UPDATE: Yenor Resignation Letter – here
Tallahassee sources have confirmed that Boise State professor Scott Yenor has resigned from the University of West Florida Board of Trustees. Yenor was elected board chairman in January and chaired two meetings via Zoom. The governor never submitted his name to the Florida Senate for approval.
Yenor’s appointment to the UWF Board of Trustees has sparked significant controversy due to his past statements and ideological positions, which many view as incompatible with the values and mission of the university and the Pensacola area.
1. Comments on Women in the Workplace
– Yenor has made highly contentious remarks about women, particularly career-oriented women, whom he described as “medicated, meddlesome, and quarrelsome” in a 2021 speech. He argued that women should prioritize marriage and motherhood over careers, which critics say undermines gender equality and alienates female students and faculty.
– These views have led to protests from students, faculty, alumni, and community members who feel such rhetoric is harmful and regressive].
2. Lack of Local Ties
– Critics have pointed out that Yenor, a political science professor at Boise State University in Idaho, has no direct connection to UWF or the Pensacola community. This has fueled concerns that his appointment reflects political motivations rather than a commitment to the university’s needs.
3. Additional Controversial Statements
– Yenor has also faced backlash for comments perceived as anti-Semitic and for criticizing identity politics in hiring practices. These remarks have drawn criticism from both sides of the political aisle, further polarizing opinions about his suitability for the role.
This is a significant victory for SAVE UWF, a grassroots movement that emerged to oppose Yenor’s appointment and other recent trustee selections by DeSantis. The group argued that these appointments would negatively impact UWF’s culture, student enrollment, and regional economic contributions.
TWO DOWN
Last month, the Florida Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education voted to reject Adam Kissel’s appointment to the UWF Board of Trustees with only one favorable vote. The decision came after intense questioning about Kissel’s previous writings on privatizing public universities, his views on the GI Bill, and concerns from the Pensacola community about the direction of UWF under new leadership.
The committee heard testimony from several Pensacola residents and UWF supporters who opposed Kissel’s appointment. Dr. Judy Bense, UWF president emeritus, expressed concern that the university was being negatively impacted by the recent trustee appointments, noting that “donations have come to a screeching halt” and students were canceling their fall enrollment.
- A significant concern raised by multiple speakers was the lack of local representation on the board. According to Bense, “All of the other trustees on the list today to be confirmed are from their own region. Ours is the only region that has five trustee nominees from outside the region with no connection to the University of West Florida.”
- UWF graduate student Elizabeth Domani Turner-Ward testified that Kissel’s views on privatization and the GI Bill were “very troubling considering the relationship our university has with the veteran community.” She added that students were already canceling their enrollment due to concerns about the board’s direction.
Former UWF trustee Jean Godwin pointed to the unanimous vote by the new appointees to make Yenor the board chair as evidence of their alignment with his controversial views. “Given that action, I can only assume they all support and endorse his positions and policies,” she said, referencing statements attributed to Yenor that “only non-Jewish white men are capable of leadership” and that women are “medicated, quarrelsome and meddlesome.”