In a June 3 Q&A session with University of Florida students and faculty, former University of Alabama President Stuart Bell — now interim president at Florida — insisted that he would not “bring DEI” or “any form of woke” to campus in Gainesville. Bell encouraged those critical of his background in social justice to “look at [his] record.”
“University of Florida’s mission is not to advance political ideology,” Bell said, adding that he “agrees with and supports” Florida governor Ron DeSantis’ higher education reform policies.
DeSantis has been among the most stalwart state governors in overhauling higher education, overseeing accreditation and tenure review requirements, the permanent ban of DEI in Florida System Universities and the complete takeover of New College of Florida.
Bell also has the professed “full support” of DeSantis in his nomination to UF President.
To University of Alabama students, Bell’s new perspective on “any form of woke” appears to be a total change of heart. While Bell was President at the University, social justice initiatives and DEI were expanded.
In 2015, the year he took office, Bell announced a search to add a “diversity officer” to the University’s Central Planning Committee, and in 2017, he established the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
“Recent events around the nation have shed light on the need for greater inclusion and diversity at all colleges and universities,” Bell said in 2015. “This requires that we look at our universities and ourselves with a new lens, examining past practices and renewing our continued commitment to equality and inclusion for everyone.”
Even when Senate Bill 129 forced Bell’s hand in removing the Office of DEI, Bell recommitted the University to supporting “differences, including differences of opinion,” and created a new Division of Opportunities, Connections and Success, relocating the jobs of former Office of DEI staff.
Vice Provost of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion G. Christine Taylor became the vice provost of opportunities, connections and success. Under current UA President Peter Mohler, the Division of Opportunities, Connections and Success had its website taken offline, and Taylor was reassigned as associate provost of academic affairs.
Bell also oversaw the University’s removal of controversial figures from the names of campus buildings.
After the death of George Floyd and subsequent Black Lives Matter protests, the UA Board of Trustees established a committee to review the names of certain buildings. They renamed Morgan Hall, named for a Confederate general and “grand dragon” of the Ku Klux Klan, as the English building and redubbed Manly Hall, named for a secessionist and supporter of slavery, as President’s Hall.
At the time, Bell told WBRC News that the University had come a long way since George Wallace’s stand at the schoolhouse door, adding that the University would continue to grow and “do a better job” with such issues.
Under Bell’s administration, the University established the “Hallowed Grounds Tour,” highlighting the legacy of slavery and racism on campus. Bell also recommended the relocation of Confederate monuments on campus, including a plaque dedicated by the United Daughters of the Confederacy that once stood in front of Gorgas Library.
After the second inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the University under Bell shifted with the political winds.
The Bell administration refused to make a statement about the detainment and deportation of UA doctoral student Alireza Doroudi. The University previously advised Doroudi that he was allowed to stay in the country on his expired F-1 visa, provided that he maintained student status and not leave the United States.
Bell also welcomed Trump to campus for a commencement speech, the first of its kind since 2007.
Before Bell entered the running, the University of Florida’s last recommended candidate for president, Santa Ono, faced questions from the UF Board of Governors about his past with DEI, ultimately dashing his presidential hopes.
“He sat in front of me and disavowed every belief he ever had,” UF Board of Governors president Alan Levine said to the Florida Phoenix about Ono’s positions on DEI. “That indicated to me he was not a leader.”
On Monday, the UF Board of Trustees unanimously voted to appoint Bell as interim president. The decision needs to be ratified by the Board of Governors before it takes effect July 1.
