OPINION: Students from Multicultural, Women’s and Pride Centers Speak on Senate Bill 1

Photo via Lillian Franks/The New Political

Ava Jelepis, a Freshman studying Journalism, argues that SB1 has a wide-ranging impact on Ohio U students.

This past Wednesday, Senate Bill 1, a bill that will lower the quality of higher education for students in Ohio, was passed by the Ohio House. Senate Bill 1, or the “Enact Advance Ohio Higher Education Act,” will apply to 14 public universities and 23 public community colleges in Ohio. 

The bill would eliminate all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs on campus, prohibit faculty from striking and restrict how they teach. If universities and colleges don’t comply, they would be at risk of having state funding pulled.

There have been protests against this bill all over the state, including at Ohio University. Senate Bill 1 puts Ohio U’s Multicultural Center, Pride Center and Women’s Center at risk of shutting down. 

India Wray is a freshman at Ohio U and an underclass representative for the Black Student Union, an organization that holds meetings in the Multicultural Center. Wray utilizes the Multicultural Center “every single day.” For Wray, just walking into the center uplifts her and gives her a strong sense of community. 

“This center is the whole reason I stay at Ohio University. I'm here more than I am in my dorm, which is insane. I spend so much time here, and this is my comfort place,” Wray said. She feels sad for the center’s staff members, who offer her guidance and support, as they could lose their jobs.

Despite the uncertainty that the future holds for the Multicultural Center, Wray has not lost hope.

“It makes me feel sad, but at the same time not discouraged,” Wray said in response to the passage of Senate Bill 1. She feels this is just an obstacle and that they won't let this bill stop them. Wray says the students who use the Multicultural Center will continue to hold meetings and look for different areas, possibly even off campus, with alumni support. “We're going to keep going.”

Kyah Miller is a senior at Ohio U who works at the Pride Center and said getting rid of DEI hurts the community she and others find in the center. Even if the Pride Center is gone, Miller said, “the people will always exist.”

The closure of the center would affect not only Miller’s strong community, but also her income.  

“They're very flexible with their hours and it's convenient where I can find something that I enjoy doing while also getting an income. It would be taking away money that I have.” 

Miller said her job at the Pride Center has also helped her grow academically and has given her a place to be social. “Imagine you know you have a break between classes and you wanna find a secure place where you could sit down and rest without being judged.” 

The loss of the Pride Center results in the loss of a space on campus where students such as Miller can build connections.

Lisette Bergenstein, Najah Carson and Jaiya McKenny are three Ohio U seniors who work at the Women’s Center. “I've gotten to perform and make lots of connections with other people at certain events that the Women's Center has hosted. I've seen different people come in here and get service for things that they need help with in regards to whatever the Women's Center can provide, or just leading them somewhere that does help them,” Carson said. 

Because the three of them each hold jobs, there is also a financial aspect involved. “I rely a lot on this job to pay for my bills and groceries because I do live in an off-campus apartment. So, just having this job as financial stability helps me out a lot,” says Bergenstein. McKenny agrees, adding that “it does help with bills, especially rent because that's a big one.” 

Bergenstein, Carson and Mckenny are not currently aware of a plan that the Women's Center has if it were to be shut down; however, a meeting will be held soon to help answer some of those questions. 

“It could still be a space where we create that environment and just take the letters off the wall. I mean, I can't imagine that there would ever be a situation where we wouldn't find a way, ‘cause we always find a way,” Carson said.

Senate Bill 1 passing did not come as a shock for the three. “[I am] disappointed, like, not surprised, but disappointed that it got to this point,” Bergenstein said. 

Despite the disappointment, there is a small beacon of hope. This is due to the approach Ohio U has been taking in comparison to other Ohio universities that were quick to close DEI offices. Ohio U is choosing not to take any preemptive measures concerning the anti-DEI bill. However, there is still a sense of frustration because, for the most part, students are left in the dark right now as to what is going on.

“I think it’s mostly, like, nerve-wracking to know that something can just be passed so quickly and that things can actually get worse from here, so I think it’s just nervousness,” adds McKenny. 

“I think the misconception with DEI is that there are people on the outside of it,” says Carson. “I think being able to have spaces where you can express yourself does not take away from those that already existed beforehand.”

All students at Ohio U, whether part of these three centers or not, should continue voicing their opinions and standing against Senate Bill 1, despite how bleak things may look right now. This bill affects us all. 

“Laws are laws, we understand that, but we can stand up for what we believe in,” said Wray. Though this bill has the power to shut down these centers, it will never be able to silence the voices of those within them. 

Please note that these views and opinions do not reflect those of The New Political.