Daily Outtakes: Save UWF gains momentum

The new appointments to the University of West Florida’s Board of Trustees have sparked community concern. A public event organized by concerned citizens will be held at Studer Community Institute on March 18 at 5 p.m. to discuss these developments and their potential impact on UWF and Northwest Florida.

The event will feature a panel of speakers, including Belle Bear (local philanthropist), Quint Studer (businessman and Blue Wahoos owner), Suzanne Lewis (former UWF Board chair), Dr. Lusharon Wiley (Innisfree VP), and Domani Turner-Ward (UWF graduate student). I will also be on the panel. Former Pensacola mayor and state lawmaker Jerry Maygarden will serve as emcee.

The panel will address several key concerns:

The Board of Trustees role and responsibilities
UWF’s importance to the community and panhandle region
Potential consequences of recent trustee decisions
Apparent biases of the new nominees
Issues that have already emerged due to these nominations

Following presentations, attendees can participate in a Q&A session and learn specific actions to oppose these appointments, including signing petitions and contacting key state senators on confirmation committees.

For more information, visit SAVEUWF.com or the SAVE UWF Facebook page.

OFFICIAL PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE UWF BOARD OF TRUSTEES? HOW CAN I HELP?

Join us at Studer Community Institute on March 18 at 5pm for an overview of UWF’s impact on Pensacola and the panhandle.

This event is free and open to the public. Visit our website, SAVEUWF.com or Facebook page, SAVE UWF, for more information.

We have a panel of speakers who will bring insight and information on diverse areas of concern: the role and responsibilities of the Board of Trustees, the role of the university in the community, what the university has brought to the panhandle, the possible consequences of the decisions of these trustees. We will also cover the biases they bring to NW Florida and some things that have already happened because of these trustee nominations.

Jerry Maygarden will serve as the MC. Jerry has been a health care executive and spokesperson, served as the 55th mayor of Pensacola and a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1994-2002.

Belle Bear is currently the number one Pensacola Inweekly Power Person. Belle and the Bear family have long supported UWF and local philanthropists.

Quint Studer is a Florida businessman and philanthropist who owns our local baseball team, the Blue Wahoos.

Rick Outzen is the owner and publisher of Inweekly, a locally focused publication, and an award-winning author.

Suzanne Lewis was chair of the UWF Board of Trustees and trailblazing National Park Ranger,

Dr. Lusharon Wiley is VP of Corporate Culture at Innisfree and an insightful speaker about the business community.

Domani Turner-Ward is a graduate student at UWF who sent a letter to PNJ expressing concern.

Following the speakers will be an opportunity for public comments and questions. We would like to share with you the value of the university and what is at risk — also, for you to know HOW YOU CAN HELP BLOCK THESE APPOINTMENTS. You can sign a petition or email the senators on crucial committees that hold the hearings pertaining to the appointee’s confirmation.

Make your voice heard.

NOT A HOPELESS FIGHT

Northwest Florida is a Republican stronghold – Gov. Ron DeSantis received more than 64% of the votes in Escambia County in 2022. A significant turnout for the Save UWF Town Hall will show Tallahassee that our community values and supports UWF.

The university has met or exceeded the state’s performance metrics, set enrollment records, has had academic success across several fields of study and has fantastic financial support from alums and the community.

State Republican leaders need to know that tinkering with UWF—and having the Board of Trustees run by outsiders motivated by political agendas rather than our community’s needs—could erode support for the GOP in future elections.

1 thought on “Daily Outtakes: Save UWF gains momentum”

I live out of town. How do alumni, out of the city, vote, petition, etc. Thank you for stopping this insanity. We have given so many things away, Pensacola. Keep it authentic. Keep it real. Keep Pensacola Pensacola.

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Daily Outtakes: Save UWF gains momentum

OFFICIAL PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT

NOT A HOPELESS FIGHT

1 thought on “Daily Outtakes: Save UWF gains momentum”

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