University of Florida student looks into Sen. Ben Sasse's time at Midland University

Just last week the University of Florida faculty senate voted no-confidence in the selection of Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse as the school’s next president. 

Christian Casale, a University of Florida student and administration reporter for the Florida Alligator,  will be busy tomorrow covering the University of Florida’s Board of Trustees meeting,  meeting where they will decide if Sasse will be the university’s next president.

“We didn’t know much about Sasses credentials when UF announced him as next president,” said Casale.

Monday, Casale had a story published looking at Sasse’s time as president of Midland University in Fremont.

He discovered that Sasse helped turn around the school.

 “Student enrollment was down...and Ben came in with some business sensibilities and it had turned around by the time he left,” he said.

Casale also reported on some controversial events – as Sasse bought out tenured professors, revamped the retirement plan, and replaced staff.

“Two faculty members that were there at the time said Sasse had them sign an oath of loyalty to the institution that they wouldn’t bad mouth him or the institution. One of them called it the blood oath, that’s something that wouldn’t slide here at the University of Florida," he said. 

Those faculty member told Casale they wanted to remain anonymous, for fear of retribution. 

Plenty of students have protested the university's decision to make Sasse the sole finalist and Casale expects more protests tomorrow when Sasse will be on campus.

We reached out to Midland University and Sen. Sasse and did not hear back.

The vote whether or not to hire Sasse will be made Tuesday. The vote of “no confidence” by the faculty senate is non-binding and the board can ignore it.