Headline Roundup • October 11th, 2022
University of Florida Students Protest Sen. Ben Sasse's Appointment as President
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Key Facts: During and after Sen. Ben Sasse's speech to students at the University of Florida regarding his nomination to become the school's next president, hundreds of students gathered to protest his politics.
Key Quotes: A petition against Sasse's nomination says that his politics "are discriminatory and non-representative of our student population." Sasse said that "Obviously, I wish [the protesters] didn’t have the position they have, but I strongly support the right people to protest and exercise their free speech rights." He added that "we need to create a community of inclusion and respect and trust where people feel heard and appreciated and cherished.”
For Context: Sasse has voiced opposition to same-sex marriage and is adamantly pro-life. He also voted to impeach former President Donald Trump in 2021, and has frequently criticized him. Sasse received unanimous support from the school's selection committee, which is expected to issue a decision on appointing him next month.
Where the Media Agreed: Sources from left to right, including HuffPost and Fox News (Right bias), focused primarily on comments from the protesters and didn't directly quote any students who support Sasse.
Where the Media Disagreed: Some right-rated sources framed the protests as overly hostile. For example, The Blaze highlighted several examples of vulgar language used by protesters, and detailed how they "began chanting and banging on the hallway walls outside the President's Ballroom, where Sasse was trying to answer questions."
Featured Coverage of this Story
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Students and faculty at the University of Florida gave Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) a hostile reception at their campus in Gainesville after he was announced as a finalist to be the university's next president.
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Emerson Alumni Hall, where Sasse was scheduled to participate in a Q&A forum with students on Monday. Minutes after the forum started, an estimated 300 anti-Sasse demonstrators entered the building and began chanting and banging on the hallway walls outside the President's Ballroom, where Sasse was trying to answer questions.
"Hey...
University of Florida students and faculty are protesting the possible naming of Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) as the institution’s next president.
Protesters interrupted a question-and-answer session attended by Sasse on the school’s campus on Monday, where they argued his opposition to same-sex marriage and his positions on LGBTQ issues made him unsuitable to serve as the school’s leader.
The students and faculty protesting Sasse say he has a documented history of embracing anti-LGBTQ messaging and criticizing the legislation and landmark judicial decisions on which modern LGBTQ rights hinge.
A Change.org petition organized by Leyka...
Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) who is reportedly the “sole finalist” to take over as president of the University of Florida, on Monday was met with loud protests during his first appearance on campus since the news of his potential appointment broke.
Sasse held three separate sessions with university faculty, students and staff on the Gainesville campus.
Protesters gathered outside the room where the student Q&A session was held, chanting: “Hey, hey, ho, ho. Ben Sasse has got go.”
Protesters eventually entered the room the meeting was being held in, resulting in the...
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