Miami University’s academics face potential disruption if Senate Bill 1 (S.B. 1) passes the Ohio House of Representatives. The Ohio Senate approved the bill last month. It now awaits consideration by the House Workforce and Higher Education Committee before moving to the House floor for a final vote.
Ohio Senator Jerry Cirino introduced S.B. 1, titled the “Enact Advance Ohio Higher Education Act,” on Jan. 29. The bill broadly covers several controversial topics, including prohibiting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) university programs and forbidding classroom discussions about what it terms “controversial topics.”
History of the Bill
Cirino introduced Senate Bill 83 (S.B. 83), the “Enact Ohio Higher Education Enhancement Act,” in March 2023. That bill stalled in the House in early 2024 after passing the Senate.
According to Kevin Reuning, an associate professor of political science at Miami, S.B. 1 resembles the earlier, more restrictive version of S.B. 83.
“S.B. 83 was amended down a fair amount,” Reuning said, “and then S.B. 1 came in as sort of the original version of S.B. 83 with some other stuff added in.”
Concerns About Diversity and Inclusion
In a May 18, 2023 letter, the Inter-University Council of Ohio strongly opposed the bill’s ambiguity and stance on DEI.
“DEI is for students with disabilities, veterans with PTSD, minority students, and students who are new Americans who may need extra help due to language or cultural barriers,” the council wrote.
Classroom Censorship Concerns
S.B. 1 mandates that universities must allow students to form their own conclusions about controversial beliefs on climate policy, immigration, and abortion.
Patrick Houlihan is a senior political science major and president of the College Democrats of Ohio. He believes this language may lead to censorship.
“The bigger question is, ‘How do you define politically controversial?’” Houlihan said. “It’s really hard to define that. When you build a term into a bill, into legislation, that is undefined and broad, that is a tool to shut down speech in the classroom.”
Spencer Mandzak, a senior public administration major and chairman for the Ohio College Republican Federation, supports the bill’s intent to ensure balanced discussion.
“It’s not that they want to end the political debates in the classroom,” Mandzak said. “It’s that there shouldn’t be a required side to take.”
Faculty Rights at Risk
The bill also limits collective bargaining for faculty workload, evaluation, and tenure policies and bans full-time faculty from striking. Cathay Wagner, an English professor and member of the Faculty Alliance of Miami University, criticized this restriction.
“Nobody wants to strike, but every worker should have the option to strike if they’re being treated so badly that they deem it necessary,” Wagner said.
Administrative Silence
While Miami University previously addressed concerns about S.B. 83, it remains silent on S.B. 1. Houlihan finds this concerning.
“It’s really disappointing to see the Miami administration not condemn this bill and not try to get the legislature to listen,” Houlihan remarked.
Reuning urges students and faculty to express their opinions to representatives and Governor Mike DeWine before the House votes.
