U of Florida tramples free speech rights to protect the sensibilities...of a Republican. Again.

From AP -

Protest ban at Florida university after anti-Sasse rally

The University of Florida is going to start enforcing a decades-old 

prohibition against indoor protests following a raucous 

demonstration earlier this month against the selection of 

U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse as a finalist for the school president’s job.

Sasse, a Republican in his second Senate term, has drawn 

criticism from some at the school for his opposition to 

same-sex marriage.

[snip]

The regulation against protests inside campus buildings 

has been on the books for two decades, but it wasn’t enforced 

in recent years because protesters “were respectful of 

others and their rights to speak and to hear,” Fuchs said.

The policy will be enforced next week when the school’s 

board of trustees meets to consider Sasse’s candidacy, 

and students who violate it may be subject to 

discipline, [current university president] Fuchs said.

This isn't the first time that UF has stepped out of line regarding free speech.

From Axios, dated 11/1/2021 -

UF experts barred from sharing expertise

Three University of Florida political science professors have been barred by the University from testifying in a case challenging the new Republican-backed state election law that imposes more restrictions on voting, the Times/Herald reports.

Why it matters: The university's decision to reject the professors' request for permission to testify could have far-reaching free speech implications for higher education faculty across Florida.

Of course, they were slapped down for their efforts.

Also from Axios, dated 1/22/2022, emphasis added by me -

Judge sides with University of Florida professors in academic freedom case

A federal judge on Friday in a decisive free speech ruling ordered that the University of Florida stop enforcing its conflict of interest policy against six professors who were barred from giving expert testimony in lawsuits against the state.

Driving the news: Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker for the Northern District of Florida accused the university of silencing the professors and granted them a preliminary injunction.

• Walker likened the university's actions to Hong Kong University removing a sculpture commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre.
• "In many ways, the Pillar’s demise was emblematic of the demise of academic freedom in Hong Kong," Walker said, linking it to the University of Florida's conflict of interest policy.
• "Defendants must take no steps to enforce its conflict-of-interests policy with respect to faculty and staff requests to engage as expert witnesses or provide legal consulting in litigation involving the State of Florida until otherwise ordered," Walker ordered.

[snip]

What he's saying:  "UF has bowed to perceived pressure from Florida’s political leaders and has sanctioned the unconstitutional suppression of ideas out of favor with Florida’s ruling party."

What to watch: Walker set a bench trial for Nov. 7.

It's almost like they *know* Ron DeSantis, Florida's current governor, plans to run for president in 2024 and UF leaders think that if their students and faculty are anything other than Stepford students and faculty, they may upset that particular apple cart.