MAGA ATTEMPTS TO MURDER
ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN OHIO
Academic freedom will be dead in Ohio, and it's all thanks to a bill called Ohio SB 83. But don't worry, folks, it's not like we needed academic freedom anyway. Who needs the freedom to inquire and teach without fear of repression or job loss? Not us, apparently.
So what is Ohio SB 83, you ask? Well, it's a bill that bans nearly all diversity training requirements at public colleges and universities in the state. Because who needs diversity, am I right? We should all just stick to our own little bubbles and never learn about anyone else's experiences or perspectives.
But that's not all! The bill also prohibits university staff and employees from striking. Because who needs the right to advocate for their own rights and interests? That's just silly.
Oh, and did I mention that the bill requires American history courses? Because apparently, we're not already brainwashed enough with our American exceptionalism. We need to make sure everyone knows about the Declaration of Independence and the Federalist Papers, but forget about anything else that might be important or relevant.
But wait, there's more! The bill also bases professor tenure on "bias." Because nothing says academic freedom like being judged on your personal opinions instead of your actual work and contributions to the field.
And let's not forget about the extensive and expensive new reporting requirements on Ohio's public institutions. Because who needs academic autonomy and integrity when you can have unnecessary bureaucracy and oversight?
But don't worry, folks. There are some supporters of this bill. Like state Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, who said the bill is "an urgently needed course correction." Because apparently, the only way to correct a course is to steer it straight into a brick wall.
And let's not forget about the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, a nonprofit organization that advocates for academic excellence, academic freedom, and accountability in higher education. Because nothing says accountability like taking away academic freedom.
But don't worry, there are plenty of opponents to this bill as well. Like the Ohio State University Board of Trustees, who issued a rare public statement opposing the bill. Because apparently, they actually care about academic freedom and shared governance.
And let's not forget about the Faculty Council of the Ohio State University Senate, who approved a resolution in opposition to the bill. Because apparently, they actually care about the academic freedom of faculty members to teach and conduct research without undue external pressure or interference.
And let's not forget about the Ohio Conference American Association of University Professors, a nonprofit organization that represents faculty members at public and private colleges and universities in Ohio. Because apparently, they actually care about the academic freedom of faculty members and the importance of diversity and inclusion in higher education.
But who cares about all of these opponents when we have the Goldwater Institute and the Manhattan Institute on our side? These two conservative think tanks developed the legislative solutions to "dismantle the ideological domination of DEI programming over higher education" that influenced SB 83. Because apparently, diversity, equity, and inclusion are just too radical for higher education.
So there you have it, folks. Academic freedom is dead in Ohio, but at least we have a bunch of politicians and think tanks telling us what we should think and learn. Who needs academic freedom when you can have political indoctrination?
THE DEFT DIVE
What is academic freedom?
Academic freedom is a moral and legal concept that expresses the conviction that the freedom of inquiry by faculty members is essential to the mission of the academy as well as the principles of academia, and that scholars should have freedom to teach or communicate ideas or facts (including those that are inconvenient to external political groups or to authorities) without fear of repression, job loss, or imprisonment³. It covers individuals and institutions, and seeks to promote the free exchange of ideas, scholarly debates, and the search for knowledge⁴. Academic freedom is often considered a type of freedom of speech, but it also encompasses other aspects such as academic autonomy, academic tenure, and shared governance³. Academic freedom is a contested issue and has limitations in practice, depending on the legal, political, and cultural context of each country or region³.
What is SB 83?
Ohio SB 83 is a bill that was introduced by state Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland in March 2023 and passed by the Ohio Senate in May 2023¹. It is also known as the Ohio Higher Education Enhancement Act². The bill would ban nearly all diversity training requirements at public colleges and universities in the state, prohibit university staff and employees from striking, require American history courses, and base professor tenure on "bias" among other things¹. The bill has been criticized by opponents as an attack on academic freedom, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles, and free speech³.
According to a report by the Goldwater Institute, a conservative think tank based in Arizona⁶, SB 83 is part of a package of legislative solutions to "dismantle the ideological domination of DEI programming over higher education" that was developed in partnership with Christopher Rufo and Ilya Shapiro of the Manhattan Institute, another conservative think tank based in New York⁷. The report claims that DEI programs are "weaponized across K-12 and higher education to impose a radical, racialized worldview intolerant of political dissent or traditional American notions like 'equality before the law'"⁷.
The Goldwater Institute and the Manhattan Institute have also championed the implementation of Academic Transparency to "shine a light on the radical politicization of K-12 programming in American schools" and have influenced similar bills in other states with Republican congressional majorities⁷.
According to the web search results, some of the supporters of Ohio SB 83 are:
- - The bill's primary sponsor, state Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, who said the bill is "an urgently needed course correction" and "involves learning analytic skills, evaluating many ideas and many sides of issues and how to think better, not what to think"¹.
- - The American Council of Trustees and Alumni, a nonprofit organization that advocates for academic excellence, academic freedom, and accountability in higher education. The president of the organization, Michael Poliakoff, said the bill is "visionary boldness at a time when American higher education is in urgent need of a course correction"².
- - Some educators who spoke in favor of the bill during the committee hearing, such as George Dent, a professor of emeritus law at Case Western Reserve University, who said the bill would introduce intellectual diversity and improve scholarship²; and Hal R. Arkes, Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Ohio State University, who said the bill would increase the ability of conservative faculty to come to Ohio².
- - The Goldwater Institute and the Manhattan Institute, two conservative think tanks that developed the legislative solutions to "dismantle the ideological domination of DEI programming over higher education" that influenced SB 83.
According to the web search results, some of the opponents of Ohio SB 83 are:
- - The Ohio State University Board of Trustees, who issued a rare public statement opposing the bill, saying it would diminish "Ohio State’s ability to fulfill its educational and research missions and negatively impact the state’s economic future"⁴⁵. The board also argued that the bill would undermine shared governance, weaken academic rigor, and impose extensive and expensive new reporting mandates on Ohio’s public institutions⁴.
- - The Faculty Council of the Ohio State University Senate, who approved a resolution in opposition to the bill, saying it would violate the academic freedom of faculty members to teach, conduct research, and support learning without undue external pressure or interference¹. The resolution also stated that the bill would harm the dignity and experiences of diverse groups of people, such as women, LGBTQIA+ community, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, immigrants, and others¹.
- - The Ohio Conference American Association of University Professors, a nonprofit organization that represents faculty members at public and private colleges and universities in Ohio. The president of the organization, Gretchen McNamara, wrote an opinion piece criticizing the bill as a "politically-motivated plot" to hijack Ohio's higher education and restrict the academic freedom of faculty².
- - Hundreds of students, faculty members, staff members, alumni, and community members who submitted opponent testimony or showed up at the Statehouse to protest against the bill during the committee hearing²³. Some of the testimonies highlighted the importance and benefits of diversity training, academic freedom, free speech, and collective bargaining for higher education³.
According to the web search results, Ohio SB 83 could affect academic freedom in Ohio universities in several ways, such as:
- - Banning nearly all diversity training requirements for students, faculty, and staff, except for certain exemptions, such as those required by federal or state law, accreditation standards, or professional licensing¹. This could limit the exposure and education of diverse perspectives and experiences on campus³.
- - Prohibiting university staff and employees from striking or engaging in collective bargaining activities¹. This could reduce the voice and power of workers to advocate for their rights and interests³.
- - Requiring American history and government courses that cover topics such as the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and the Bill of Rights¹. This could impose a narrow and biased curriculum that excludes other historical and contemporary issues and viewpoints³.
- - Basing professor tenure on "bias" and requiring Boards of Trustees to create and update policies on tenure every five years¹. This could create a hostile and politicized environment for faculty members who teach or research on controversial or unpopular topics²⁴.
- - Mandating extensive and expensive new reporting requirements on Ohio’s public institutions, such as syllabus transparency, speaker fees, budgetary transparency, and academic transparency¹⁴. This could burden the institutions with unnecessary bureaucracy and oversight that could interfere with their academic autonomy and integrity⁴⁵.
Bing, 6/21/2023
Ohio State trustees issue a statement opposing Senate Bill 83. https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/education/2023/05/16/ohio-state-trustees-issue-a-statement-opposing-senate-bill-83/70224903007/.
What is Senate Bill 83 in Ohio? | wkyc.com. https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/politics/senate-bill-83-passed-ohio/95-56fdb6a4-ca73-443d-88ca-68cc2e8ac812.
A Resolution in Opposition to Ohio Senate Bill 83. https://senate.osu.edu/sites/default/files/links_files/Faculty%20Council%20APPROVED%20Resolution%20Opposing%20SB%2083.pdf.
Republican attempt to hijack Ohio college, universities appalling| Opinion. https://www.dispatch.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2023/06/20/senate-bill-83-state-budget-republican-attempt-to-seize-control-of-ohio-colleges-and-universites/70329642007/.
Despite opposition by Ohio State board, anti-DEI bill passes. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/state-policy/2023/05/18/ohio-state-board-pushes-back-anti-dei-bill.
Academic freedom - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_freedom.
Academic Freedom | The First Amendment Encyclopedia. https://mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/17/academic-freedom.
https://bing.com/search?q=academic+freedom+definition.
Academic freedom Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/academic%20freedom.
What is Senate Bill 83 in Ohio? | wkyc.com. https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/politics/senate-bill-83-passed-ohio/95-56fdb6a4-ca73-443d-88ca-68cc2e8ac812.
Senate Bill 83 | 135th General Assembly | Ohio Legislature. https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/135/sb83.
Update on Ohio Senate Bill 83 | University of Cincinnati. https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2023/03/update-on-ohio-senate-bill-83.html.
Goldwater Institute | Defending and Strengthening Freedom. https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/.
How to Stop Woke Takeover of Education—Goldwater & Manhattan Institute .... https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/how-to-stop-woke-takeover-of-education-goldwater-manhattan-institutes-plan/.
SB 83 - HONESTY FOR OHIO EDUCATION. https://www.honestyforohioeducation.org/sb-83.html.
https://bing.com/search?q=Manhattan+and+Goldwater+Institutes.