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On Wednesday, Senate Bill 1 was passed in the House by a 58-34 vote, despite strong opposition from Ohio students throughout the committee process. However, since the House made modifications to the bill, the Ohio Senate must pass it once more before it reaches the desk of Republican Governor Mike DeWine, who may sign it into law, as reported by Dayton Daily News.
According to Dayton Daily News, the bill includes the following provisions:
- Ban diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives on campus and mandate the closure of existing DEI programs, despite lacking a clear definition of what constitutes a “DEI” initiative.
- Allow the state to withhold funds from institutions that do not comply with the bill’s requirements.
- Prohibit universities from compelling students, faculty, or administrators to endorse, oppose, or publicly express a particular ideology, political stance, or view on social policy.
- Mandate a state-designed American civics or history course as a graduation requirement for bachelor’s degree students.
- Automatically eliminate university degree programs that award fewer than five degrees per year based on a three-year rolling average.
- Prohibit full-time university faculty from striking.
- Require state training for university trustees and reduce trustee terms from nine years to six.
Democratic leaders have strongly opposed the bill, arguing that it undermines academic freedom and will have a damaging impact on higher education. Critics fear that eliminating DEI initiatives and restricting faculty rights could stifle diversity of thought and discourage students and faculty from engaging in meaningful discourse. As the bill moves closer to becoming law, debates over its long-term effects on Ohio’s universities and their national reputation continue to intensify.
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