Cleveland City Council has taken a firm stance against Senate Bill 1 (S.B. 1), passing a resolution on Monday urging state leaders to reject the controversial legislation, which could prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at Ohio’s public universities. Here is that article for context: LGBTQ+ Laws Go Into Effect In Ohio. Some View As Threat To Civil Rights, Others Suggest To Reframe The Issue.
Councilman Richard Starr expressed hope that their advocacy efforts will prevent the bill from advancing in the Ohio House of Representatives. “I believe that there should not be any threats of funding or organizations and schools and attacking on schools just because they support DEI efforts,” Starr said.
However, State Senator Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland), who reintroduced S.B. 1—formerly known as S.B. 83—remains confident in its passage despite opposition from Cleveland City Council. “I personally don’t understand why city council would even take the time to look at this. I rather doubt that council members have read the entire bill. The bill has lots of great stuff in it to enhance higher education,” Cirino said.
Students and advocates view Cleveland’s resolution as a significant gesture of support. Kent State University senior Nica Delgado, vice president of the Ohio Student Association, praised the council’s actions. “It makes me want to move to Cleveland. It makes me so, so happy to see that the city of Cleveland wants to stand up for the students of Ohio,” Delgado said.
Delgado, who aspires to become an anthropologist, worries that if S.B. 1 is enacted, her dream of pursuing a master’s degree at Kent State may be out of reach. “There’s a lot of scholarships that I won’t be able to get, which is the main way I’ve been able to fund my undergraduate college experience. If I lose my funding, I literally can’t go to college,” she explained.
Last month, Cirino and other Ohio Republican Senators approved the bill, which opponents argue would eliminate diversity programs, weaken union protections, and impose restrictions on how controversial subjects are taught on college campuses.
As hearings for S.B. 1 begin in the House of Representatives, Cirino remains skeptical about the impact of Cleveland’s resolution. “The Cleveland City Council, chiming in on a higher education bill that we’ve been talking about in the Senate and the House for over two years—I highly doubt that that is going to influence the final decision on the bill,” he said.
Starr, however, remains resolute. “We have come too far in this country and in this state for us to go back to doing things the old way. It’s not the answer,” he stated.
Meanwhile, protests against S.B. 1 are already underway. A demonstration at Ohio State University is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. today as students and activists rally against the proposed legislation.