On Wednesday, Senate Bill 1, which bans diversity, equality and inclusion programs at public universities and colleges in Ohio, cleared through the Ohio Senate and is on its way to the governor’s desk.
The bill makes public universities and colleges in Ohio commit to providing students with an education free of controversial beliefs or policies. These beliefs include political controversies such as climate policies, electoral politics, foreign policy, DEI programs, immigration policy and marriage or abortion.
Ohio SB 1 says the purpose of the prohibitions is to ‘allow and encourage students to reach their own conclusions about all controversial beliefs’ and prevent faculty from pushing any specific political, social or religious view on students.
If Gov. Mike DeWine signs the bill, universities will have 90 days to implement or risk losing state funding. The bill passed in the Ohio Senate with a vote of 21-11, the Associated Press said.
Universities will have to stop any DEI-related offices and departments. DEI descriptors in job descriptions, diversity scholarships and consultants whose job is to encourage the hiring of on the basis of gender, race and sexual orientation are also prohibited.
Senate Democratic Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) said he believes Ohio SB 1 would drastically change Ohio’s higher education landscape by driving away students, faculty, and critical business partnerships from the schools.
“Senate Bill 1 is a politically motivated attack on Ohio’s institutions of higher education,” Antonio said in a statement. “This bill does not contribute to improving the institutions of higher education in Ohio, but will, I fear, erode them.”
Sen. Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus) said the purpose of higher education is to encourage the creation and spread of knowledge, but the bill actively goes against that.
“Ohioans have clearly shown that they do not want this bill, and I am truly concerned for the future of not only Ohio's students and faculty but also for the future of our state,” Craig said in a statement. “Diversity in education must continue to be a core value to economic development and to the vitality of our nation.”
Shea O’Flaherty, a senior studying social work, said they are against the bill because it is an injustice and a loss of freedom.
“It does encourage fear,” O’Flaherty said. “I think a lot of it is to make people feel fearful and to make them lose hope because it feels like such a big thing that I know that I did not want to believe that this would pass.”
O’Flaherty said they feel the bill is a sign the U.S. is moving backward.
“We have made forward progress where we have become more forward-thinking, and now they don't want us to have these conversations in school,” O’Flaherty said. “They don't want people to be more educated or be aware of the problems that are happening.”
