382 Comments

The state cannot dictate how federal funds can be used and schools can sue in federal court, if they so choose. Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. Now what are we going to do about it???

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As a young adult I was appalled when teachers were the target in Cambodia

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Thank you very much for the great comment. I do wish your comment could be broadcast all over the entire United States 24 hours, 7 days a week. I will be almost 70 when the next election happens and i do fear for my 4 grandchildren and actually my grown 4 grown children too. My oldest son is 48 and has quite a bit of his life left. They hear my loud opinions of the ruthless evil of the Fascist/NAZI GQP. Sadly, my youngest son, 38 years old still is into the Fascist/NAZI, GQP's lies and evil propaganda. He gets angry at me when i say bad things about Donald TUMP, and all of the other evil Fascist cretins in our Congress and Senate. We are not close like we used to be. I am really going to do my part to inform as many as i can to vote the Democratic ticket in the next 18 months. I think it's my duty to do so. I have entertained the idea of leaving the United States if these Fascists win and take over our nation, and i am encouraging all of my immediate family to do the same. I hope with the efforts of all Democrats to put forth their best efforts to inform everyone they know to vote Democrat only. These nut jobs in the Rethuglican party are evil to the core. I am optimistic that we can overcome this evil they present.

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Does anyone think DeSantis was denied acceptance to Florida’s New College many years ago? First Disney and now New College.

ArtO

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Does anyone think DeSantis was denied acceptance to Florida’s New College many years ago? First Disney and now New College.

ArtO

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Only thing I have to say is the Universities are destroying themselves with the cost of education. The layers of administrators. And the Sallie Mae interest rates and how if you pay extra it does not pay down the principal. I went and my children went but not sure now if the cost is worth it. So anyone with a brain would not listen to the autocrats instead lower the fees.

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I am so tired of the “woke” dog whistle. As you say the GOP courts racism, is anti-education and undermines democratic values. What I still do not understand is why so many still support this. It is a sad reflection upon us.

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I see parallels to Germany in the 1930’s and their despicable Nuremberg Laws. Also in states where the government interferes in health decision for children and women. During this catastrophic period of history, just before WWII, Universities were attack by the “State”, professors were investigated and or dismiss and those in favor of the Nazi regime where hired. What is happening in Florida and Texas, and other right wing dominated states, brings this terrifying period of history vividly to mind!

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When the government bans books just because they present a different view.

When the government tells teachers what they can, and cannot teach. Are we still living in the land of the free? Or do we need to change those leaders in government?

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Universities should teach students free thought: open mindedness and how to think for themselves.

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I’m glad at least some of them graduated in time. I’m appalled at the disregard for our constitutional right to think and believe freely.

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Several years ago I noticed an effort in my local Christian community to vilify Democrats by labeling them “liberal” as a pejorative generalization and wondered what the endgame would look like. Fast forward to tRump, his MAGA cult of the aggrieved entitled, elections since 2016, election-denying elected officials on Capitol Hill (as well as in leadership positions in institutions like DOJ, CIA, FBI, Military, Dept of Ed, Law Enforcement), massive GOP voter suppression legislation, a MachiavellianMitch revenge [for Reagan’s Bork] contrived GOP SCOTUS that overturned Roe v Wade and DeSantis’ white supremacy/ white Christian Nationalism fiefdom in FL. Recently I cynically posited, “Geez, next he’ll ban Liberal Arts curricula from state schools because of the word‘Liberal’! When they say ‘we want our country back’ they mean back to a time when it was ruled by white CisHet Christian MEN! This is CRAZY!” This crusade for racist fascist kleptocratic theocracy isn’t going to stop any time soon because the flame on the fuse of white supremacy has been lit! How can we stop a freight train loaded with decades of racism, misogyny, xenophobia, bigotry, exploitation, disenfranchisement, discrimination, hypocrisy, propaganda and lies since this nation’s earliest days?! It appears the endgame is to amass supermajorities in state after state to get 34 states to demand a constitutional convention so they can rewrite our Constitution to make all of the US into DeSantis’ Floriduh! That may sound severe but I ask you, “Who in the GOP has yet to stand up and condemn any of his racist fascist misogynistic xenophobic bigoted power moves in FL?” Why has the media NOT confronted any of them about that?

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Book banning in schools, concealed carry without licenses, demonizing Disney, sending FL law enforcement to the Texas border (yet again), deconstructing higher education, national and international "book tours" on the taxpayer dime, an abortion law that threatens the livelihood and freedom of doctors performing medical abortions, teachers and librarians under threat of dismissal for using generally accepted teaching material, frightening immigrants out of the state.

The FL Governor is focusing on everything except the high insurance rates, infrastructure issues, flooding issues and damage, affordable housing & medical coverage and our latest issue no entry level construction, roofing, landscaping, or road workers. The only bright spot is that the old MAGAts are being priced out of the state and the large developers have empty construction sites.

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Great scene from a 1960 Spencer Tracy movie, Inherit the Wind: "Because fanaticism and ignorance is forever busy, and needs feeding. And soon, your Honor, with banners flying and with drums beating we'll be marching backward, BACKWARD, through the glorious ages of that Sixteenth Century when bigots burned the man who dared bring enlightenment and intelligence to the human mind!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_DQUAuNUvw

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Thank you Mr. Rather...this insidious attack on Higher education is not new in the USA. It has been going on for a long time and is tragic. One of the indicators of this is the reduction of tenured faculty and the increase in adjunct faculty. The latter are easier to control that the former. The solution is to never give in to this appalling, non-sustainable "business model" created by those who haven't got a clue. I am a research associate faculty at Central Washington University, film maker and a Ph.D. from the University of Washington, Seattle.

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What's next...taking away scholarship from a student who writes a paper on institutionalized racism?

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