GAINESVILLE, Fla- Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke at the University of Florida’s Hamilton Center this week to formally announce UF’s new interim president, Dr. Donald Landry. Landry served as the dean of the Columbia University medical school for 20 years.

During his remarks, DeSantis praised the university and other state schools for their policies on free speech with both students and professors, as well as student conduct at campus events and in free speech areas on campus.

“If we have a speaker on campus, you don’t shout them down… you have to behave yourself,” DeSantis argued. However, he spoke critically of uninvited guests and disruptive demonstrators. He pointed out that the universities would not hesitate to intervene.

“On some of these university campuses, it’s like the inmates run the asylum because no one ever gets held accountable for anything,” DeSantis expressed.

He referenced a recent incident at Florida State University where protesters attempted to take over a lawn. “Like 10 minutes later, they just turned the sprinklers on, and those guys got off that lawn very quickly,” he added.

The University of Florida has come under criticism for censoring both professors and protesters. One recent example is blocking professors to speak about a lawsuit involving voting rights. Another is preventing professors from speaking out against COVID-19 policies.

In April 2024, student protestors who camped out in the Plaza of the Americans received three year suspensions.

Florida is home to some of the largest universities in the country. These include the University of Central Florida (>68,000 students), Florida International University (> 56,000 students) ;and the University of Florida (~60,000 students).

The topic of free speech and campus protests continues to be a focal point. UF in particular has drawn attention as the state’s flagship university, serving as an example of how higher education navigates political pressure, student activism and enforcement of state policies.