These are not the best of times for the University of Florida.
Politicians have, deliberately and methodically, neutered academic freedoms, the ability to speak one’s mind, any pretense to diversity, equity or inclusion…hell, a student dare not so much as carry a sign across university grass anymore without risking expulsion.
These days Tigert Hall’s highest, noblest aspiration is to…institutional neutrality. Tapioca anyone?
And let’s not even talk about the utter disaster of the mercifully short Sasse Administration (once deemed the only presidential candidate in the known universe qualified to lead UF). Followed by the abortive attempt to install an Ono Administration (ditto).
UF may yet manage to, um, kick off a Bell Administration. Or it may not.
It all depends on whether the Trump Florida Republicans who have something to say about that say “No!” simply because they don’t want to give a win to the DeSantis Florida Republicans who have something to say about it.
But buck up, Gators! There’s good news tonight!
UF will spend more than $1.4 billion to renovate Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. And it’s gonna be glorious.
We’re talking new upper-level “halo” structure with premium suites, replete with party terraces.
Talk about elevating the Art Of The Skybox.
There will be bells and whistles for the hoi polloi too. UF is promising “heavily expanded concourses, vastly increased numbers of restrooms and concession stands, upgraded video and audio systems, and modern technology infrastructure” and more.
Kubla Khan was a piker. The Boys of Old Florida are reinventing the Pleasure Dome.
If all this sounds a tad excessive – dare I say, even obscene? – it surely is. But it’s being done for a very good reason.
For the same reason, actually, that Trump built a fighting cage on the White House lawn for the sole purpose of celebrating his 80th birthday with blood sports.
Because in the death throes of any civilization, the spectacle becomes more important than nearly anything else.
More important than governance. More important than education. More important than liberty. More important than prosperity.
Bread and circuses. Only hold the bread.
The slow, sure degradation of Florida public and higher education in general – and of its Flagship University in particular – over the past several years will likely be many more years in the undoing.
Indeed, if all the damage is even possible to undo.
Meanwhile the spectacle must continue. And it must be even more spectacular than ever.
Because, honestly, the day may come when Gator football will be the only thing about UF still worth bragging about.
Still worth coming to campus for.
In that context $1.4 billion to fashion a glittering Gator Pleasure Dome is a bargain.
Hell, it may end up being all that remains of Florida’s Flagship Xanadu.
Go Gators!
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