Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and other members of Florida’s Democratic congressional delegation on Tuesday sent a letter to the University of Florida’s president sharply condemning the school’s move to bar three professors from serving as expert witnesses in a lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis’ (R) voter suppression law.
And people still take Republicans seriously when they whine about “cancel culture”. What do you call this?
Protecting your ass?
Sadly, Dems don’t have a whole lot of influence in Florida. I’ll wait to see if InSantis even deigns to respond to this, except to double-down on the situation. It seems that’s the go-to when GQP’ers are called out on bad behavior - they just do more of it and worse.
It’s only “cancel culture” when we rag on them for being insensitive to others. While they just scream “sincerely held religious beliefs”.
Long day, but FU professors to university president Fuchs. Perfect
Cancel Culture en Brochette! Assholes!!
"…because the school is a state institution, participating in a lawsuit against the state is “adverse to U.F.’s interests.”
Heil.
According to its website “Our students, faculty and staff embrace the ideal of sharing the benefits of our research and knowledge for the public good.” Obviously sharing research and knowledge in opposition to voter suppression is not for the public good.
The history of previous approvals speaks volumes. When even Skeletor was OK with testimony, it’s hard to argue that de santis is anything but a tinpot dictator. A banana republican, if you will.
In a way, the university’s position isn’t wrong–do you doubt that DeSantis and his buddies would not try to punish the university for allowing the professors to testify?
It’s the Gainesville Gleichschaltung.
Not only do we negotiate with terrorists, we try to anticipate their demands.
All that and very good at it. Most of what the GOP has gained in Florida was handed to them by Democratic inaction and inability to define themselves beyond what the GOP has done. Florida is a state of huge cities and vast diversity. Sure there’s a bunch of retired folks here but the significance of them is vastly overstated. The population of The Villages is less than 80K in a state of near 22 million. My point: Florida should be a Democratic shoo in but is a just over the edge red state. That is a Democratic messaging problem in bold print. And as is true in all red states…once the GOP get in they go about entrenching themselves so there’s NO WAY to eliminate them from power.
If those Professors want to do what’s right they’ll talk anyway. But don’t hold your breath waiting for an academician to forgo the gravy train that is the ivory tower and do what’s right.
I can’t show the links, but apparently a 4th professor has been barred from testifying, and a piece from the gainesville sun(?) said that they can testify if no remuneration…
So academics should only defend academic freedom and aspire to promote truth when there are no consequences? Sorry, this is exactly the sort of situation that tenure and the concept of academic freedom were created for.
So, the university doesn’t want them doing it for money? Then do it for free. If they try to punish you, start the whole process of defending their rights to free speech and all that goes with it.
Yes, it’s time for a Rosa Parks to emerge from academia. If they fire her, make a big stink about it.
So tired of hearing about “norms being violated.”
I agree with you on both counts. But having taught at a state university in Kansas, filled with craven administrators, I can promise you that that’s what the admin thought. One of my colleagues used to write a (conservative) column for a Topeka newspaper, and when he wrote in support of a Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights, the university was not happy.
I was really trying to point out that DeSantis would take revenge, because that’s what fascists do.
State instituted repression?