The reason given for suspending the search is that Thrasher’s“long shadow was keeping other qualified candidates from wanting to apply for the job.”Fourteen other candidates have expressed interest in this position, which was vacated April 2 when Eric Barron left for the same post at Penn State University. Notsurprisingly,this decision sparked outrage from some student groups and faculty. Thrasher’s lack of an academic background and his legislative record, which includes voting to largely eliminate teacher tenure has inflamed many at FSU and other universities in Florida.

Please sign this petition to request that the FSU presidential search committee to open the process to all qualified candidates and not to give Thrasher any more consideration than the other candidates who have already expressed interest or applied. They need to do their job and select the best candidate for the job, not just someone who is politically connected.