Honesty Coalition Condemns Committee's Passage of
Higher Education Destruction Act
Honesty for Ohio Education urges all State Reps to vote NO if SB 83 reaches the House floor
December 6, 2023 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COLUMBUS — Today, the Honesty For Ohio Education coalition condemned the passage of SB 83 — the Higher Education Destruction Act — through the House Higher Education Committee.
The bill received bipartisan opposition, but ultimately passed with a vote of 8-7 after State Rep. Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) chose to ignore the calls of Ohio workers and students and flipped her vote to yes.
The committee also actively ignored Ohioans in the rush to pass SB 83. Today’s hearing was scheduled with less than 24 hours notice, and only written interested party testimonies were accepted. During this morning’s notably brief hearing, Committee Chair Tom Young (R-Lebanon) called for a vote without allowing time to consider new testimonies. Chair Young informed members they could look at testimonies “after the vote."
“Senate Bill 83 is a sweeping bill of mass destruction that is fueled by national extremist interests and cheap culture war issues,” said Cynthia Peeples, Founding Director of Honesty For Ohio Education. “ Our coalition implores all members of the Ohio House to consider the lasting damage this bill would inflict on Ohio’s students, higher ed campuses, workforce development, and long-term economic prospects. Consider the thousands of Ohioans who have spoken out against this measure and the hundreds of opponent testimonies from Democrats, Republicans, and everyone in between. Be a true leader and vote NO on SB 83, the Higher Education Destruction Act.”
SB 83 would devastate Ohio’s public colleges and universities by creating barriers to teaching “controversial” subjects, banning most required DEI policies and programs, placing entire courses and departments at risk, gutting workers’ rights, and much more.
SB 83 may now be heading to the House floor. Ohioans can urge State Representatives to vote NO by taking action HERE.
After today’s hearing, Honesty partners and allies released the following statements:
Mel Searle, Ohio Student Association (OSA) — University of Cincinnati Chapter:
"SB 83 directly impacts students, and our voices should be at the center of this conversation. Instead, we have been repeatedly silenced and ignored when we continue to say loud and clear that we unequivocally do not want SB 83 and that its passage would be devastatingly harmful to us. We call on the rest of the House to listen to students and stand with us in rejecting SB 83."
Garrison Bowling, Founder and Executive Director, Ohio Student Activist Alliance:
"Senate Bill 83 is a dangerous piece of legislation that will destroy the future of higher education in our state. Education is meant to be a collaborative process that encourages diversity, equity, and inclusion, but Republican lawmakers are trying to take that away from us. I worry for the future generations of students who won't be able to receive the same quality of education that I had in Ohio.
Maria Vitoria de Rezende Grisi, PhD student at The Ohio State University:
"Senate Bill 83 creates a narrative about Ohio universities that does not exist in reality. Students are being silenced, and our voices are constantly ignored! We must listen to the majority and stop SB 83. If you want to do right by Ohio students, come to talk to us and learn our real demands."
Ashley Reynolds, Sophomore at Miami University:
“Senate Bill 83 is without a doubt a horrible bill. But the constant undermining of democracy being used to pass it is arguably even worse. As students, we have been excluded at every possible turn, and it’s incredibly frustrating to realize that no matter what we do, our voices seem to mean nothing.”
Olivia Gallo, Sophomore at Miami University:
“From a student perspective, this bill limits the safety, freedom, and education that students would receive in Ohio. This bill perpetuates hate and silences diverse voices. The “intellectual freedom” that this bill advocates for are the perspectives of white men that we have heard for centuries. We need to let other people speak. We need justice for the truth of education.”
Scott DiMauro, President, Ohio Education Association:
“The Ohio Education Association is profoundly disappointed in the House Higher Education Committee’s decision to ignore the voices of the thousands of Ohioans who have spoken out against this disastrous legislation and to trade away the future of Ohio’s higher education institutions and the students they serve. Senate Bill 83 would hurt workers’ rights and micromanage what happens in our classrooms. We thank the seven members of committee who voted against Senate Bill 83, and who we know we can count on to fight with us against the bills’ passage in the full House.”
Sara Kilpatrick, Executive Director, American Association of University Professors (AAUP) Ohio Conference:
“We believe there are still plenty of lawmakers who don't want to destroy higher education, and we are counting on them to do what's right. This isn't over, and we will continue fighting this bill every step of the way.”
Jill Galvan, Vice President, American Association of University Professors (AAUP) — Ohio State chapter:
“This bill is a slap in the face to young people and other students in Ohio. It tells them, ‘if you're looking for a great education with academic rigor and full overview of facts, go elsewhere.’ What happens if we're not preparing our students with the full knowledge or full expertise in their fields because the law says some topics or some discussions are off-limits? That has massive ripple effects, including in employment prospects for college graduates. It's also a massive disservice to potential employers.
“Nationwide, colleges are immensely competitive with one another for students. If a student doesn’t like what we have to offer, they have plenty of other places to choose from. Their loss is a loss to Ohio's future and its economic health.”
Rosemary Pennington, Associate Professor of Journalism, Miami University
"If this bill becomes law it will create a chilling effect in higher education in Ohio, making it difficult for certain subjects to be taught. It would also result in a massive brain drain as talented faculty and students move to other states where their intellectual pursuits are not pulverized by politics. And it will be damaging to the state's efforts to recruit companies to locate in Ohio. It's bad for students, bad for faculty, and bad for the economy."
Victoria Hickcox, Outreach Director, CAIR-Ohio:
"We remain deeply concerned about SB 83’s potential impact on academic freedom and diversity in Ohio's public higher education institutions. This legislation would allow censorship, hinder diversity efforts, and impose burdensome mandates on staff, affecting student resources and experiences. This legislation threatens religious liberty, equal opportunities, and the competitiveness of Ohio's public universities.
"We urge policymakers to reconsider, taking into account the numerous opponent testimonies submitted against Senate Bill 83. CAIR-Ohio remains committed to advocating for an educational environment that celebrates diversity and fosters a rich tapestry of perspectives, protecting the integrity of our educational system and the future success of our students."
Gary Daniels, Chief Lobbyist, ACLU of Ohio:
“Senate Bill 83 will dictate precisely how individual classrooms and instructors operate, with zero recognition of the First Amendment academic freedom rights of university instructions. The members of the House Higher Education Committee know that there is massive public opposition and outrage to this controversial bill and unceremoniously advanced it in spite of the hundreds of pieces of testimony before them from students, professors, faculty, and advocates with first-hand experiences in these matters. To even hold the vote with such short notice to the public is incredibly disappointing.”
Jeanne Melvin, Public Education Partners:
“Senate Bill 83 is a shameful attempt to micromanage Ohio colleges, universities, and higher education faculty and staff on ideology that is rooted in the politically motivated culture wars. Most Ohioans would agree that there should be much higher priorities for our elected leaders than culture war issues, which are a distraction from what is really happening and what really needs to be addressed at the Ohio Statehouse to support both K-12 and higher education in the Buckeye State.”
Lathardus Goggins II, Ed.D., Principal Consultant, Applied Academic Solutions:
“SB 83 and similar legislative efforts are a threat to democracy and to American values. The notion that American education should be neutral or valueless is, at best, misguided. An American education should reflect American values and promote the maintenance and preservation of American ideals. As an advocate for social justice, I am aware of the disconnect between American practice and American values. However, it is this critique that ensures that the United States of America becomes a “more perfect union” and an example for other nations to follow.
“SB 83 limits meaningful discussions and critique of American values that (1) "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness," and (2) all citizens have equal protection under the law. To limit/outlaw meaningful discussions on and critique how American society has practiced American values is inconsistent with the core purpose of American education.”
The bill received bipartisan opposition, but ultimately passed with a vote of 8-7 after State Rep. Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) chose to ignore the calls of Ohio workers and students and flipped her vote to yes.
The committee also actively ignored Ohioans in the rush to pass SB 83. Today’s hearing was scheduled with less than 24 hours notice, and only written interested party testimonies were accepted. During this morning’s notably brief hearing, Committee Chair Tom Young (R-Lebanon) called for a vote without allowing time to consider new testimonies. Chair Young informed members they could look at testimonies “after the vote."
“Senate Bill 83 is a sweeping bill of mass destruction that is fueled by national extremist interests and cheap culture war issues,” said Cynthia Peeples, Founding Director of Honesty For Ohio Education. “ Our coalition implores all members of the Ohio House to consider the lasting damage this bill would inflict on Ohio’s students, higher ed campuses, workforce development, and long-term economic prospects. Consider the thousands of Ohioans who have spoken out against this measure and the hundreds of opponent testimonies from Democrats, Republicans, and everyone in between. Be a true leader and vote NO on SB 83, the Higher Education Destruction Act.”
SB 83 would devastate Ohio’s public colleges and universities by creating barriers to teaching “controversial” subjects, banning most required DEI policies and programs, placing entire courses and departments at risk, gutting workers’ rights, and much more.
SB 83 may now be heading to the House floor. Ohioans can urge State Representatives to vote NO by taking action HERE.
After today’s hearing, Honesty partners and allies released the following statements:
Mel Searle, Ohio Student Association (OSA) — University of Cincinnati Chapter:
"SB 83 directly impacts students, and our voices should be at the center of this conversation. Instead, we have been repeatedly silenced and ignored when we continue to say loud and clear that we unequivocally do not want SB 83 and that its passage would be devastatingly harmful to us. We call on the rest of the House to listen to students and stand with us in rejecting SB 83."
Garrison Bowling, Founder and Executive Director, Ohio Student Activist Alliance:
"Senate Bill 83 is a dangerous piece of legislation that will destroy the future of higher education in our state. Education is meant to be a collaborative process that encourages diversity, equity, and inclusion, but Republican lawmakers are trying to take that away from us. I worry for the future generations of students who won't be able to receive the same quality of education that I had in Ohio.
Maria Vitoria de Rezende Grisi, PhD student at The Ohio State University:
"Senate Bill 83 creates a narrative about Ohio universities that does not exist in reality. Students are being silenced, and our voices are constantly ignored! We must listen to the majority and stop SB 83. If you want to do right by Ohio students, come to talk to us and learn our real demands."
Ashley Reynolds, Sophomore at Miami University:
“Senate Bill 83 is without a doubt a horrible bill. But the constant undermining of democracy being used to pass it is arguably even worse. As students, we have been excluded at every possible turn, and it’s incredibly frustrating to realize that no matter what we do, our voices seem to mean nothing.”
Olivia Gallo, Sophomore at Miami University:
“From a student perspective, this bill limits the safety, freedom, and education that students would receive in Ohio. This bill perpetuates hate and silences diverse voices. The “intellectual freedom” that this bill advocates for are the perspectives of white men that we have heard for centuries. We need to let other people speak. We need justice for the truth of education.”
Scott DiMauro, President, Ohio Education Association:
“The Ohio Education Association is profoundly disappointed in the House Higher Education Committee’s decision to ignore the voices of the thousands of Ohioans who have spoken out against this disastrous legislation and to trade away the future of Ohio’s higher education institutions and the students they serve. Senate Bill 83 would hurt workers’ rights and micromanage what happens in our classrooms. We thank the seven members of committee who voted against Senate Bill 83, and who we know we can count on to fight with us against the bills’ passage in the full House.”
Sara Kilpatrick, Executive Director, American Association of University Professors (AAUP) Ohio Conference:
“We believe there are still plenty of lawmakers who don't want to destroy higher education, and we are counting on them to do what's right. This isn't over, and we will continue fighting this bill every step of the way.”
Jill Galvan, Vice President, American Association of University Professors (AAUP) — Ohio State chapter:
“This bill is a slap in the face to young people and other students in Ohio. It tells them, ‘if you're looking for a great education with academic rigor and full overview of facts, go elsewhere.’ What happens if we're not preparing our students with the full knowledge or full expertise in their fields because the law says some topics or some discussions are off-limits? That has massive ripple effects, including in employment prospects for college graduates. It's also a massive disservice to potential employers.
“Nationwide, colleges are immensely competitive with one another for students. If a student doesn’t like what we have to offer, they have plenty of other places to choose from. Their loss is a loss to Ohio's future and its economic health.”
Rosemary Pennington, Associate Professor of Journalism, Miami University
"If this bill becomes law it will create a chilling effect in higher education in Ohio, making it difficult for certain subjects to be taught. It would also result in a massive brain drain as talented faculty and students move to other states where their intellectual pursuits are not pulverized by politics. And it will be damaging to the state's efforts to recruit companies to locate in Ohio. It's bad for students, bad for faculty, and bad for the economy."
Victoria Hickcox, Outreach Director, CAIR-Ohio:
"We remain deeply concerned about SB 83’s potential impact on academic freedom and diversity in Ohio's public higher education institutions. This legislation would allow censorship, hinder diversity efforts, and impose burdensome mandates on staff, affecting student resources and experiences. This legislation threatens religious liberty, equal opportunities, and the competitiveness of Ohio's public universities.
"We urge policymakers to reconsider, taking into account the numerous opponent testimonies submitted against Senate Bill 83. CAIR-Ohio remains committed to advocating for an educational environment that celebrates diversity and fosters a rich tapestry of perspectives, protecting the integrity of our educational system and the future success of our students."
Gary Daniels, Chief Lobbyist, ACLU of Ohio:
“Senate Bill 83 will dictate precisely how individual classrooms and instructors operate, with zero recognition of the First Amendment academic freedom rights of university instructions. The members of the House Higher Education Committee know that there is massive public opposition and outrage to this controversial bill and unceremoniously advanced it in spite of the hundreds of pieces of testimony before them from students, professors, faculty, and advocates with first-hand experiences in these matters. To even hold the vote with such short notice to the public is incredibly disappointing.”
Jeanne Melvin, Public Education Partners:
“Senate Bill 83 is a shameful attempt to micromanage Ohio colleges, universities, and higher education faculty and staff on ideology that is rooted in the politically motivated culture wars. Most Ohioans would agree that there should be much higher priorities for our elected leaders than culture war issues, which are a distraction from what is really happening and what really needs to be addressed at the Ohio Statehouse to support both K-12 and higher education in the Buckeye State.”
Lathardus Goggins II, Ed.D., Principal Consultant, Applied Academic Solutions:
“SB 83 and similar legislative efforts are a threat to democracy and to American values. The notion that American education should be neutral or valueless is, at best, misguided. An American education should reflect American values and promote the maintenance and preservation of American ideals. As an advocate for social justice, I am aware of the disconnect between American practice and American values. However, it is this critique that ensures that the United States of America becomes a “more perfect union” and an example for other nations to follow.
“SB 83 limits meaningful discussions and critique of American values that (1) "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness," and (2) all citizens have equal protection under the law. To limit/outlaw meaningful discussions on and critique how American society has practiced American values is inconsistent with the core purpose of American education.”
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Honesty for Ohio Education is a nonpartisan, statewide coalition that champions honest education, affirmation of identities, cultures, and experiences, and the rights and safety of all students, families, and educators. The coalition represents more than 50 organizational partners and thousands of Ohioans across the state.