Florida Atlantic University has achieved its goal of being ranked among the nation’s top 100 public universities by U.S. News and World Report.
The Board of Governors, which oversees the university system, have made such rankings a priority. FAU had been just outside the top 100 and just eked in for the latest list—FAU tied for No. 100 with the University of Arkansas and the University of Idaho. Among national universities (a more general category), FAU ranked No. 183. Among best value schools, it was No. 159.
FAU touts the new ranking on its website. FAU still ranks far behind Florida International University, which was No. 46. To distinguish itself from FIU, which is near Miami, FAU has attempted to brand itself as “Florida Atlantic.” FIU also got the highest ranking in the most recent Board of Governors metrics. In other scores, the University of Florida ranked No. 7 among public universities. Florida State University was 21, and Florida A&M University was 92.
Meanwhile, the FAU community awaits the first major decision by President Adam Hasner. He will choose the university’s provost, the chief academic officer. A search narrowed the field to three candidates: Scott Beaulier, dean of the business school at the University of Wyoming; Brian Harfe, associate provost at the University of Florida; and Sandra Richtermeyer, provost at the Camden campus of Rutgers University. They visited the Boca Raton and Jupiter campuses last month to meet with faculty and students.
Harfe and Richtermeyer would seem to have the most relevant experience. Harfe also previously served as an associate dean in UF’s college of arts and sciences. Richtermeyer previously was dean of the business school at the University of Massachusetts’ Lowell campus.
Beaulier was a finalist recently for the presidency of the University of Northern Michigan, from which he graduated. Opponents criticized him for comments in a 2007 paper—“Behavioral Economics and Perverse Effects of the Welfare State”—that Beaulier co-wrote with Bryan Caplan, an economist at George Mason University.
Essentially, Beaulier and Caplan argued that money can’t lift the poor out of poverty because of their behavior. “Many activities—from overeating, drinking, smoking, and drug abuse to crime and unprotected sex—combine immediate gratification with delayed costs. We argue that it is no coincidence that the poor are much more prone to engage in such activities than the rest of the population.” They added, “By giving the poor material support, we discourage them from getting jobs, acquiring experience, and eventually pulling themselves up by their bootstraps.”
Beaulier responded that critics had taken the excerpts out of context. Caplan called the criticism “anti-intellectual,” saying that Beaulier would have been a good president. FAU has not said when Hasner will make his choice.
Hasner’s next big decision will come after the investigation into three faculty members for online comments about Charlie Kirk, the right-wing activist who was murdered in September. According to a university spokesman, FAU has retained Lawson Huck Gonzalez to “assist” with the investigation. The Orlando firm is well-connected to the Republican establishment.
Gov. Ron DeSantis named Alan Lawson to the Florida Supreme Court. Since Lawson left the court in 2022, according to a report in the Tampa Bay Times, the firm has received $8.4 million in work from state agencies. Lawson also has defended Attorney Gen. James Uthmeier, a DeSantis ally, over his role in the Hope Florida controversy.
FAU had no further comment on the investigation.
No surf park at North Park
There will be no surf park at North Park.
Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District board members killed the idea during Monday’s meeting. Homeowners in the Boca Teeca community amid North Park’s roughly 200 acres turned out to speak against the proposal. The project would have covered 23 acres in the northwest corner of the park.
Organizers had claimed that noise and light would not bother the neighbors. But on social media, homeowners warned that the project could “destroy” North Park. Proposals for an indoor sports complex, golf facilities and a Boys and Girls Club remain under consideration.
A revised proposal for Martin Manor
Before the Boca Raton Planning and Zoning Board at tonight’s meeting is a revised proposal for Martin Manor with revisions intended to honor the site’s history.
A plan for the second phase of what had been called Dixie Manor—the public housing complex at Glades Road and Dixie Highway—had been teed up for approval in September. But the group Developing Interracial Social Change (DISC) asked for a delay. In an email, DISC said it could not support the project because of concerns about what would happen to the 1941 building that once housed Black service members who were stationed at the air base that is now FAU.
The building was not an issue when the city approved the first phase. It will create 95 new apartments on the north side of the roughly 10-acre site. The second phase would create 105 apartments to the south and west. It is now being called The Residences at Martin Manor.
According to the staff memo, the revised plan from developer Atlantic Pacific would turn that building into a museum that highlights the history of the historic Pearl City neighborhood. It will note the segregation wall that still exists. Modifications include “raising the roof height, changing the roof pitch, adding clerestories, removing doors and adding windows in the rear, and demolishing closet space that was added to the building at a later date.”
Because current rules don’t allow a museum, the project needs approval for a conditional use. City planners support it.
Delray Beach Pride streetscape replacement ambitions stall
After pledging to create a symbolic replacement for the LGBTQ Pride streetscape that the state removed, the Delray Beach City Commission is taking a hands-off approach.
During the Oct. 14 workshop meeting, four of the five commissioners decided to wait for any proposals—and money for them—to come from the public. They don’t want to spend city money, and they’re unsure about providing city space. The original streetscape was paid for with private dollars.
The discussion followed an Oct. 1 community meeting that City Manager Terrence Moore said included about 25 residents. They suggested, among other options, renaming a street, building a rainbow pyramid and lighting the city water tower in rainbow colors. There also was talk of a mural to reflect what commissioners say is Delray Beach’s inclusivity. Commissioner Angela Burns said the “plethora” of emails to her “all said Delray is a welcoming city.”
Yet the consensus decision was for the city to do nothing, at least for the moment. Underlying that caution, apparently, is fear of angering DeSantis and risking retribution. Commissioner Rob Long, the most outspoken in favor of a public display, accused his colleagues of “cowardice” that will “let the bullies win.”
Indeed, for the first time commissioners heard what one might call homophobic criticism of any display. One speaker said such expression “slights Christians.” Another said it would unfairly single out “a choice lifestyle.” Those comments drew light applause. Coincidentally or not, this new, distinctly minority opposition is timed to Commissioner Juli Casale’s repeated opposition to the use of public land.
I’ll have more if any proposals emerge.
