Florida Appoints Controversial Political Scientist to University Board
Tallahassee, Fla. (AP) — For years, political scientist Scott Yenor has advocated for overhauling colleges and universities, which he has argued undermine traditional American families by encouraging women to pursue careers and put off childbirth.
Background
Yenor, a professor at Boise State University, has written extensively on what he sees as the dangers of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in higher education as well as the declines of traditional marriage and birth rates in the U.S. He’s also a former fellow at The Heritage Foundation, which proposed Project 2025 as a policy blueprint for a hard-right turn in American government and society.
Appointee’s Views
Speaking at the National Conservatism Conference in 2021, Yenor detailed what he sees as the "evils" of feminism, labeling "independent women" as "medicated, meddlesome, and quarrelsome" and decried colleges and universities as "the citadels of our gynecocracy" — a form of government run by women.
"If we want a great nation, we should be preparing young women to become mothers," Yenor said, "not finding every reason for young women to delay motherhood until they are established in a career or sufficiently independent."
Controversial Statements
Yenor argued that higher education "delays growing up," saying that college and universities are "indoctrination camps" that society should de-emphasize in order to make progress on "family matters." He also stated that every effort should be made to recruit more men into engineering, medicine, and law, and that the lack of Nobel Prize winners among women is a cause for celebration.
Reaction
Chasidy Hobbs, an Earth and environmental science instructor and president of UWF’s faculty union, called the comments "disheartening" and "offensive." Julia Friedland, the governor’s deputy press secretary, said the new board members will "break the status quo" and "help refocus the university on the core mission of education."
Confirmation
Yenor and the other new appointees to UWF’s 13-member board must be confirmed by the Florida Senate.
Conclusion
The appointment of Scott Yenor to the University of West Florida’s board of trustees has raised concerns about the potential impact on the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Yenor’s controversial views on women in higher education and his advocacy for a more traditional family structure have sparked debate about the role of higher education in shaping society.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are Scott Yenor’s views on women in higher education?
A: Yenor believes that higher education undermines traditional American families by encouraging women to pursue careers and put off childbirth.
Q: What is Yenor’s stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in higher education?
A: Yenor views these efforts as a "grave and gathering danger to national unity and state governance" and advocates for their elimination.
Q: Will Yenor’s appointment affect the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts?
A: The impact of Yenor’s appointment on the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts is yet to be determined and will depend on the confirmation process and his actual role on the board.
