BACKLASH: University of Florida Backpedaling from Plans to Abolish Computer Science Department. “Following what he called an “overwhelming negative response” to the proposal, University of Florida President Bernie Machen announced Wednesday that a plan for cuts to the computer and information science and engineering department was being set aside and that an alternative was being developed.” I got some insider emails saying that this was about internal politics, with budget issues just an excuse. Maybe that’s right.