University of Florida chooses football over science

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Florida Governor, Rick Scott, revealed more about his character this past week when the University of Florida announced it was shutting down the Computer Science Department, which will save $1.7 million, while increasing the budget for the Athletic Department by $2 million to a staggering $99 million.

The school is eliminating all funding for teaching assistants in computer science, cutting the graduate and research programs entirely, and moving what’s left into other departments. In this age of technological innovation and the need for computer scientists, Florida’s flagship university is treating computer science like an unnecessary afterthought, but computer science doesn’t bring in TV money, the Florida Gators sports teams do.

Students at UF have started a campaign to save their department and scientists nationwide have responded with disappointment at the news.

The University of Florida is located on a 2,000-acre campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906. It is a “Public Ivy” university — a category of the top public universities in the United States. The University of Florida is ranked nineteenth overall among all public national universities in the current 2012 U.S. News & World Report rankings and consistently ranks within the top 100 universities worldwide. Not for much longer.

The creeping anti-intellectualism and anti-science stance that is infecting American politics showed its ugly face in Florida this week.

university_of_florida_cut_computer_science_football
Former Gator Tim Tebow reacts to the news

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Jimmy James

Jimmy James dislikes politicians and thinks they should be ridiculed at every opportunity.
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George DeMarse
11 years ago

I lived in Gainesville many years ago. My wife worked for U of F. I always thought the school was overrated. This latest “forced move” of gutting computer science gives credence to that view. The tuition is very low for a quality school–but I guess Rick Scott fixed that.

Of course the university is too big anyway–with 35,000 or 40,000 students. It grew from the Ag School and a few other basic subjects, and then like many State U’s became a multiversity. The location of Gainseville is odd–since there is very little there. I guess now it’s time to go back to being a basic Ag school! Not that that will have out of state students panting to get in.

Not only was U of F overrated, but the State of Florida is no place to be as pointed out by a number of commentators. It turned solidly GOP about a decade ago, and it has refused to tax anybody and invest in education, infrastructure or research.

A research triangle in Florida’s future? Yes–poverty, decay and low taxes.

George DeMarse

Reply to  George DeMarse
11 years ago

Thanks George. I’ve spent time in Gainseville and agree there is nothing there. Rick Scott is the enemy of education along with his Tea Party backers and the blind followers of the GOP.

Admin
11 years ago

If you want to find out what people in America care about just check out the Google trends as of this very moment:

1. metta world peace
2. james harden
3. john edwards
4. giuliana rancic
5. marco rubio
6. nfl draft
7. wmt
8. colorectal cancer
9. levon helm
10. dick clark

RickRay
Reply to  Professor Mike
11 years ago

Mike, what is your source for this? Is wmt the short for “wasting my time”, or something else? If I’m trying to save America am I “wmt”?

Bill Formby
Reply to  RickRay
11 years ago

lol You may be right Rick. Although I doubt it, it could also be “what mother thinks”. 🙂

Reply to  RickRay
11 years ago

It’s all over the news Rick. I’ve heard it mentioned three times already today. If you Google it you will find dozens of sources.

Bill Formby
11 years ago

I find that a bit odd. At Alabama the athletic department has its own budget since it more than pays for itself thanks mainly to the football team. This includes the athletic department scholarships so, in effect, the university academics make money off the athletes. Alabama, over the last ten years, has risen in the ranks of public institutions in terms of its academic standings to the point that they accept only about 4 out of every 10 students who apply. Of course, the Republicans are just getting started with there cuts in the state.

11 years ago

This shouldn’t surprise anyone. America is nuts over their sports, starting with Little League and working up through HS sports through college and pros. It’s no wonder we are graduating idiots.

Jason
11 years ago

Damn. If I am FSU, if I am UM, if I am any university in the nation, I try to bring every element of that science program to my university or college. The science donor crowd is large, it is a lot of money for colleges, so getting a good professor or two can really up the reputation of your school. Florida made the wrong choice, but one has to hope others will see it as the golden opportunity that it is.

RickRay
11 years ago

Florida: The land of GOP (God’s Own Party ) GGG : God, Guns & Gays are their 3 main concerns. Football mentality…returning to cave man thinking. I guess we can start producing the abacus for them as they continue to devolve! Their football teams can keep score using the abacus and they’ll fight over which colored bead represents the ones, tens, hundreds, thousands. That should really confuse them. My apologies to the few remaining intellectuals in that state.

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