Protesters gathered on Wednesday afternoon, urging Gov. Mike DeWine to veto Senate Bill 1 when it reaches his desk and, in their words, protect higher education.
Senate Bill 1 was passed by the Ohio House on Wednesday evening, putting it one vote away from being signed into law by Governor DeWine.
On Wednesday, college students, faculty, staff, and community members marched from Ohio State’s campus down High Street to the statehouse to demonstrate their opposition to the bill.
“We’re hopeful that if we build enough student power and show him that enough of us are vehemently opposed to the passage of SB1 that he will do the right thing,” Molly Hornberger, an Oregon State University student, stated.
“The vast, vast majority do not support this bill. “We don’t need it, and if they pass it, many of us will leave,” said Dr. Erynn Beaton, an associate professor at Ohio State.
They expressed concern about how the legislation might limit free speech and diversity on campus.
Senate Bill 1 would eliminate all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) scholarships, offices, and policies on Ohio’s public campuses.
“Personally, I’m worried for the quality of my education, but for the wider student community, this sets a precedent that very intentionally attacks specifically Black, brown and LGBTQ students,” Hornberger told reporters.
The bill would also prohibit universities from taking positions on controversial issues.
Beaton stated that challenging subjects are an important part of higher education that students should be exposed to.
“I already have professors talking to me about how if the legislature is going to pass a bill like this saying that there are controversial beliefs, that there are things we can and can’t do in the classroom, they are already saying ‘I’m just not going to talk about these hard things in the classroom,'” stated Beaton.
On the other hand, Buckeye Institute Research Fellow Greg Lawson testified in support of Senate Bill 1 before it was passed on Wednesday.
He stated that the bill simply prohibits universities and professors from telling students what to think or giving them a bad grade based on a specific opinion the student holds.
“Yes, it gets rid of DEI offices, but it also says you can’t basically force someone to have an opinion within a classroom but you can still discuss things,” says Lawson.
He stated that Senate Bill 1 is beneficial to higher education. Lawson stated that by prohibiting faculty strikes and preventing professors from telling them what to think, it protects and prioritizes students.
“I think there’s an awful lot of fear that’s been out there,” Lawson told the crowd. “I think that you have to look at it from the big picture of what’s good for the student,” Lawson informed me.
Protesters outside the statehouse on Wednesday already expected lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 1, so they urged the governor to veto the bill. They stated that DeWine is their last line of defense.