Senator Gavarone Votes for Senate Bill 1

COLUMBUS— State Senator Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) issued the following statement following her vote for and the passage of Senate Bill 1, the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act.
 
"SB 1 is student-focused, merit-based, and promotes free speech and diversity of thought on college campuses. Over the years, I’ve heard from university students from all over the state who felt they could not write a paper or speak out on an issue unless it conformed to their professor’s one-sided, usually liberal, beliefs for fear of ridicule and a bad grade. This bill protects the free speech rights for all students as well as professors and administrators. SB 1 ensures that parents and students who pay tuition to a university in advance don’t lose that investment due to a faculty strike outside their control. SB 1 increases transparency by requiring public disclosure of course syllabi and university financial plans, and it explores measures to reduce tuition costs for students and families. There is still more work to be done to ensure college campuses are centers for free thought and innovation, but SB 1 is a step in the right direction to ensure Ohio students are equipped with the education and skills necessary to succeed in that next chapter in life."