University of Florida says no to white nationalist event

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Jason Dearen, Associated Press
Updated 11:49 am, Wednesday, August 16, 2017


GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The University of Florida on Wednesday denied a request by a group headed by white nationalist Richard Spencer to rent space on the campus for a September event and his supporters vowed to file a court challenge.

UF President W. Kent Fuchs said in a statement that the decision was made after assessing risks to the campus, community and law enforcement following last weekend's deadly violence during a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Members of the National Policy Institute, which is headed by Spencer, had contacted the university about renting space on the campus in Gainesville on Sept. 12.

"I find the racist rhetoric of Richard Spencer and white nationalism repugnant and counter to everything the university and this nation stands for," Fuchs' statement said.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/education/article/APNewsBreak-Univ-of-Florida-denies-white-11822878.php

[Phoenix61]

1. WooHoo!!!

That's my hometown. So glad they made that decision. G'ville is pretty liberal but the surrounding areas are very conservative. It would not have gone well.

[katmondoo]

2. I live here, my daughter lives here, we are so happy this was cancelled

[Phoenix61]

3. I grew up across from Westside Park

Off of 34th Street. It was a great place to become an adult. Free concerts at Lake Alice, Leonardo's Pizza, playing pinball at the arcade across from UF... Good times. So happy that ugly mess won't be there.

[lark]

4. This is a big slap in the face to Voldemort.

He was on TV yesterday morning saying he was working with UF to have the speech go on but also to protect the campus from violence. I was so glad when I saw an email from President Fuchs this morning saying safety first is his priority so the speech was cancelled! I was so worried about this and am so thankful we won't have those violent racists and haters here, won't give them a platform.

[bobbieinok]

5. I taught there 65-66

This is great news. I hope every university does the same.

Some bits of humor in this extremely bad time in our history.

Being from OK, I was surprised to learn that natives pronounce Gainesville with 4 syllables.

The weather was horrendous, I was sweating at 7:30am when I walked to class.

Saw my first Spanish Moss.

My then husband freaked out when he went out to dig fishing worms 'There's no dirt, only sand!!'

[raven mad]

6. I just got that sent to me..............

Losers be losers, eh sTrumpet?

[LiberalLovinLug]

7. Why would any university host these assholes?

Wikipedia:

An important idea in the definition of a university is the notion of academic freedom.

A Nazi state would be all about denying academic freedom and limiting it to what they want to propagate.

[woofless]

8. GO GATORS!

[Blue Idaho]

9. Deny these scum the market square.

If they want to speak - let them do it from prison.

[FLPanhandle]

10. Go Gators!

Alas, they will probably be sued by Spencer. He has sued Universities in the past when denied.