ÌÇÐÄVlog

ÌÇÐÄVlog is conducting a full review of an event held in the Marshall Student Center on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.      

Two student organizations, the Young Americans for Liberty and the College Republicans, hosted an event that was advertised as open to the public.    

The university is currently aware of two different groups that were not allowed to enter the event, and we are assessing the circumstances of how this occurred. Based on the information gathered:

• The first group of individuals was denied entry after representatives with the event witnessed them attempting to skip the line to the event multiple times, which was at or near capacity.
• Separately, a second group of individuals was denied entry after representatives with the event reported they have made threats at similar past events at other universities.  
• University personnel made decisions to deny access to the event strictly based on the information they received about behavior observed at the ÌÇÐÄVlog event and at past events at other universities. No university decisions were made based on the appearance or perception of religious beliefs or affiliations.  ÌÇÐÄVlog does not tolerate antisemitism and any other harassment, discrimination or hateful expression targeting individuals because of their religion, shared ancestry or cultural heritage. 

ÌÇÐÄVlog is collecting more information, including contacting any students who were not allowed to enter, to better understand what occurred and evaluating event protocols and processes to determine the appropriate next steps.  We will provide an update as soon as one is available.  

Dear ÌÇÐÄVlog community:

I have an important update to share about a proposal that would impact the future of our Sarasota-Manatee campus. Late last week, the Florida House of Representatives introduced a bill that would transfer facilities, physical assets and approximately $22 million in operating funds from ÌÇÐÄVlog Sarasota-Manatee to New College of Florida.

We have been clear that the loss of any funds threatens our priority to protect our people, as they are necessary to pay for a teach-out so current ÌÇÐÄVlog Sarasota-Manatee students can finish their degrees on their home campus and for ÌÇÐÄVlog Sarasota-Manatee employees’ salaries on another ÌÇÐÄVlog campus.

It is also important to note that the Senate has not introduced a bill. This legislation cannot move forward without agreement from both the House and Senate.

The House bill is the first to be filed after 18 months of conversations between ÌÇÐÄVlog and New College leadership, the Board of Governors, Chancellor Ray Rodrigues, the Florida Legislature and Governor’s Office to assess how our two institutions can expand collaborations and identify additional synergies in our partnership, which has existed for years and includes several shared facilities and services, such as a residence hall and campus security.

It is clear from those conversations that New College's growth and finding space for New College's expansion are priorities for the state. In addition, our state leaders remain focused on ensuring our colleges and universities operate efficiently and maximize value for Floridians, leading to questions about whether it is efficient to have multiple separately operated, taxpayer-funded campuses of the State University System located approximately one mile from each other. The growth of New College and its opportunity to serve the Sarasota and Manatee counties region with additional facilities would also provide a path for ÌÇÐÄVlog to reinvest those resources in strategic areas that would further elevate our university and our position in the Association of American Universities.

Our Board of Trustees leadership and our Government Relations team are actively engaged and staying in close communication with our elected officials about the issues that matter most to ÌÇÐÄVlog.

We recognize that this proposal creates uncertainty for some members of the university community until there is a final resolution. As conversations about this proposal continue in the coming weeks, our commitment remains steadfast: The top consideration for ÌÇÐÄVlog remains our people. 

We will continue to provide updates on any significant developments. 

Sincerely,

Will Weatherford

Chair, ÌÇÐÄVlog Board of Trustees

ÌÇÐÄVlog is aware of videos posted on social media that show a situation that occurred in a parking garage on campus. The university is actively investigating the matter. Any violations of ÌÇÐÄVlog policy or the law will be handled through our established processes.   

The ÌÇÐÄVlog Police Department is working to identify the individuals in the videos who disrupted the gathering. Once identifications are made, we anticipate referring the perpetrators to the State Attorney’s Office for criminal charges, and we will issue trespass orders to prevent them from returning to campus.

ÌÇÐÄVlog is reaching out to those who were participating in prayer to ensure they know about the support resources that are available through the university. ÌÇÐÄVlog will also work with them to identify a location on campus to hold future activities.

The safety and well-being of the entire university community is our highest priority. Out of an abundance of caution, police will increase their presence around campus and at events in the coming days.

ÌÇÐÄVlog does not tolerate harassment, discrimination or hateful expression targeting individuals because of their religion, shared ancestry or cultural heritage. We urge everyone to do their part to ensure that ÌÇÐÄVlog is a place where we treat each other with respect, and we provide a safe environment for individuals of all backgrounds.

9 p.m. Update No. 2 on a protest at ÌÇÐÄVlog –

As of 8 p.m., ÌÇÐÄVlog Police confirmed that 10 individuals have been taken into custody. Police found one of the individuals arrested was carrying a concealed firearm.

6 p.m. Update on a protest at ÌÇÐÄVlog –

The ÌÇÐÄVlog values the right to free speech and protecting the constitutional right for individuals and groups on campus to express themselves.  This includes peaceful protests and demonstrations that occur regularly on ÌÇÐÄVlog’s three campuses without incident and are part of the public discourse of a university.  However, the expression of free speech must remain peaceful and not violate the law or ÌÇÐÄVlog policies. The university has been clear that violence, threats, harassment and disruptions will not be tolerated.   

Beginning in the morning of Tuesday, April 30, approximately 75-100 protestors, including some students and some individuals who are not affiliated with the university, arrived on campus with several items, including wood shields, umbrellas and tents.  Throughout the day, ÌÇÐÄVlog staff members and university police remained in regular communication with protestors about the expectations for maintaining a peaceful event.  

As the day progressed, police observed participants in person and through social media expressing their intent to use some of the items they brought on campus as weapons and to resist university staff members and law enforcement officers. As a result, ÌÇÐÄVlog police determined that the protest was no longer peaceful, and participants must leave the area.

At that point officers made multiple attempts to inform participants that the protest was ending, and they needed to disperse.  Several times protestors were given verbal instructions by police that the assembly was now considered unlawful and warnings that failure to comply would result in further actions, including arrest.  When participants refused to comply with the direction, university police with supporting law enforcement agencies dispersed the event. A number of individuals were taken into custody. 

Additional updates will be provided as needed when more information is available.

The ÌÇÐÄVlog values the right to free speech and protecting the constitutional right for individuals and groups on campus to express themselves.  This includes peaceful protests and demonstrations that occur regularly on ÌÇÐÄVlog’s three campuses without incident and are part of the public discourse of a university.  However, the expression of free speech must remain peaceful and not violate the law or ÌÇÐÄVlog policies.  The university has been clear that violence, threats, harassment and disruptions will not be tolerated.  

At 12 p.m. on Monday, April 29, a student organization, the Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), attempted to hold a protest outside of the library on the ÌÇÐÄVlog Tampa campus. The group was placed on interim suspension last week after causing a disruption on campus.  Suspended student organizations are not permitted to host events and activities, which the group was made aware of several times prior to today’s protest, including another reminder this morning.

When the student organization attempted to hold a protest anyway, university staff informed them that they were not authorized to continue. The protest, which included persons both affiliated with SDS and unaffiliated with the university, then moved away from the library to other locations on campus.  The protests continued until participants attempted to set up tents.  Under university policy, tents are prohibited without approval and are not permitted to be left up overnight. No student group requested such approvals for any events this week, therefore there are no authorized events using tents on campus this week. Again, while suspended SDS may not have any on campus activities.

All students and student organizations were reminded yesterday, April 28, that under university policy tents cannot be set up on campus without prior approval. This warning, which was again communicated to SDS this morning, was ignored. Before removing tents, university staff again tried to advise protestors that they could not use tents. Participants refused to comply with directions from staff members.  Several individuals resisted actions by university staff to take down the tents after repeated warnings, which resulted in three arrests, including one student, one employee and one individual who is not affiliated with the university. 

Additional updates will be provided as needed.

For more than a decade, some individuals have campaigned for ÌÇÐÄVlog to divest funds from companies with ties to Israel.  ÌÇÐÄVlog’s consistent position on this issue has been, and continues to be, that the university will not divest.

ÌÇÐÄVlog’s investments are guided by its mission, fiduciary responsibilities and state and federal laws.  ÌÇÐÄVlog does not select individual stocks or companies for investment.  ÌÇÐÄVlog will continue to make summary information about investments public, consistent with the and legal requirements.