Santa Ono

[leo from jersey]

Former Michigan president Santa Ono has been rejected by the University of Florida's Board of Governors as the university's next president.

In what is normally a formality vote, the Board of Governors voted to reject Ono by a count of 10-6 Tuesday at a board meeting.

Per The Tampa Bay Times, it is the first time in the Board of Governors’ 20-year history that members have overturned a university’s presidential selection.-----


Liberals just don't go over in Florida these days. Also lots of problems at UM. Santa keeps shifting jobs and picked the wrong state.

[leo from jersey]

The above was taken from By Garrick Hodge on June 3, 2025 at 5:44 pm @garrick_hodge and it appeared in eleven warriors.

[London 'Cat]

Wasn’t there something he did while president of UC that somehow interfered with UC becoming an Association of American Universities member? As I recall he thought UC would become a member prior to the vote and publicly stated it was a sure thing? I may be recalling incorrectly.

[GoBearcats31]

Don't want this to become a political thread, but -- without reading too much -- it does seem that Florida's politics were the key here. If Ono had gone after, say, University of Virginia I don't see the same happening.

Wonder what drove him to UF in the first place. It's been a tough last 1.5 years for him at UM, I'd imagine -- which included his house being vandalized by anti-Israel agitators. It seems the UM football program could be hit with penalties soon. The weather is better in Florida than Michigan. He was the unanimous finalist at UF, so not sure how much of that was him pursuing a new gig versus UF trying to persuade him to come down there only for it to be taken away.

He had UF stuff on his social media pages, had just posted something the other day about a zoom call with Tim Tebow. I wonder if this was a surprise to him or if he knew this was possible going into yesterday.

I guess he's unemployed now? Would Michigan take him back? This may make him less attractive to other universities now too, though I suppose we could similarly be looking at his candidacy at more progressive schools/areas versus more conservative places/states.

Just an interesting thing all around.

[leo from jersey]

Don't want this to become a political thread, but -- without reading too much -- it does seem that Florida's politics were the key here. If Ono had gone after, say, University of Virginia I don't see the same happening.

Wonder what drove him to UF in the first place. It's been a tough last 1.5 years for him at UM, I'd imagine -- which included his house being vandalized by anti-Israel agitators. It seems the UM football program could be hit with penalties soon. The weather is better in Florida than Michigan. He was the unanimous finalist at UF, so not sure how much of that was him pursuing a new gig versus UF trying to persuade him to come down there only for it to be taken away.

He had UF stuff on his social media pages, had just posted something the other day about a zoom call with Tim Tebow. I wonder if this was a surprise to him or if he knew this was possible going into yesterday.

I guess he's unemployed now? Would Michigan take him back? This may make him less attractive to other universities now too, though I suppose we could similarly be looking at his candidacy at more progressive schools/areas versus more conservative places/states.

Just an interesting thing all around.

I doubt if UM would. Remember when a BB coach left and the AD said we want only Michigan men. I believe there was too much turmoil with his DEI and looking the other way during the football cheating. His stay at UM wasn't very long and I am sure Larry Ellison and wife (jolin) plus Dave Portnoy will not be forgiving. Plus, they can blame the cheating on Santa.

[leo from jersey]

Does any want Santa back in Clifton?

[London 'Cat]

Does any want Santa back in Clifton?

He was a terrific president at UC. The position is occupied currently though.