U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse OK'd as UF's next president despite community, student pushback

Benjamin Eric Sasse has been confirmed as the next president of the University of Florida.

He will become the 13th president in the school's history.

The Florida Board of Governors on Wednesday gave a near-unanimous, final approval needed for Sasse, a Republican U.S. senator from Nebraska, to begin his five-year term that will begin Feb. 6, 2023. Only one board member was opposed to the appointment.

A contract proposal shows he will earn a base salary of $1 million, along with more than $300,000 in additional benefits.

"We aspire for Gainesville to be a center of a revolution in higher education in America and we want our graduates to go out and change the world," Sasse said to the board.

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Controversy in Sasse selection

On Oct. 6, UF announced Sasse as the sole finalist after a nationwide search that was kept out of the public eye due to Senate Bill 520, which prevented information of the search from being public record.

Sasse's selection brought an onslaught of controversy and protest from the Gainesville community, many of whom took issue with his past statements on same-same marriage, abortion rights for women, as well as other controversial stances.

His second of three Q&A forums held on campus was interrupted when students took over Emerson Alumni Hall, forcing Sasse to move his final forum to another location.

Despite the community-wide opposition and vote of no confidence from the UF Faculty Senate, Sasse was unanimously voted in by UF trustees on Nov. 1.

At the meeting, speakers said Sasse's contract shouldn't surpass $1.6 million. UF's current president, Kent Fuchs, who has been in the role since 2015, earns a total compensation of $1.4 million.

UF board of trustees chairman Mori Hosseini said he charged the search committee with finding a "once-in-a-generation leader" that could propel UF to being recognized as one of the top universities in the country.

"President-elect Ben Sasse had a bold vision for higher education, the University of Florida and our partner universities in this great system his passion for lifelong learning and teaching our students to be prepared for the changing world is unmatched," Hosseini said.

Sasse, who vowed not to engage in partisan politics while in his role, was questioned by the board on his vision for the UF and his public political positions.

Board member Alan Levine said he understands that Sasse wants to step back from partisan politics, but added the role of president is " a very political position and requires relationships in Tallahassee and Washington." He said Sasse has every right to his political views but shouldn't insert those rights and views when it comes to advancing the university.

Board member Tim Cerio questioned Sasse on how he was going build bridges on UF's campus and create a culture of civility, due to all the controversy that came with his appointment.

"I think it's important to recognize we live in a time where the subset of folks that are angriest tend to get the most attention," Sasse said.

Currently, UF Faculty Senate chair Amanda Phalin is up for a vote of no-confidence on Nov. 17 and Lauren Lemasters, UF student body president is facing impeachment.

He said he would use UF's sports programs as a time to engage with students and faculty recalling his presidency at Midland University where he was an active presence on campus.

"I'm for getting to know the community with tireless passion," Sasse said.

Sasse, who currently resides in Fremont, Nebraska, will move into the Dasburg President's House, located at 450 Village Drive in Gainesville, and have moving costs covered, according to the proposed contract. His immediate family members will also have their tuition 100% covered at the university if they choose to attend.

Sasse, who has served as a senator since 2015, previously served as president of Midland University in Omaha, Nebraska. He earned a doctorate in American history from Yale University where he later taught.

Sasse was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict former president Donald Trump of incitement of insurrection in his second impeachment trial.

He is the author of two New York Times best-selling books, "The Vanishing American Adult” and “Them: Why We Hate Each Other — and How to Heal.”

Gershon Harrell is an education reporter at The Gainesville Sun. He can be reached by phone at (352)338-3166, by email at [email protected] or on Twitter at @GershonReports.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse confirmed as University of Florida president