Ohio Sen. Jerry C. Cirino (R-OH-SD18) and Rep. Tom Young (R-OH-HD37) have introduced S.B. 1/ H.B. 6, a bill that would impose drastic restrictions on speech and ideas in public universities. The Senate Higher Education Committee heard supporters of S.B. 1 on January 29th and will take testimony in opposition to the bill soon.  

S.B. 1/H.B. 6 would impose a complete ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and initiatives, one so broadly written it could be used to silence virtually any program or idea on campus. It would ban faculty from “misusing” their professional judgment to “constrict intellectual diversity,” a restriction so vague that faculty might feel compelled to endorse inaccurate or discriminatory ideas for fear of breaking the law. Students could even be subject to investigation, accused of interfering with other students’ or faculty members’ “rights” simply for asking questions. That’s not protecting education, it’s making everyone on campus afraid to speak or think for themselves.

If you live in Ohio, it’s vital that your state legislators hear from you as soon as possible that they should reject this proposal. Contact your elected representatives today and tell them to keep the government out of Ohio’s college classrooms and campus programming.