Students object as Florida St. Univ. picks Rick Scott’s campaign chair as president

[Lunabell]

Source: Raw story

TALLAHASSEE Fla. (Reuters) – Florida State University on Tuesday selected a powerful state politician to serve as its next president over the loud objections of angry faculty members and students.

John Thrasher, a Republican political veteran and state senator who lacks academic credentials but is chairman of Governor Rick Scott’s reelection campaign, was selected by the university’s Board of Trustees.

The 11-2 vote was greeted by a brief, furious outburst from about 50 student protesters, many waving signs with messages like “choose an academic” and “this is OUR university.”

Thrasher, 70, is a former state House speaker who once led the Florida Republican Party. He touted his connections and political savvy as the key to raising funds to elevate FSU into a top-tier research university.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/09/students-object-as-florida-st-univ-picks-rick-scotts-campaign-chair-as-president/

[TRoN33]

1. Mark my words, FSU will never be same for worse.

[djean111]

2. I expect to see a lot of this shit soon - Rick Scott rewarding/putting in place cronies,

in case he loses. Can't wait to vote for Crist.

[GeorgeGist]

3. Top tier research?

Science of football?

[bloomington-lib]

4. Thrasher's political links with billionaire Kochs questioned

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/thrashers-fsu-foes-point-to-political-links-with-billionaire-koch-brothers/2198501

One of the latest lines of attack against state Sen. John Thrasher becoming Florida State University's next president: Tying him to the billionaire libertarian Koch brothers.

Thrasher does have ties to the political activists — who are especially radioactive at FSU since giving a controversial gift several years ago. But though the links are not as clear as some are suggesting, even the potential they represent is stirring some dissent.
----
As an economics student, Funt sees the influence Koch money has had on FSU's economics department.

Three years ago, the Tampa Bay Times reported that the Charles G. Koch Foundation gave the department $1.5 million over six years — and received the right to screen candidates for two positions. After the ensuing uproar, the school vowed to fix the agreement.

[davidpdx]

5. My condolences to FSU students and alum

[fbc]

6. It's a mediocre school anyway.

[Zorro]

11. Paul Dirac once was a faculty member

[Botany]

7. Now why would a university need somebody w/a background in academics?

"John Thrasher, a Republican political veteran and state senator who lacks academic
credentials but is chairman of Governor Rick Scott’s reelection campaign, was selected
by the university’s Board of Trustees."

[safeinOhio]

8. More religious freedom

for those that worship money.

[Thespian2]

9. Any friend of Rick Scott

is a definite abuser of power and is probably criminal, as is Scott. I enjoyed visiting FSU when I was an undergrad at Georgia State, but I have never thought its academic power amounted to much. Football, yes. Especially when they recruited athletes with little moral judgment. Since the Kochs are buying FSU and Scott is appointing an asshole as president, I think I will ignore FSU in the future.

[Sunlei]

10. Expect a republican posted right at the sourse of their profitable lifetime student 'loan' industry.

To control all the science research, funded by our tax dollars is an additional bonus for Corps.

[DhhD]

12. Koch's taking control of the, new Atlantic drilling oil boom, off the east coast of Florida and

other Oceanside states. Maybe the Koch's will call their new country, Atlantis II!

[kmlisle]

13. John Thrasher whose nick name (among Fla teachers) is John School Trasher

Was head of the k-12 Committee while lobbying for a testing company. Pushed through draconian testing intensive school reform while in the legislature. When holding hearings on school reform legislation closed the hearing to comments as soon as the proponents of reform had finished testifying. Teachers who drove 6 hours from Miami to Tallahassee were not allowed to speak.

When attending the forum for prospective candidates at FSU last week "Trasher" refused to answer questions about whether he accepted the science on evolution and climate change. The student and faculty crowd was laughing at him. He is one of many crazies who have served in the Fl State legislature.

A sad day for FSU which has some world class science facilities and faculties including the national magnetic resonance lab and Nobel prize winning physicist Sir Harry Kroto. They deserve better!

[kmlisle]

14. This Says it all

[lark]

15. I've had the bad luck to deal with asshole thrasher at a professional level.

He didn't like something we had done and was threatening us with legal or legislative action unless we used this outsourcing company run by his son-in-law (I think it was his son-in-law, do know for sure it was a relative). He was so slimy and self-serving I literally felt sick at my stomach. He got FSU a law school which was totally unneeded in the state, but which really enriched FSU quite a bit. He's a master at pulling strings, bribing and threatening others to get his way. That awful school and he totally deserve each other, both are despicable.

[blkmusclmachine]

16. 14 defining characteristics of fascism (http://rense.com/general37/char.htm)

1. Controlled Mass Media

2. Corporate Power is Protected

3. Labor Power is Suppressed

4. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption

5. Fraudulent Elections

6. Obsession with National Security

7. Obsession with Crime and Punishment

8. Supremacy of the Military

9. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism

10. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause

11. Rampant Sexism

12. Religion and Government are Intertwined

13. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts

14. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights

[Brigid]

17. Interesting . . .

that the young ones are paying attention to these things, and speaking out. We need this desperately.

[shenmue]

18. Eeeeew

Can't wait 'til pRick Scott is out of office.

[FLPanhandle]

19. He is a Creationist too.

Imagine the head of University that rejects science. Amazing.

[former9thward]

20. Did the FSU students protest a suspected rapist as their quarterback?

I didn't think so. Priorities afterall.