University of Florida president slams campus protests as 'stupid and reductionistic'

Publish date: 2024-06-11

GAINSVILLE, Fla. (TND) — University of Florida (UF) President Ben Sasse offered harsh words for pro-Palestine protesters on college campuses this week.

Police officers in April apprehended nine demonstrators at UF and three at the University of South Florida during protests demanding the colleges divest from entities perceived as profiting off Israel’s war against Hamas terrorists. UF purportedly told its protesters they risked legal consequences with their demonstration at the Plaza of The Americas.

Sasse, while speaking with Jewish Insider at the 2024 Milken Institute Global Forum Monday, said the demonstrations have continued to baffle him.

“We support folks’ free speech rights, but that includes the right to make an a-- and an idiot of yourself, and a lot of the protesters say ridiculously, historically and geographically ignorant things,” he said.

Continuing, Sasse noted the issue of free speech has been blown out of proportion as many protesters are using it as a defense against retribution for illegal activities.

READ MORE | 'Not a daycare': University of Florida explains arrests of anti-Israel protesters

“We don’t start by trying to prohibit speech, but we do want to ask fundamental questions about whether or not enough education is happening,” Sasse noted. "The paraglider memes that are now replacing Che Guevara on T-shirts is so bizarre. Which paragliders are we talking about — the savages who raped teenage girls at a concert? That’s who you want to be the icon and the sort of shorthand for the movement you’re defending?”

“At the end of the day, there was an instigator that moved on 10/7, and it’s just amazing how quickly stupid and reductionistic so many of the protests have become,” he added.

UF last month told The National Desk (TND) both student protesters and "outside agitators" should face the consequences of their actions.

“This is not complicated: The University of Florida is not a daycare, and we do not treat protesters like children,” the college told TND. “They knew the rules, they broke the rules, and they’ll face the consequences.”

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