I commend the students at the University of Florida newspaper for their intrepid investigation and revealing reporting about former President Ben Sasse’s greed, graft and dishonesty.
This is a perfect example of why newspapers are needed, at every level. I’m sure some of the students involved in this investigation will become well-known journalists. Another DeSantis crony is exposed, and now DeSantis says, “Investigate this!”
He knew the type of man he chose for this role, and he knew what he would have done with free rein to spend money on unneeded cronies, who did little or nothing for the university while they collected huge paychecks. Between Sasse and Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony (also appointed by DeSantis, and eager to put his name on everything he can find in Broward), Florida taxpayers don’t stand a chance.
Penny Morey, Boca Raton
(Editor’s Note: The student who broke the Sasse story, Garrett Shanley, is a fourth-year UF journalism student and a graduate of Coral Springs Charter School.)
A political cesspool
Reading about the former University of Florida president was eye-opening.
Another typical DeSantis garbage person, like putting his friend in at New College of Florida in Sarasota and more than doubling his salary.
Sasse was well-thought-of as a senator, but he should not be allowed to even teach at UF going forward. Let him use his wife’s illness as an excuse for withdrawing from Gainesville.
He’s the poster boy for the political cesspool that all the Republicans complain about while being a perfect example of Washington and Florida political leadership.
But you won’t hear that from Gov. Ron DeSantis or Sens. Marco Rubio or Rick Scott. They perpetuate the corrupt bull that permeates our “freedom” state.
That doesn’t include the wonderful golf club champion we all know.
Roberto Poli, Boynton Beach
Highway robbery
What has come out in the University of Florida student newspaper, The Independent Florida Alligator, regarding the spending of former UF president Ben Sasse, looks like highway robbery.
Are there no checks and balances here?
Giving $300,000 and $400,000 appointments to out of state associates en masse? Hiring his political cronies for hundreds of thousands, only one of whom actually lives in our state?
If this is all true, there needs to be an additional judicial inquiry and some responsibility taken by Sasse for doing something so devastating to the University of Florida. It was just a free-for-all ransacking of university funds. Florida was taken for fools once again.
Diane Miller, Plantation
Cronyism on campus
Ben Sasse, a political appointee as president to the University of Florida, restrained talent by hiring his political allies and paying them outrageous salaries for their willingness to politicize one of the nation’s finest public universities.
Because of Sasse’s political hires, the university is having difficulty attracting nonpartisan professors and staff.
Sasse was uncommunicative and sometimes unresponsive to the university’s students and staff. He expelled pro-Palestinian protesters, opposed LGBTQ rights and curtailed the teaching of humanities — the conscience of a university.
Education is not a commodity that can be purchased. It must be earned in a process that frees the mind from indoctrination and opens windows to inquiry.
Hiring an ideologue to run a public university and not anticipating the outcome forfeits the predictive nature of intelligence — especially from a former U.S. senator who attended the finest universities.
Sasse scaled those ivy walls (Harvard, Yale, Oxford) without being transformed by his journey.
Phil Beasley, Plantation
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