Posted on 04/11/2025 12:46:11 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
MELBOURNE, Fla. – A video of Florida Institute of Technology President John Nicklow, released by James O’Keefe, appears to show Nicklow discussing how to alter the language of diversity, equity, and inclusion —or DEI — courses to comply with a state ban on the practice, supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Nicklow released a statement, alleging the video was illegally recorded without consent during a private faculty meeting and was heavily edited.
“Unfortunately, that private meeting was illegally recorded and shared with the O’Keefe Media Group, which is known for distributing selectively edited and deceptive video content,” Nicklow said. “The video has since been published and misrepresents my comments—offered in a spirit of empathy and clarity for our faculty—as somehow indicating noncompliance. That is simply false.”
Clips from the meeting video show Nicklow suggesting that government officials were monitoring for specific keywords and that some language could be changed.
One segment in the video showed Nicklow discussing a pending $7 million state funding request for Florida Tech’s AeroSpace Cybersecurity ENgineering Development, or ASCEND, program.
In the video, Nicklow recounted to staff in the room about an incident in Tallahassee where he was questioned about the university’s Institute for Culture, Collaboration and Management and said he made a call on the way home to “tweak language.”
Nicklow said he does “regret and accept responsibility for [his] word choice,” but maintained that the “facts” are as follows:
“When Governor DeSantis called for the removal of DEI initiatives from...
(Excerpt) Read more at x.com ...
Unfortunately, Florida is a two party consent state for recordings.
John Nicklow: “To be perfectly clear, i did NOT say those things that video recorded me saying, again to be clear, i did not say the things i said.”
Unfortunately, Florida is a two-party consent state.
The only reason for requiring two-party consent is so the peasants cannot gather evidence against their rulers.
No, this was at a public meeting and there is an exception for that. That’s why it’s being published now.
OK, so he expected it to be a public statement (but to a friendly audience). I used to live less than a mile from their FIT campus long ago.
Not much point in virtue signaling if you can’t talk about it.
This guy should be fired.
I can’t find the video. Maybe it will show up somewhere.
Has Florida Institute of Technology President John Nicklow explained or justified why he supports racism?
Does he know that DEI is pure racism?
How does that benefit or prepare the students for competing in a meritocracy?
James OKeefe is a true American hero
only for private conversations between two parties.
“...illegally recorded without consent during a private faculty meeting and was heavily edited.”
More likely than not, this meeting violated the state’s open meetings law. Rats do that constantly. The open meetings statutes are one of the strongest legislative laws we have to catch rats breaking the law.
You gotta be cruel to be kind...
FT will never sue.
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