(The Center Square) – Thousands of opponents, protesters and Democrats likely won’t have much luck pushing Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine to veto a bill that overhauls higher education in the state.
DeWine has already said he will likely sign the bill that prohibits diversity, equity and inclusion, along with expressing political views, restricts how faculty teaches and ends faculty strikes at the state’s 37 public universities and community colleges.
Senate Bill 1 passed the Republican-majority Senate and House of Representatives along party-line votes and cleared the Senate again Wednesday on another party-line concurrence vote.
“SB1 will enrich the learning experience of students at our public universities and colleges, places where our best and brightest will be able to learn without prejudice, speak their mind without being canceled, be honest about their positions without fear of faculty retaliation and consider all sides of an issue and make up their own minds,” said Kristina Roegner, R-Hudson, chairwoman of the Senate Higher Education Committee.
In a letter to DeWine urging a veto, Democrats said the legislation stifles free speech, pushes Republican beliefs and is detrimental to higher education throughout the state.
“This legislation is a misguided attempt by overreaching legislators to impose their ideological beliefs on our public universities,” the letter reads. “The bill undermines academic freedom, attacks collective bargaining rights, and jeopardizes the future of higher education in our state.”
During hearings in the Senate and House, committees received more than 1,700 testimony submissions opposing the bill, while less than 50 supported it. Through the process, thousands of Ohio college students protested at the statehouse.
“This is the worst piece of legislation I have ever voted on since I became a senator three years ago,” said Sen. Bill DeMora, D-Columbus. “There is nothing positive in this bill. It’s going to ruin higher education.”
Greg Lawson, research fellow at The Buckeye Institute, was one of the supporters, saying SB1 is a win for students.
“Ohio took a major step toward improving higher education in Ohio with the adoption of the policies in Ohio Senate Bill 1, and Senator Jerry Cirino deserves a round of applause for his tireless efforts and leadership on these critical reforms,” Lawson said. “If enacted, the reforms in Senate Bill 1 will better position Ohio’s public universities to teach students and equip them for success after graduation.”
With regard to diversity, equity and inclusion, the bill bans courses, training, litmus tests, required statements, and spending for initiatives or programs.
It sets parameters around discussions about what it calls controversial topics. Named are climate polices; electoral politics; foreign policy; ban diversity, equity and inclusion; immigrant policy; and marriage and abortion.
It also bans faculty members from striking, drawing criticism from teacher and faculty associations.
“They might not always remember this, but our elected officials work for us and we need to keep demanding that they drop their attacks on workers’ rights,” Ohio Education President Scott DiMauro said. “The right to collectively bargain, including the right to strike when absolutely necessary, is what allows faculty and staff to be effective advocates not just for themselves, but also for their students and for their institutions of higher education.”
Once the bill reaches DeWine’s desk, he has 10 days to sign or veto it.
