In a recent Tallahassee Democrat op-ed, Leon County Commissioner
Bill Proctor detailed how a John E. Thrasher presidency at Florida State University
would tarnish that school’s reputation and hurt FAMU.
From Proctor’s op-ed:
Speaking for my constituents in Leon County, we are alarmed,
stunned and aghast that state Sen. John Thrasher looms as Florida State
University’s president-in-waiting. Sen. Thrasher disrespects and has
demonstrated ill will toward current and future Florida A&M University
students. His name generates ill will across many pockets.
There could be no more divisive and polarizing figure than
this former chairman of Florida’s Republican Party to become FSU’s president.
Has the FSU presidency become a Lotto grab available to the highest political
bidder under the province of Florida’s Republican Party? Speaking for my
constituents, we believe the Florida State University Board of Trustees should
distance this university from a red-hot political polarizer and the domain of a
conservative political party.
Thrasher is a loud and proud Republican whose politics, attitudes and actions make his name more explosive than a Fourth of July fireworks show. Having Thrasher as the president of Florida State will serve to further the distance between FSU and the black community, which does not have a favorable view of him.
I urge each Board of Trustees member to review the recent
dialogue on the floor of the Florida Senate, the day when Sen. Thrasher
proposed to separate the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and to provide
millions of dollars to Florida State and zero dollars to Florida A&M to
sustain the continuing existence for its College of Engineering. Thrasher is
perceived to be a mean man. He has publicly vowed to separate FAMU’s
engineering school even without listening to or hearing from the voices of
higher educational leaders or holding necessary and formal legislative
hearings. Moreover, he vows to separate the engineering school over the
objections of the FAMU Board of Trustees and university.
Not only is Thrasher co-chair of the campaign for the
re-election of Gov. Rick Scott, but he is a leading Republican whose
conservative politics will ignite a combustible, explosive and polarizing
impact for students at Florida State and for other stakeholders across Leon
County. What was his vote on tuition increases for university students? His
record demonstrates that he has been hostile against students who are
disadvantaged. Why would Florida State hire a politician whose record opposes
students’ access and success within higher education in Florida?
The FSU Board of Trustees would send a strong message in
choosing this particular politician to rule Florida State. He is perceived as a
clear and present danger to Florida A&M University.
The Board of Trustees has an opportunity to build upon the
legacy of Eric Barron, whose leadership style and approach to stakeholders of
our community were respected. The choice of John Thrasher does not build on
this legacy. Instead, this choice would sink Florida State University into an
era of backwardness, good ol’ boyness and lost respect as a meaningful center
of higher education.
Read the full op-ed here.