In a significant political move, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, has endorsed a comprehensive piece of legislation that prohibits diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the state’s public colleges and universities. The measure, which includes a host of other profound changes to higher education, stirred widespread controversy before its signing. Despite calls from students, educators, and civil rights organizations for DeWine to reject the bill, his office announced the approval on Friday, with no comment provided by the governor himself.
The opposition to this legislation included prominent voices such as the American Historical Association, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the American Association of University Professors, along with Ohio’s two largest teachers’ unions and Democratic officials. They collectively urged the governor to veto Senate Bill 1, which also restricts faculty from going on strike and seeks to control classroom discourse.
Ohio House Minority Leader, Allison Russo, criticized DeWine’s decision, suggesting it might overshadow his lengthy public service career. “The governor now faces the repercussions of an action that threatens to mar his legacy,” she stated. “Enacting SB 1 sets in motion the erosion of Ohio’s valued higher education system, ushering in state-sponsored censorship and discrimination. It could potentially harm Ohio’s economy and its attractiveness as a place to study and work while significantly undermining worker rights to collective bargaining.”
The legislation, which ignited lengthy hearings and protests involving hundreds of demonstrators, was prioritized by the GOP-dominated Legislature after stalling in the previous session due to partisan disagreements. Introduced in January, it sailed through the Senate in February, passed the Ohio House with amendments on a 59-34 vote last week, and finally gained Senate approval with a 20-11 vote on Wednesday.
Besides outlawing DEI programs, the law repeals certain faculty protections related to collective bargaining and tenure. It also compels schools to refrain from influencing student opinions on “controversial” subjects, mandates a three-hour civics education course for all Ohio college students, and enforces numerous other programmatic and administrative reforms. Institutions that violate these provisions could face the loss of state funding.
State Senator Jerry Cirino, a Republican from the Cleveland area who sponsored the bill, claimed that it is designed to safeguard “intellectual diversity” rather than suppress it. During Senate discussions in February, Cirino described DEI initiatives as problematic, suggesting they promote discrimination against conservative viewpoints. “It was a challenging process, but the end result is invaluable,” Cirino remarked. “This is dramatically impactful legislation that will help Ohio’s public universities and community colleges confront upcoming enrollment challenges and spark a revival of academic excellence.”
The focus on restricting DEI initiatives mirrors positions taken by Republican leaders on the national stage, including former President Donald Trump, who similarly criticized such programs, much to the satisfaction of many conservatives. His efforts to curtail DEI activities at the federal level have been met with resistance, including a class-action lawsuit filed by federal employees facing dismissal due to their involvement in these programs. Recently, a federal judge temporarily halted another executive order from the Trump administration affecting DEI policies for federal contractors and grant recipients.
Jocelyn Rosnick, Policy Director for the ACLU of Ohio, expressed concerns about the repercussions of the new law, asserting it sends a damaging message to students that Ohio is not embracing their diverse backgrounds and perspectives. “Additionally, the vague and conflicting language concerning the ban on so-called ‘controversial beliefs or policies’ creates uncertainty for faculty and administrators,” she commented. “This could lead educators to shy away from discussing certain topics in the classroom out of concern for potential backlash.”