COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Students at Ohio's public universities are speaking out against crackdowns on DEI as Ohio State University closes its diversity offices.
President Donald Trump's administration gave public schools and universities two weeks to end all DEI programs, a deadline that expires March 1. The deadline is being challenged in court, but Ohio State University is complying with this order, "sunsetting" its Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Student Life's Center for Belonging and Social Change.
Ohio State President Ted Carter said federal guidelines and Ohio's advancing Senate Bill 1, which would ban DEI on college campuses, spurred the changes. S.B. 1 passed in the Ohio Senate, but has not passed the House and is not currently state law.
Ohio Intel plant construction delayed into next decadeThese offices closed on Friday, and other programs and scholarships were adjusted or renamed as well to comply with Trump and S.B. 1. Affected employees will remain employed for 60 days and are working with the university to find additional employment at OSU.
Ohio State students responded by orchestrating a sit-in Friday morning, with dozens of students sitting in protest outside the Center for Belonging and Social Change.
OSU's reaction mirrored students' actions at other universities, with hundreds of Ohio University students walking out of class on Thursday to march against Senate Bill 1. Ohio University has not announced any changes to their programs or scholarships, but students are requesting transparency.
Students have also been protesting at the University of Cincinnati, where the university president says the future of DEI is up in the air. The university has begun removing diversity programming and principles across university websites, but walked these decisions back after a Maryland federal district judge issued a preliminary judgement pausing portions of Trump's executive orders against DEI.
Not all students are against the measures, however. OSU College Republicans expressed its "full support" for the changes at Ohio State, applauding the closure of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
Creperie opens second central Ohio storefrontOhio State's Undergraduate Student Government released a statement about the decision on Friday, telling the student body that diversity is a pillar of the university, not a political debate. The student government demanded transparency from Ohio State and said it refuses to let diversity, equity and inclusion end at OSU.
In response, Undergraduate Student Government said its members will push university administration to fight S.B. 1 and pursue meetings with federal and Ohio lawmakers. It also called an emergency General Assembly meeting on Friday at 6:30 p.m. to hear from students about their concerns.
The government urged students to share their stories, sign the body's letter to the governor and contact representatives.
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