Amid the growing but anecdotal evidence that Florida’s new laws might be chasing university faculty away lies a real, deeper concern. Because incontrovertible proof is hard to come by, people can argue about how real the effects are. But they can’t dismiss an important reality, one that hasn’t been central to this debate so far. From the Stop Woke Act to making it harder for faculty to retain tenure, each change risks corroding the integrity of Florida’s highly ranked higher education system. Like a slowly rusting water pipe, the damage may not be noticeable next week or next year, but it’s there — and will be expensive to fix.
That’s the real problem. Each one of these actions by Gov. Ron DeSantis and his captive Republican Legislature don’t just reflect their beliefs and their policies; they are the law of the land in Florida — and could remain so long after DeSantis has left the Governor’s Mansion. The worst may not even come on his watch. Floridians will be left to pick up the pieces and rewrite the laws, or the problems will only get worse.
In May, when DeSantis signed the ban on funding DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programs, he said that: “Florida has ranked No. 1 in higher education for seven years in a row, and by signing this legislation we are ensuring that Florida’s institutions encourage diversity of thought, civil discourse and the pursuit of truth for generations to come. Florida is taking a stand for empowering students, parents and educators to focus on creating opportunities for our younger generations. I am happy to have worked with the Legislature to get this important legislation signed, sealed and delivered.”
