DeMora Condemns Passage of Senate Bill 1, College Destruction Act

Today, state Senator Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) issued the following statement after the Ohio Senate voted to pass the highly controversial Senate Bill 1:
 
"This is a dark day for Ohio,” said DeMora. “This bill will turn our universities into political battlegrounds, where professors and students can't speak the truth without fear of retribution. The majority party has made it clear they don't care about facts, free speech, or the rights of Ohio's educators. Their goal is to create a culture of fear, where dissent is crushed, and the truth is buried under a pile of lies. This isn't a bill to 'fix' education — it's a bill to destroy it. It’s not about improving Ohio; it’s about stripping away everything that makes us stronger, smarter, and better as a society."
 
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.