Florida lawmakers argue universities need more space for free speech A roundup of Florida education news from around the state. Â Â Protestors chant and stand outside of the University Auditorium prior to the speech of Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle at the University of Florida on October 10, 2019. [ CHRIS DAY | Chris Day ] Updated 3 hours ago For a few years now, some of Floridaâs Republican lawmakers have contended that the stateâs universities and colleges are unwelcoming to people who share their conservative beliefs. The schools, theyâve said, are hotbeds for liberalism with no space for intellectual diversity. Legislation theyâve pushed to tackle that perception consistently fell short, particularly in the Senate. Until now. Read on for the latest on that story and more Florida education news.