Campus life in Ohio enters Senate Bill 1 era
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
GOP lawmakers enacted Senate Bill 1 to rein in "political controversy" on public college campuses. But as the first fall semester under the new state law begins, it's fueling a fresh wave of protests.
Why it matters: The full impact of the state's controversial diversity, equity and inclusion ban will take years to materialize, though it's already impacting student life in unexpected ways.
Case in point: At Ohio State, dorm resident advisers can now only decorate common areas and host welcoming programs with OSU themes, partially due to the new law.
- Some have also linked OSU's recent chalking ban to Senate Bill 1, though spokesperson Ben Johnson tells Axios it's unrelated.
- While having lower stakes than shuttering DEI offices and changing scholarships, the shifts being "right in front of your face" has upped student awareness, an organizer says.
The big picture: Sabrina Estevez, president of OSU's Ohio Student Association chapter, is joining others canvassing and protesting across campuses.
- Meanwhile, the state's faculty union is reviewing "legal strategies" and how to push back against overcompliance, per a statement. The law also outlaws faculty strikes.
Friction point: Critics say Senate Bill 1 is harming academic freedom, free speech and marginalized students. They fear it will deter students and faculty from Ohio's schools.
- The law's sponsor, Sen. Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland), has long alleged liberal bias and "indoctrination" on campuses and touted the bill as increasing "intellectual diversity."
- Schools will lose state funding if they don't comply.
Zoom in: Estevez tells Axios she's concerned about her professor's autonomy to teach her environmental politics class, now that "climate policies" are declared "controversial" under the new law.
What they're saying: "It's like an elephant in the room, in a sense," she tells Axios.
- "It's discouraging, and it's not what you expect when you come to a higher education institution. You're told you'll have so much more freedom in college, but it kind of feels like the opposite of that."
What's next: Some provisions of the bill are not yet in effect. Schools must indicate which courses they're cutting due to low enrollment by Sept. 25.
- A required "civic literacy course" for all students seeking a bachelor's degree, and a mandate that instructors publicly post all syllabi online, both take effect in fall 2026.