TALHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) – One of Florida’s top universities is in scope after what is called the state’s “embarrassment” after the board rejected the presidential election.
House Speaker Danny Perez condemned the failure for lack of transparency and said that if House Bill 1321 was not killed, this could have been prevented.
For the first time in state history, the Florida Governor’s Committee rejected the president’s finalist Dr. Santano.
Ono was running to become the next president of the University of Florida, but while leading the University of Michigan there was concern about his previous support for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
The denial comes after Congressman passed a bill aimed at making the presidential search public open to the public, but the Senate did not take the bill, and the governor opposed it.
A few days after the Governor’s Committee overthrew Ono’s nomination, Perez said this could have been avoided.
“Here we are in a very embarrassing moment across Florida, along with presidential candidates from major universities, Florida’s flagship university,” Perez said. “Our bill, the House bill, that should have been avoided, could have been avoided.”
Senate Speaker Ben Albritton, when asked what he thought of the board’s rejection, said the speaker’s view was one way to see it, but he added that he believes the current system will work.
“Will the system deliver the best results regardless of different perspectives? Some people argue yes. Some will argue no. Albritton said.
It is unclear where the University of Florida will go from here, with Ono as the only finalist in the position.
