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MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2023

VOLUME 118 - ISSUE 2 Not officially associated with the University of Florida

Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

'Bad faith readouts': Sasse disputes previously reported accounts of his vision UF representatives contacted The Alligator Aug. 27 By Garrett Shanley Alligator Staff Writer

UF President Ben Sasse described previous reports of his strategic plan as inaccurate at his State of the University Address Aug. 24, but professors disagree. The Alligator previously reported on faculty-only presentations given by Sasse across UF’s colleges that detailed his future plan. Sasse’s presentations were summarized by attendees who spoke anonymously to The Alligator because they feared repercussions from disclosing details of the president's remarks. Anonymous professors said Sasse presented preliminary plans to change tuition costs, reduce the total number of UF departments, eliminate "quiet-retired" faculty and restructure the delivery of education. Media reports of Sasse’s “roadshows” did not properly capture his vision, he said Aug. 24. “There’s a very tiny number of faculty who have decided to give bad faith readouts of these,” Sasse said. “Some comments that have been passed along to press outlets are just completely inaccurate.” A UF spokesperson clarified details of the report that Sasse, who was not contacted for the initial report, believed were inaccurate in a statement given to The Alligator Aug. 27. The strategic plan does not include changes to tuition, which is regulated by the Florida Legislature, according to the statement. “[Sasse] has criticized blanket price controls and noted that UF’s economic model is different than all the other institutions in the Top 30,” the spokesperson wrote. The Alligator previously reported Sasse doesn’t have the ability as UF president to dictate state legislation regarding subsidized tuition or the Bright Futures scholarship program under state law. An anonymous professor previously told The Alligator that Sasse indicated a need for a reduction in the total number of UF’s 199 academic departments.

“[Sasse] indicated an ideal number would be far fewer, such as 140,” one professor wrote. Sasse did not call for department reductions in private meetings with faculty, according to the statement. “He has certainly called for a more centralized approach to interdisciplinary cooperation and has celebrated both humanities and sciences by asking if we need to broaden and diversify our core offerings,” the spokesperson wrote. The spokesperson also denied that Sasse called for the elimination of unproductive faculty. “He’s absolutely called for addressing the problem of ‘quiet retirement’ with more transparency and rigor for teaching, research and clinical tracks,” the spokesperson wrote. The Alligator contacted anonymous sources across several colleges who reaffirmed their reports of Sasse’s presentations. Initial presentations were kept private to encourage faculty input, Sasse said Aug. 24. “We started with these as offthe-record conversations because I wanted people to be able to speak freely,” Sasse said. “I think they’ve been incredibly constructive. I’ve enjoyed them. I’ve benefited from your counsel and wisdom.” Sasse invited members of the press to two similar presentations which he gave to faculty from the College of Education and College of Dentistry Aug. 25. Sasse detailed how faculty will be able to contribute toward UF’s strategic plan and clarified his positions on tuition, faculty research and posttenure review. He did not mention department reductions. The future of UF’s economic model depends on the university’s ability to justify its spending of stateallocated funds, Sasse told faculty. “I have been very public in Tallahassee that I think they should lift all of our price controls for out-of-state students,” Sasse told College of Dentistry faculty.

SEE SASSE, PAGE 6

Adriel Bolocon// Alligator Staff

Local dancer Kevin Rodriguez, also known as Woahdizzy, gets down low at the How Bazar block party on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023.

New penalties for bathroom law threaten Santa Fe College students, faculty DESANTIS APPROVED HARSHER PENALTIES, INCLUDING TERMINATION, FOR COLLEGE EMPLOYEES WHO DEFY HB 1521

By Bailey Diem Alligator Staff Writer

Some LGBTQ+ Santa Fe College attendees fear discrimination after a law prohibiting people from using public bathrooms of their non-assigned sex can now result in firing. Gov. Ron DeSantis approved harsher penalties Aug. 23 for college faculty and staff who defy HB 1521 passed in May, commonly known as the bathroom law. With the stricter penalties, Florida college employees can be fired or disciplined if they use a bathroom that does not correspond with their assigned sex at birth twice. The law already requires faculty to discipline students that break the regulations. Zhamia Richardson, a 19-yearold SFC theatre junior, knew about the law since the day it passed. It, along with similar bills signed in the

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT

Sasse’s strategic plan

Players, students react to Netflix documentary. Read more on pg. 11

Food insecurity

“Swamp Kings”finish with comma, pg# Story description

latest legislative session, greatly upset her, she said. “I was both enraged and heartbroken for my queer brothers and sisters being prosecuted for something as silly as which bathroom they feel more comfortable in,” Richardson said. “I feel HB 1521 and other legislation like it are simply desperate ploys to erase queer people’s identity.” The new penalties were unanimously voted on by the Florida State Board of Education. The Florida College System, which these penalties directly affect, includes SFC and other community colleges across the state. UF and other major universities are unaffected by these changes. Before the law was implemented, students and staff said SFC has served as a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ students. Ryan Lund, an 18-year-old SFC dual-enrollment student, works at the campus bookstore and found the college to be very inclusive. “The library makes pins for students to just grab and many times they have been pride themed,” Lund said. “The professors tend to ask for preferred pronouns in the beginning with an assignment so

Lawmakers reflect on proposed changes to UF policy, pg. 5

Students across Gainesville struggle with access to quality food, pg. 4

you don’t have to out yourself in front of the class.” Lund found the bathroom law and its new penalties shocking. The state legislation’s fixation on topics such as this is bewildering, he said. “The fact that [a] staff member’s job security is at risk for something so unharmful and non-threatening is absurd, and the focus in legislation on these bathroom bills is uncalled for,” he said. “Especially because this is affecting colleges now and not just lower levels of education. To go after college adults with this is incredible.” For many transgender students, using the bathroom that matches their gender identity is affirming, Lund said. However, even without the law in place, Lund has been wary of using the preferred restroom, which has always held the risk of violence or harassment for him and others in the same situation, he said. “This bill just gives transphobes more power and backing so that they can harass trans people without fear of legal consequence on their end,” Lund said. “Which is even more terrifying for the trans

SEE TRANSGENDER, PAGE 6

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