As Ohio House representatives consider Senate Bill 83, educators are pushing for it to be shot down.  

“It’s a micro management bill that is couched in language regarding academic freedom but would actually instill fear,” Scott DiMauro, President of the Ohio Education Association said 

The bill would ban staff and students at all Ohio colleges and universities from discussing topics that some legislators have deemed controversial which includes anything about climate policies, electoral politics, foreign policy, diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, immigration policy, marriage, or abortion.

“(It’s) essentially saying they’re taboo for the classroom, you're chilling the opportunity to really have a meaningful educational experience for students,” DiMauro said. “I think it’s very important that at a level that is appropriate for people’s age’s, for people's areas of study, that students be exposed to multiple perspectives, multiple viewpoints on issues that are important.”

The Ohio Education Association completely opposed the bill and is afraid if it’s signed into law, educators would leave their jobs and students would choose another school outside of Ohio.

SB83 also looks to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Some against the bill feel without those discussions, colleges and universities would become an unwelcoming environment. 

“You're sending a message to particularly marginalized communities that we don't care about you and that we don't want you here in Ohio,” DiMauro said. 

Supporters of Senate Bill 83 say it's necessary to limit how some topics can be taught to avoid professors promoting their own beliefs. They feel this bill will put a stop to what they call liberal "indoctrination," a GOP talking point that often stops short of explaining who would determine what subjects would cross the line. Congressman Bill Johnson has vowed to tackle any indoctrination when he takes over as president at Youngstown State University. 

“It’s too many of them that are spending more of their time liberally indoctrinating their students rather than educating their students," Johnson said on 21 News at 5. 

The bill has been passed in the Ohio Senate and is waiting to be voted on in the House.