![]() “The catalyst for the policy change had everything to do with making sure federal, state and university resources are being used for their intended purpose, and not for purposes unrelated to the University of Florida or for personal gain,” Hosseini said. ![]() The university initiated a “conflicts of commitment and conflicts of interest policy” in July 2020.Īmid the controversy, the university’s policy has become the subject of an investigation by a congressional subcommittee that raised concerns the school was “censoring its faculty” based on viewpoint. Hosseini also defended the university’s conflicts-of-interest policy, which served as the basis for the initial decision to bar the professors from testifying. ![]() Hosseini vehemently denied that the trustees, DeSantis or any other state leaders played a role in the decision to prohibit the professors from participating in “outside activities” that would conflict with UF’s policies. I am speaking about faculty members who use their position of authority to improperly advocate personal political viewpoints to the exclusion of others.”Ī court document in the elections lawsuit said the university told the professors their request to serve as expert witnesses was denied because “outside activities that may pose a conflict of interest to the executive branch of the state of Florida create a conflict” for the university. I am speaking here of faculty members taking second jobs using the university’s state resources for their own personal gain. “However, we saw that some have taken advantage of their positions. “The overwhelming majority of our faculty are here for the reason we are, to educate, research, serve the University of Florida as their employer,” Hosseini told the board. The university ultimately walked back the decision, allowing political-science professors Sharon Austin, Michael McDonald and Daniel Smith to be hired as expert witnesses by groups challenging the law, as long as they did the work on their own time and without using university resources.īut the controversy has continued, with the three professors and two others filing a federal lawsuit alleging violations of First Amendment rights.ĭuring a meeting Friday, UF Board of Trustees chairman Mori Hosseini led the charge in sharply criticizing the professors and rallying around university President Kent Fuchs. The measure was passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature this spring and signed by Gov. The state’s flagship university became embroiled in controversy after court documents revealed a decision by administrators to prevent three political-science professors from testifying against a new state elections law (SB 90), which included making changes to voting by mail.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |