years running, Florida has been rated the nation’s best higher education system, a point of state pride that rarely gets the attention it merits. Our universities graduate a higher percentage of students, in a timelier fashion, than ever before. We do that, amazingly, while maintaining the lowest tuition rates in the country.

Rather than praise us, however, DeSantis invents wild claims that Florida’s universities have been overtaken by a “woke ideology” — whatever that is.

As the kids would say, “it’s a lot,” and it’s a lot of hogwash.

But fixating on DeSantis shields officials that aid and abet his made-up narrative, and it gives cover to those who know better but fail to act when they should.

Where, for example, is the pushback from the university system’s governing body, the Florida Board of Governors? Normally, they march in like lions to issue edicts, but when the governor trash-talks the system they built, they lay down like lambs. They won’t even publicly support their own mandate directing institutions to adopt diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

It’s happening at every institution, every day.

Elected officials that preach about limited government go mute as university presidents are “resigned” and replaced, as recently happened at New College. The former New College president, who bested 137 others for the position, was replaced with a long-time DeSantis ally now being paid twice her salary. That isn’t liberation. It’s corruption.

School choice advocates threaten to defund successful programs with strong student demand, merely because they aren’t to their personal taste.

Leaders that insist education be politically neutral applaud the governor’s affirmative action plan for conservative academics, which funnels millions of tax dollars to think tanks across the state aligned with DeSantis’ political preferences.

The list goes on and on: cameras in our classrooms, censored topics, threats of lawsuits and, recently, a demand for the names and communications of all those involved in DEI activities. McCarthy much?

Florida’s universities need help. Business leaders: We need you. You know universities to be massive engines of economic growth preparing graduates with the personal aptitude and the workforce capabilities to ensure Florida leads the economy of the future. Remind the governor that the billions of dollars universities bring to the state through tuition, grants, donations, gifts and contracts are threatened — as will be your workforce pipeline — if we are no longer seen as credible institutions.

Community leaders: We need you. Call state leaders and inform them what would be lost if we whither: agricultural extensions; health care access, especially for underserved communities; social mobility for residents; spaces rich in intellectual exchange, the arts and cultural events; and hundreds of thousands of hours in community service, internships and service learning projects provided to local communities every year.

Members of scientific communities: We need you. You know the governor’s plans to change tenure will decimate the ability to attract the best researchers and to acquire the grants essential to your projects. Tell the governor your worry that Florida’s faculty will leave in droves for institutions where they can pursue their work without political interference.

We need help because it’s already happening.

Recently, the position of chancellor of the state system became available. Applications should have poured in at the opportunity to run the top-ranked system for a salary of almost $500,000 per year. Only eight people applied.

Our higher education system isn’t free; its free-falling.

History will not be shy in holding DeSantis and his allies accountable for their needless damage to our universities and to the states’ bright future. It will also remember those who know our excellence but fail to protect institutions that help our students succeed while delivering so much for the people of Florida.

It’s time for principled politicians, business executives, community leaders, members of the scientific community and the people of Florida to stand up for our universities by urging the governor to stand down.

Will you?

William Trapani is a communication professor at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) where he has worked since 2009. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in 2002. His viewpoint is his own and he makes no claim to represent the positions of FAU or the state university system.