Weinstein Condemns Passage of Senate Bill 1

Today, state Senator Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) issued the following statement after the Ohio Senate voted to pass the highly controversial Senate Bill 1:

“Make no mistake, this bill will harm our students in Ohio,” said Weinstein. “When universities lose the ability to operate independently, when faculty are silenced, when staff lose their right to advocate for better conditions, our students are the ones who suffer, and Ohio will suffer right along with them. Students want lower tuition and better job opportunities, not big government mandates on classroom discussions.”

Senate Bill 1 contains several provisions that would drastically change Ohio’s higher education landscape, including prohibiting university faculty members from striking; banning diversity, equity, and inclusion programs; and forbidding institutions of higher education from taking positions on “controversial beliefs or policies.”

According to U.S. News, Ohio has nine schools in the top 200 public institutions in the United States, the fourth most in the country. Critics argue the passage of S.B. 1 would jeopardize the quality of Ohio’s higher education by driving away students, faculty, and critical business partnerships.

Senate Bill 1 now goes to the Ohio House of Representatives for consideration.