They’re getting back at him for daring to open more colleges and end race-based admissions policies.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - University of Florida President Bernie Machen said Friday he was “tremendously disappointed” with the school’s Faculty Senate vote to deny former Gov. Jeb Bush an honorary degree.

The Senate voted 38-28 Thursday against giving the honorary degree to Bush, who left office in January.

“Jeb Bush has been a great friend of the University of Florida,” said Machen, adding that the Senate’s action is “unheard of.”

Some faculty expressed concern about Bush’s record in higher education.

“I really don’t feel this is a person who has been a supporter of UF,” Kathleen Price, associate dean of library and technology at the school’s Levin College of Law, told The Gainesville Sun after the vote.

Bush’s approval of three new medical schools during his tenure has diluted resources, Price told the newspaper.

Bush has also been criticized for his “One Florida” proposal, an initiative that ended race-based admissions programs at state universities.

Meh.  Honorary degree.  Big deal.  I’m sure Jeb isn’t sweating it, but how petty can these folks at the University of Florida get?  Does anyone really believe that the University of Florida, one of the most prominent and well-known schools in the country, is actually being hurt by the three new medical schools Jeb opened up?  And as far as race-based admissions policies go, Jeb should be commended for ending that reverse-racism nonsense.

Admissions into colleges should be based on nothing other than merit.  Taking the color of an applicant’s skin into consideration is racist and unfair, even if you’re doing so with the good intention of “helping” a non-white student.