-Rick Outzen

  • Inflammatory Rhetoric:

    • “Working women have become ‘more medicated, meddlesome and quarrelsome than women need to be.’”
      — Reported from Scott Yenor’s remarks at the 2021 National Conservatism Conference

    • “If we want a great nation, we should be preparing young women to become mothers, not finding every reason for them to delay motherhood.”
      — Another controversial statement by Yenor, as cited in media coverage

    • Delivered more than 2,000 miles from Boise, at a conference on conservatism in Orlando, Fla., Yenor’s Oct. 31 speech went unnoticed for weeks. By Thanksgiving week, video of the speech had gone viral over social media.

  • Senator Fine Condemns UWF Board Appointment Over Antisemitism Concerns

    • Fine, R-Brevard, recently spoke openly about his concerns with Gov. Ron DeSantis appointing Yenor to the UWF board. Fine’s post was made the same morning the News Journal published a story about a series of X posts from Yenor about the viability of non-Jewish 'white men' as Democrat political leaders.

    • “I am very troubled by @GovRonDeSantis’s appointment of @scottyenor to the Board of Trustees of @UWF, and worse, his election as chair of that Board of Trustees," Fine’s post said.

    • “Just last month, Mr. Yenor publicly questioned whether Jews elected to the United States Senate could be qualified for “national leadership.” He must still be confirmed by the Florida Senate, and I will be sharing my concerns with my colleagues. There is no place for antisemitism in our Universities, let alone in their leadership."

  • Community Outcry:

    • “We will not stand idly by as our university’s integrity is compromised – our protests and grassroots initiatives prove that.”
      — A student protest leader rallying the community under the “SAVE UWF” banner

Yenor

  • Long-Term and Economic Implications:

    The controversy at UWF isn’t just an academic debate—it has tangible implications for the local economy in Pensacola and across the Panhandle. UWF drives a $1.1 billion annual economic impact in the region, meaning that any damage to its reputation or a decline in enrollment could have far-reaching effects. Here are some key ways this issue could impact the local area:

    • Enrollment and Spending:
      UWF is a major economic engine for the Panhandle, with student spending on housing, retail, dining, transportation, and other necessities fueling local commerce. A drop in enrollment or a tarnished reputation could significantly reduce this vital spending, potentially affecting hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity.

    • Reputation and Investment:
      High-profile controversies at UWF can alter the broader perception of Pensacola and its surrounding areas. If the university is viewed as a battleground for political and academic discord, potential investors, tourists, and businesses may hesitate to commit funds. This cautious approach could slow economic growth and deter new investments, ultimately undermining both the $1.1 billion annual impact and the hundreds of millions in revenue that UWF generates for the local economy.

  • Threat to Academic Freedom:

    • “This appointment threatens to stifle the vibrant exchange of ideas that is the lifeblood of academic inquiry.”
      — Anonymous UWF faculty member (as reported in community discussions)

    • “We fear that under this new leadership, dissenting voices and the open debate that define our campus could soon be a thing of the past.”
      — A concern echoed by critics of the appointment

Additional Key Points for these Appointees:

(On Change.org. Note: Any donations made here go directly to Change.org, not the cause.)