The University of Florida is expected to name Santa Ono its 14th president, but after a video of Ono surfaced surfaced showing Ono praising diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and expressing other views as president of the University of Michigan that conflict with Gov. Ron DeSantis' campaign to rid Florida of DEI, his nomination could very well be dead in the water.
While speaking at Michigan's Inauguration address in 2023, President Ono lauded the DEI concept to students and faculty. Just weeks ago, Gov. DeSantis ripped the Republican-controlled House for running legislation that essentially allowed Ono's views to go unchecked.
The bill, however, was postponed and withdrawn from consideration.
"In January, we released the results of our DEI 1.0 initiative, which made it clear that while we have made progress, and we have, that we still have much more to do," Ono said. "So, as we look to DEI 2.0, let us strive to nurture thoughtful and understanding citizens."
But the ideology didn't stop there.
The finalist for the University of Florida presidency is a left-wing administrator who recently declared his support for "DEI 2.0" and claimed that "the climate crisis is the existential challenge of our time." Florida deserves better than a standard-issue college president. pic.twitter.com/ICIJMJkSrs
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) May 5, 2025
Ono also called racism one of America's "original sins." Not only that, he blamed his former school for harboring it.
"The University of Michigan has not been immune from participating in racism. We have excluded and segregated individuals because of their race or their gender, ethnicity, religious faith, or sexual orientation," Ono said.
To complete the woke trifecta, Ono dove into climate change.
"Our planet is growing warmer and warmer. Our natural environment is deteriorating, and none of us is immune from its devastating impacts. The climate crisis is the existential challenge of our time," Ono said.
Is this what the University of Florida (UF) is getting?
In case you're wondering, UF's compensation package for Ono could reach $3 million. He had a similar pay amount at Michigan to kick in by 2032.
State Senator Blaise Ingoglia, an alumni of the school, simply stated, "Dr. Santa Oh Hell No" in response to the video.
