An Ohio state senator introduced a bill Wednesday that bans DEI in higher education in Ohio.
Senate Bill (SB) 1 would eliminate DEI “courses, training, litmus tests, required statements, and spending for any DEI initiatives or programs with the same intent,” according to a press release. State Senator Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) introduced this bill.
“We want every student in Ohio, regardless of race, gender, or religion to be able to pursue their choice of post-secondary education,” Cirino said. “However, DEI programs are inherently discriminatory and cannot be tolerated or paid for by taxpayers.”
SB 1, also known as Advance Ohio Higher Education Act, also guarantees First Amendment rights for all college students and college professors.
“No student should ever be ostracized, canceled, or have to worry about a failing grade for merely daring to have a difference of opinion with classmates or a professor,” said Cirino. “It is essential for students to learn how to think rather than what to think, and how to listen to opposing views with a respectful but critical ear.”
This bill will not ban discussions of any subjects. SB 1 will include content from a previous bill Cirion introduced, SB 83, which also tried to ban DEI courses at Ohio colleges. This bill stalled in the Ohio State House.
“Critics who claim the bill promotes censorship have it exactly backwards,” he added. “Senate Bill 1 will allow students to exercise their right to free speech without threat of reprisal by professors or administrators. It will permit the marketplace of ideas to flourish, which is the ideal environment for any educational institution.”
In terms of hiring, this bill will also ban political and ideological litmus tests in all hiring, promotion, and admissions decisions.
SB 1 will disallow labor strikes by college and community college faculties.
Furthermore, this bill will require post-tenure periodic review and “full disclosure of any donations” made by Chinese Communist Party affiliates.
Cirino said he worked on this legislation for over three years.
State Representative Tom Young (R-Dayton) said he plans to introduce a companion bill in the State House.
“This is transformational legislation that is greatly needed in order for Ohio’s public institutions of higher learning to not only survive, but thrive,” said Young. “While universities face alarming declines in enrollment across the nation, this is a golden opportunity for us to show everyone how to reform the system so that it best serves the students and ensures our graduates a bright future.”
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network. Email tips to Zachery at zschmidt1717@gmail.com. Follow Zachery on Twitter @zacheryschmidt2.
