Readers have shared that students filled the University of West Florida Conference Center for the Town Hall regarding Student Code of Conduct changes regarding harassment of LGBTQ+ students.
- Interim Dean of Students Mary Anderson didn’t have a good night, answering few questions and providing even fewer explanations of the policy changes.
More Revisions
Anderson opened the meeting with last-minute revisions to the proposals, which she said were based on the public comments received as of Sept. 3. Read written comments (1).
- Anderson’s revisions will be posted on the UWF website, but we were informed that references to sexual orientation and identity, as well as a “whole section on sex,” had been removed because “it’s already addressed in a policy” and therefore didn’t need to be included in the code of conduct. The references to sexual harassment were also deleted for the same reason.
The students called out Anderson. They pushed her for definitions, and she was not prepared to respond. When pressed for the harassment policy, Anderson had a coworker retrieve it from her phone.
- A significant number of Black students attended and expressed their concerns about UWF dropping Juneteenth as an observed holiday.
Harmful, Hateful
Alum Jeff Nall attended and shared his comments:
Good afternoon. My name is Jeff Nall. I come before you as a UWF alumni, having earned a graduate degree here in 2014.
I want to thank you for choosing to hold a public hearing on this issue. However, I am in strong opposition to the changes proposed to the UWF Student Code of Conduct.
All students, faculty and staff should be treated with dignity and respect and provided a safe environment in which to thrive. Any new code definition (in Code of Conduct or policy) that deletes references to and encourages unwelcome conduct based on gender, sexual orientation or gender identity is not only harmful…. it’s hateful…. it’s unAmerican…. And unChrist-like.
I urge you to reverse course and not move forward with the proposed changes.
Thank you
NEXT STEPS
Dean Anderson showed the participants a slide outlining the next steps in the process:
- UWF will consider any comments received at the town hall.
- Post revisions for 30 days, which opens a new 14-day public comment period once posted.
- Seek approval from the Board of Trustees Student Affairs Committee on Nov. 13.
- Seek approval from the full Board of Trustees on Dec. 11.
Background: Heritage Foundation Senior Fellow Zack Smith chairs the Student Affairs Committee. He’s not a fan of drag shows. During the May board meeting, Smith attacked Dr. Martha Saunders regarding a drag show held on campus in 2019.
- “One of the ones I saw was a drag show that the university co-sponsored called ‘Drag Me to Hell.’ It was co-sponsored officially by the university,” Smith said. “I’m curious to know, was that mandated by anyone? Or why did the university think it was appropriate to sponsor a show, a drag show entitled ‘Drag Me to Hell’ that I think certainly religious students and others on campus might find offensive.”
When President Saunders stated that she was unfamiliar with the event and requested more information, Smith noted it was sponsored by the Office of Inclusion in October 2019 and was still promoted on the university’s social media with hashtags such as #uwfrespect and #inclusion.
- “My concern is if the goal was to foster a community of respect and inclusion, it’s hard to see how that would be promoted by again, having a program called ‘Drag Me to Hell,’ because I certainly find that offensive. And I think many in our community likely would as well,” Smith stated.
The trustee provided no data to support “many in our community” or any evidence that it was being “promoted” six years after it occurred. Smith also failed to mention that the event occurred before state laws changed regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion, when the Board of Governors encouraged universities to establish offices of inclusion.
- Gov. Ron DeSantis had only announced Smith’s appointment the day before the May meeting.
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Zack Smith is a joke… DeSantis has allowed him into Florida to do his dirty work and it’s making the University of West Florida less desirable for a place I would send my kids. It looks like we will be looking at out of state for a better experience.
If trustees are going to make unfounded statements about events being “promoted” six years after they happen, they sound ridiculous and pointing that out (in his tactful way) is excellent journalism. Thank you Rick.
And thank you to Jeff Nall for pointing out that our country, community, and university system need to be places that provide liberty and justice for all. We will not turn into Russia or North Korea.