98 Comments
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Roger Beal's avatar

Mr. Rufo, now please start digging into Mori Hosseini's background. What does that ex-Iranian stand to gain by supporting wokeness at the university? Nobody supports an agenda at that high level without expecting something significant in exchange.

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Beverly's avatar

Yup. Stick a microphone in Hosseini’s face and ask him why he supports the wokester.

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JJ's avatar

Hell just say no comment. This is FL y'all. Not much is done about corrupt leaders. Any Republicans who received money from him should give it back.

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Bill Smith's avatar

Nah, keep the money and make him feel the pain of throwing his money away

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JJ's avatar

If I was an elected official and a Republican and taking money from a person who obviously is deceiving and will be expecting a favor, I'd give it back. It's not clean money. It's dirty because they will want a favor, then you will be compromised. Not all money is good money. I'm sorry you haven't learned that. I serve Jesus not Mammon.

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Beverly's avatar

👍

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James Schultz's avatar

Or to not have anyone question his word.

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JJ's avatar

I just asked the same, where's his money come from?

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Larry Evans's avatar

He’s a residential property developer who owns ICI homes. He was raised in England and was educated as an aeronautical engineer. He has served on the Board of Trustees of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, where several 9-11 terrorists received flight training. He lives in Ormond Beach, Fl, where I also reside. He buys and sells Florida politicians like his automobiles and boats.

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JJ's avatar

Why are we allowing this FL? How do we tally every one he's bought and created an initiative to show how bought they are. He undoubtedly gives to both parties. Please tell me he didn't give Scott, DeSantis or Bondi money.

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FlaMac's avatar

Woke is not a cold or the flu that comes and goes. It’s more like a persistent rash that needs continual treatment. Keep UF great … keep looking.

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Sue Rosenthal's avatar

That is a great analogy. 👍

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Graham Cunningham's avatar

Here's something that would make a great University of Florida social science research project: Research Question: How exactly does a person who expresses "support for seemingly every left-wing fad, from “systemic racism” and “climate justice” to DEI and affirmative action. He puts “he/him” gender pronouns in his Instagram profile and gladly recites “land acknowledgments,” which promote the idea that Europeans are illegitimate occupiers of “unceded” native territory"....actually get to be THAT full of crap?

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Tim R's avatar

It is their pledge of allegiance.

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Sue Rosenthal's avatar

From the universities they enroll in.

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joan russell's avatar

It seems that Ono was nurtured in the tender embrace of the Temple of Woke, British Columbia. UBC, I am guessing, where you can go to Unlearn your Whiteness.

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Hugo Hormazabal's avatar

I would say to appease liberals but still make change. Imagine if he disagreed from the beginning, where would he be with stakeholders?

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Gary Edwards's avatar

Thank you for making this known.

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Kathleen Warren's avatar

Dear Mr.Rufo, Thank you for this article. Ono is a terrible choice for UF. As a Florida resident, I am proud and grateful for the numerous stances our leaders have taken against wokeness, idiotic covid mandates, and terrible legislation that would affect our lives adversely as Floridians. I want universities in Florida to be led by people who will define and demand standards of truth, not racial division, climate change, and transgenderism. Ono will not lead the college in the way Florida parents want for their young adults.

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J. Radford's avatar

I guarantee you that the vast majority of Florida's alumni are VERY pleased with the Ono hire, just like me. Do me a favor, bet me $$ that they're not, because I'd love to take your money.

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Shaun's avatar

By the quality of your writing here, it is clear you (or someone else) wasted a lot of money on your U of F "education". Bet me $$ that I'm wrong...

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Maria Ventola's avatar

Thanks for exposing this Wokester.

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Hugo Hormazabal's avatar

Disagreeing and thinking for oneself, without parroting a one sided view does not make you a Wokester. UF alumni want someone with proven credentials to lead the helm and places us back on top.

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Ellerslie's avatar

The question is not whether Ono should be president of UF, but how the Board of Trustees nominated him in the first place. The entire Board should be replaced.

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James Schultz's avatar

Ditto. Full stop.

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Hugo Hormazabal's avatar

They literally selected the one guy who took Michigan to be the top public college in America.

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Charles Leslie's avatar

By exposing this nominee’s background, Mr. Rufo once again shows what journalism looks like.

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Jim's Midwest View's avatar

As a U of M grad, I find this believable. Have followed Ono for a few years closely and there were several signs. U of M bball had BLM patch for longer than anyone in the big ten, well after BLM was exposed. Was glad to see him step down. Hopefully Florida makes a better decision.

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James Schultz's avatar

As a Robert Morgan grad, I understand completely. And that was the school that made me realize that academia was woke AF.

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HR Q's avatar

Who are the UF trustees who voted for him, and how do they defend their votes?

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Charles Manning's avatar

How the h___ did this woker get nominated? There needs to be some shakeup!

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working rich's avatar

A big NO

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Joe Smith's avatar

Bam! Right again in one line even.

Florida where WOKE goes to die.

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Jody B's avatar

Absolutely not!!!

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Michael Smith's avatar

He does appear somewhat chameleonish. Careerist.

Did he tell the Board of Governors yesterday to read his lips?

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Mark In Houston's avatar

Thank you Chris for your timely and honest reminder that Santa Ono for all his academic “credentials” is at heart a woke warrior for higher education. Ono has helped make the academy a place where leftist political views are strongly encouraged at the expense of academic freedom - which has achieved real traction in Florida under Gov. DeSantis’ leadership. Appointing Ono as UF president would be going backward, and fly in the face of one of the reasons voters elected DeSantis. Appointing someone the caliber of Mitch Daniels from Purdue would be a far better choice.

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