EXCLUSIVE: Insiders Allege University of Florida Spies to Root Out Conservatives, Disqualify White Male Job Applicants

Though banned by state law, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies remain at the University of Florida

New College of Florida students and supporters protest ahead of a meeting of the college's board of trustees at the campus in Sarasota on Feb. 28, 2023. Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photo

Conservatives took a victory lap early this year when Florida lawmakers defunded programs pushing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), what they call a “woke” social justice concept, at state colleges and universities.

Senate Bill 266, sponsored by state Sen. Erin Grall, a Republican, took effect on July 1, banning Florida institutions of higher learning from spending money on or advocating for DEI.

Critics of DEI argue that it precipitates policies that discriminate against whites and conservatives.

Proponents of DEI argue that the ideology maintains opportunities for underrepresented populations and corrects the wrongs of what they call “systemic racism” in America.

Although DEI practices are no longer allowed at Florida universities and colleges, three University of Florida (UF) insiders—a staffer, a faculty member, and an administrator—spoke to The Epoch Times about an environment on campus that they see as hostile toward conservatives.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the UF insiders shared their experiences of how voter registration searches are used to screen out Republican job applicants. They described hiring committees that pass over, from their vantage point, better-qualified white males for lesser-qualified minority candidates for jobs.

They allege that UF students who attend conservative events are spied on and endure a double standard for grading. They said some conservative employees on campus fear for their jobs and worry about their safety if they’re outed.

As part of UF’s social justice agenda to right the wrongs of historical racism, white employees were encouraged to join a 12-step program called Racists Anonymous, and students were encouraged to report perceived “biases,” according to documents and reports.

University of Florida officials didn’t respond by press time to requests from The Epoch Times for comment.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis holds up three just-signed measures related to higher education in the state—including one that bans diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices—at New College in Sarasota, Fla., on May 15, 2023. Courtesy of the Florida Governor's Office

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who’s running for president, has made wiping out DEI programs one of the centerpieces of his administration. He often says that Florida is “where ‘woke’ goes to die.”

This spring, he signed SB 266 into law, which bans DEI programs at the state’s public universities and colleges. At the signing, he said a more fitting definition for DEI would be “discrimination, exclusion, and indoctrination.”

Florida’s new legislation bars the state’s public universities and colleges from advocating for DEI or engaging in “political or social activism,” as defined by the State Board of Education and the regulations of the Board of Governors.

However, implementation of the new law faces obstacles.

Is ‘Woke’ Dying on Campuses?

The recently formed advocacy group NCF Freedom banded with professors and students at the New College of Florida, where DEI was dismantled after Mr. DeSantis appointed new board members. They filed a lawsuit saying the new legislation banning DEI unconstitutionally prevents them from expressing certain viewpoints.

Some state lawmakers agree.

Florida Senate Democrats opposed SB 266. State Sen. Tracie Davis of Jacksonville said the bill seeks to “undercut education and whitewashes history.” She said refusing to acknowledge racism, sexism, and oppression would have a chilling effect on students, particularly “marginalized groups.”

But the lawsuit isn’t the only thing keeping the law from having its intended effect. Another hurdle is procedural.

The Florida Legislature left it to state regulators to define some of the terms in the new law. That could take months to complete, according to the Florida Board of Governors, which operates the public university system.

The Florida Board of Governors didn’t provide The Epoch Times a timeline for those definitions to be put into place and also didn’t disclose the consequences that schools would face for breaking the new law.

Jeremy Redfern, press secretary for Mr. DeSantis, told The Epoch Times that the law is in effect, but the rules aren’t. He expressed confidence that when rules are established, the DEI practices “will all go away.”

So for now, in a state where “woke goes to die,” DEI remains alive and well, despite lawmakers’ attempts to shut it down.

Even after rulemaking is finalized, the state likely is in for a prolonged fight to remove DEI entrenched in campuses.

Students walk across the campus of New College of Florida in Sarasota, Florida, on Aug. 18, 2023. The Epoch Times

Defiantly Defending DEI

Insiders at UF—representing faculty, staff, and administration—allege that DEI practices are vigorously protected at the state’s flagship university.

UF was recently named the No. 1 public university in the country by The Wall Street Journal. However, it ranked near the bottom for free speech in a new report by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).

A report on UF was released this spring by Christopher Rufo, a conservative writer, filmmaker, and activist who specializes in researching leftist programs that have been injected into education. He was appointed by Mr. DeSantis as one of six new board trustees for the New College of Florida.

Mr. Rufo’s investigation on UF shared much of the same information shared by an earlier report by another anonymous UF insider. That report—provided first to The Epoch Times—showed that UF vastly underreported DEI when asked by the state to disclose the information.

Both reports show that the university created a far-reaching DEI bureaucracy that cost millions of dollars. Mr. Rufo’s report tallied 1,018 separate DEI initiatives at UF, including a so-called Racists Anonymous program for employees.

Christopher Rufo, senior fellow and director of the initiative on critical race theory at the Manhattan Institute. Courtesy of Christopher Rufo

UF maintains a webpage called Inclusive Excellence at UF that outlines the university’s position on social justice. It’s managed by the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer, which is still in place at UF even as the new law apparently bars such an office.

Salaries for Chief Diversity Officer Marsha McGriff and three other employees in the office amount to almost $600,000, according to university records.

The chief diversity officer reports to UF President Ben Sasse, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska who began at the university in February. Mr. Sasse is a Republican.

UF also has an extensive “Anti-Racism“ webpage that details efforts to fight ”white supremacy” and seemingly incorporate DEI ideology into hiring and curriculum.

Anti-racism efforts listed there include a workshop for staff and faculty in the art department run by The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond. The group offers lessons on social class and power because “the fabric of racism is inextricably woven and constructed into the founding principles of the United States.”

UF’s Division of Student Affairs operates a “bias” reporting system where students can anonymously report on each other for acts of “bigotry” against an identity group, such as a particular race or gender. Students need only rely on their “gut feeling or instinct” to help determine if they’ve experienced bias against them, according to the website.

The site encourages students to report “microaggressions,” which are said to be biased remarks that may intentionally or unintentionally hurt someone’s feelings. People who feel they’ve been victims of microaggressions are asked to give the perpetrator’s name, the identity group targeted, and the incident location.

Reports are submitted to the RESPECT team within Student Affairs, where the parties involved will be “educated” on the university’s commitment to DEI, according to the website. Incidents also may be reported to investigative offices within the university or university police, depending on the seriousness.

Name Game

The UF insiders told The Epoch Times that multiple colleges and departments at the university have changed the name of DEI programs to things such as “accessibility” or “culture” and ​​“social impact.”

The ideology remains the same, they said, and some of the UF insiders’ colleagues across the campus openly applaud the idea of continued promotion of DEI.

A review of the university’s 16 colleges in August by The Epoch Times found hundreds of references to DEI or social justice. However, the terminology has been changed in some programs, efforts the insiders claim is an attempt to obfuscate social-justice messaging.

In the College of Pharmacy at UF, DEI initiatives now come under the Accessibility, Belonging, and Community Health Committee.

The College of Journalism and Communication at UF removed a web page on “diversity,” but several others remain, including one for its Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Committee.

In other areas of the university, remaining DEI efforts are out in the open.

Colleges under the medical sciences umbrella still had DEI officers in place as of August, according to an insider who asked to be identified only as Chloe.

A review of department statements revealed several university hiring committees, such as one with the Entomology and Nematology Department, appear to continue to support the hiring and promoting of employees who embody the purposes of DEI on campus and within the ranks of faculty, staff, and students.

Students at the University of Florida in Gainesville gather on Feb. 23, 2023, as part of a planned statewide "walkout" to protest against Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis's efforts to curb Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in public universities and colleges. The Epoch Times

The Public Health College at UF has a DEI statement on its landing page and a photo of UF Health workers kneeling during a “White Coats for Black Lives” event.

Defying the Law

Altony “Tony” Lee III, the interim assistant vice chancellor for public affairs at the State University System in Florida, told The Epoch Times in an email that “indoctrination” has no place in higher education’s mission.

“The State University System of Florida is 100 percent committed to the full implementation of SB 266,” Mr. Lee wrote in the email.

That feeling isn’t shared on the UF campus, said an insider who asked to be identified as Kate.

In August, an administrator in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences announced to faculty and staff that DEI is there to stay, despite the law, according to Kate.

“'The state has decided to get rid of DEI, but I’m here to tell you that we’re not getting rid of it,” the administrator told employees, she said. “We just rebranded it.”

Students at the University of Florida in Gainesville hold signs in support of transgender rights on Feb. 23, 2023, as part of a protest against proposed legislation banning DEI. The Epoch Times

Others in the room voiced support, “kind of cheering,” Kate said.

A third insider, who asked to be identified as Nadine, said she recently received an email from the UF Human Resources Department inviting employees to an optional “cultural wellness” training. At the end of the course, it was said to have been designed “to promote social justice,” she said.

In August, an email from Human Resources to newly hired faculty included information about an orientation presented by the chief diversity office on “her personal DE&I philosophy,” according to insider documents reviewed by The Epoch Times.

Online information about the orientation disappeared after CommiesOnCampus—an account on X—posted a picture of the email.

Human Resources also rebranded a diversity training program now called “Gators Together.” The program’s goal is to enhance employee performance by creating a culture of belonging at the University of Florida, where the mascot is an alligator. A link to the program revealed DEI on the menu.

Employees and supervisors could earn certificates by completing training on “cultural inclusion,” “managing hidden biases,” or “LGBTQ+” inclusion.

There’s nowhere for employees or students to report DEI practices inconsistent with the purpose of SB 266, insiders told The Epoch Times.

That will change, Mr. Lee said. Once the implementation process is complete, complaints can be filed with the Board of Governors if DEI practices continue on campuses.

Skin Color Over Merit

Kate described “huge fights” on hiring committees about giving jobs to, in her opinion, less-qualified minorities over better-qualified people who happened to be white men. From Kate’s perspective, whites were only hired if they were overwhelmingly qualified.

She also says she has heard those advocating for DEI bluntly telling others on hiring committees, “We don’t need any more white men.”

“If the two candidates are close, and even if the white man is better, but it’s close, they'll go with whoever the diversity hire is,” Kate said.

Supervisors are required to take “inclusive hiring” training. At least one person on every hiring committee needs to complete the course, she said.

Further, based on Chloe’s observations, the university can get around the prohibition against race-based hiring by offering applicants an optional questionnaire in which they’re asked to identify their race, gender, ethnicity, sex, and disability. Chloe believes that these “inclusive” hiring guidelines put white male job candidates at a disadvantage.

Gators Together training offers certificates to University of Florida employees for completing training on topics such as "Managing Hidden Biases that Affect the Hiring Process." Courtesy of a UF whistleblower

As for hiring practices, Chloe noted that if top candidates are white males, they likely get a phone interview, while minority candidates usually get invited to on-campus interviews.

A list of interview questions for hiring committees seemingly is used to gauge a candidate’s commitment to “inclusivity,” she said. Those questions are used in hiring faculty and administrators in mid- to high-level positions, she said.

Punishing Campus Conservatives

The DEI culture on the UF campus has created a hostile environment for conservatives or anyone who doesn’t support DEI, according to the UF insiders.

“You feel like you’re in danger—and I’m not even making that up—to be on campus and to be outed as a conservative,” Kate said of her personal concerns.

She has seen flags in support of former President Donald Trump ripped off cars and witnessed alarmingly hostile student protests when conservatives were scheduled to speak on campus. She’s worried about the potential for violence.

Managers check the voter registration of job candidates to make sure Republicans were weeded out, according to Chloe.

“It started to become very common practice, which is completely not appropriate,” she said.

Kate and others say they hide their personal support for conservative ideas and lawmakers, while those who promote left-wing ideologies speak openly of their support.

“I'd love to have a DeSantis sign in my window,” Kate confided.

But she fears retribution.

In October 2022, a committee evaluating candidates for the position of UF president met with Mr. Sasse, a well-known former Republican senator. Hundreds of students swarmed outside the meeting, chanting things such as “Ben Sasse has got to go,” a video posted to YouTube shows.

Just before his reelection, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis takes the stage in a packed college gymnasium in rural Columbia County at a campaign event on Nov. 3, 2022. The Epoch Times

Activists didn’t want Mr. Sasse to get the job because of his conservative stance on abortion and the LGBT movement. The protest reportedly was organized by groups including UF College Democrats, Graduate Assistants United, and Young Democratic Socialists, a communist organization that touts itself as one of the largest student groups at UF.

“He was forced out of the building, and staff were left with students banging on windows and yelling,” UF insider Nadine said.

From her vantage point, “the police did nothing to protect those who showed up to listen.”

Democrats in Control

UF sits in the heart of Alachua County, a Democrat-controlled area in the center of a primarily conservative state. Democrats control city and county government, and voter rolls show that Democrats outnumber Republicans almost 2 to 1, according to state records.

Leftist activists in Alachua County routinely come onto campus and pose as students to agitate or protest, according to Chloe.

Members of the Democratic Socialists of America gather outside of a building owned by then-President Donald Trump in New York on May 1, 2019. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The campus culture takes a mental toll on conservatives, she said, because, as she perceives it, staff and faculty actively seek to identify dissenters.

“I had to change my voter status so I wouldn’t be identified,” Chloe said. “I cannot be honest about who I am and my beliefs because I would not be able to get promotions.”

Similarly, Nadine expressed her opinion that employees moving up in their careers are those who embrace social justice ideology. For those not on board with left-wing causes, “it’s very obvious that your career is going to stall here” at UF, she said.

People outside the university environment might not understand that a professor’s entire career is at the mercy of his or her peers, Kate said, but that makes it extremely difficult to be successful as an open conservative in a liberal school.

Employees at UF freely display flags of communist Russia, China, and Black Lives Matter, whose co-founder Patrisse Cullors infamously said in an interview that she and her colleagues are “trained Marxists.”

Students in the Crosshairs

In December 2022, students attending a Florida university told The Epoch Times about their frustration with what they see as an anti-white, anti-Christian, and anti-American campus environment that made them feel uncomfortable at best and under threat at worst.

At UF, employees aren’t the only ones being monitored for political affiliations, according to Chloe.

Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle, a senior adviser to President Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign, came to UF to speak in 2019. Some administrators attended with the goal of identifying students that “they could no longer trust and associate with,” according to Chloe.

Some students at UF have confided to Nadine that they’ve noticed that skin color and LGBT status can factor into success at the university, Nadine said.

Privately, white students have voiced concerns to her about a double standard and “different grading scales,” she told The Epoch Times. They see minorities doing what they feel is less work but receiving the same degrees, she said.

UF’s Undergraduate Affairs Office teaches a series of general education courses required for all undergraduate students. One of those courses taught this summer after the DEI ban went into effect was titled “The Politics of Race at the University of Florida.” 

The course asserts that minority students at UF must deal with “racial microaggressions.”

The course also examined questions as to whether the state’s STOP Woke Act—which restricts the teaching of the quasi-Marxist critical race theory but is being challenged in court—and SB 266, which bans DEI, were needed to prevent the “indoctrination” of college students.

The class syllabus states that UF, before desegregation began in the 1960s, “practiced an unyielding form of racism” that excluded black, Asian, and Latino students. The course encourages students to “fight discrimination and become activists,” the description shows.

A demonstrator at the Equality Florida rally at the state Capitol in Tallahassee holds a sign that says "Free States Don't Ban Diversity" on March 13, 2023. Dan M. Berger/The Epoch Times

The Epoch Times requested comment from Ms. Grall but didn’t receive a response by press time. Cynthia Roldan, UF’s director of communications, and Steve Orlando, the university’s interim vice president of strategic communications and marketing, also didn’t respond to requests for comment by press time.

Despite these challenges to conservative voices, Nadine is committed to staying in her job at the university, she said, because someone has to stick around to fight the discrimination and ideological stranglehold that social justice has on campus.

“I pray every night that I will have wisdom to offer students,” she said, “and [that] somehow, by staying, I will be the one to right the wrongs.”