Smear job clouds search for new president of a Florida university
It has been five weeks since the search for the next president at Florida Atlantic University fell into a dark bureaucratic hole from which it may not emerge anytime soon. This is the latest, most troubling corruption of academic integrity in Florida. State officials owe this community a full explanation for this blatant political interference, but we rudely get ominous silence instead.
To recap, FAU’s search committee chose three finalists to build upon the university’s momentum. They are Vice Admiral Sean Buck, superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; Michael Hartline, dean of the College of Business at Florida State University; and Jose Sartarelli, former chancellor of UNC Wilmington in North Carolina.
A fourth prospect, state Rep. Randy Fine, a highly combative ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis and his divisive culture-war agenda, missed the cut after being encouraged to apply by the governor. That’s when trouble began. (How dare FAU chart its own future? Don’t they know that DeSantis dictates decisions at universities?)
Days before the finalists were to visit campus, Chancellor Ray Rodrigues of the state university system intervened. He cited “anomalies” involving a search firm’s survey of candidates’ personal backgrounds and use of a straw poll to gauge the preferences of search committee members. On those flimsy pretenses, Rodrigues abruptly suspended the search and his inspector general launched an investigation.
Then a DeSantis-appointed culture warrior on another college trustee board, Christopher Rufo of New College of Florida, started a social media campaign to destroy Buck’s credibility as a finalist, calling him a “woke” leader who pushed diversity, equity and inclusion policies at Annapolis. Not true, said the admiral, a registered Republican who has served his country for decades.
‘Smoke and mirrors’
With the search in pause mode due to Florida’s toxic political culture, it’s worth reflecting on the views of those who offered suggestions to the search committee.
For the first time, we present in edited form the views of FAU faculty and community members, many of whom presciently anticipated the political meddling that has jeopardized a growing school’s positive growth. The search committee solicited input, and as search committee chairman Brad Levine told the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, “We welcome comments and criticism from the public. We encourage participation.”
Jae Markis, a graduate student, cited Fine’s support for a “repressive” agenda such as criminalizing health care for transgender children. “I believe it’s important to consider a variety of candidates across many viewpoints and ideologies,” Markis wrote. “Mr. Fine is not an appropriate candidate.” Markis may transfer if Fine becomes president.
“Faculty and students are very concerned that Gov. DeSantis has already chosen the next FAU president and that the whole search process is smoke and mirrors,” wrote Allan Barsky, a social work professor at the university. “What can the search group do to ensure the search process is legitimate and that the ultimate goal is not to appoint a Republican who will try to turn FAU into a conservative college as is being done at New College (in Sarasota)? We must resist a political takeover of FAU and promote a university system that values democracy, free speech and academic freedom.”
“A presidential selection process that rewards a politician while avoiding the goals and needs of our institution is just asking to take Florida Atlantic University back to the days when it was not an institution to brag about,” said associate dean Rebecca Lautar, an FAU administrator for more than three decades, whose favorite presidents were Frank Brogan and John Kelly. “Our governor thinks FAU is a piece of candy that can be handed out as a favor or reward … It is just so disheartening.”
‘Kind rather than hateful’
Longtime FAU supporters Howard and Judith Weiner wrote: “Most importantly, the next president should be inclusive rather than divisive, thoughtful rather than dogmatic, and kind rather than hateful. The president must be an educator, not a partisan politician.”
“This is a school, a place of learning, and should be a safe space for students, no matter their political, religious or cultural beliefs,” wrote Lynn McNutt, an associate professor. “Placing a politician in a position of leadership at a school makes that school a cog in a political machine. No one at FAU wants that. We need an educator whose political standing is their own business and irrelevant to their ability to lead FAU.”
“The running of a college or university needs to be left to trained educators,” wrote Dr. J. William Louda, a research professor in the Department of Chemistry. “Gov. DeSantis should absolutely refrain from any and all coercion in this matter.”
These people, and many others, care deeply about FAU, and share a hope for its very promising future. Florida and FAU deserve so much better. It is heartbreaking to watch as DeSantis and his sycophants do tremendous damage to higher education in Florida.
We need more voices like Dick Schmidt, a search committee member who forcefully criticized the interference in a Sun Sentinel Viewpoint essay.
Saving FAU from self-serving politicians is a cause worth defending. The state university system belongs to us. It should not be a plaything for DeSantis and his cronies.
The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board includes Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson, Opinion Editor Krys Fluker and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Editorial Page Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Editorial Page Editor Dan Sweeney and Anderson. Send letters to insight@orlandosentinel.com.