Youngstown State University President Bill Johnson has issued a statement to students following the passage of a bill that would regulate classroom discussions and banning diversity efforts at universities.

In the statement, President Johnson says YSU "remains dedicated" to its mission of intellectual diversity and free speech and "educating students on how to think, not telling them what to think."

Johnson went on to say YSU will remain committed to treating everyone as unique individuals, upholding its anti-discrimination policies and providing an environment that supports intellectual growth and mutual respect.

Johnson says the exact rules of the bill have not been published just yet, but says YSU will carefully review and understand the law, comply with it and ask questions if needed.

"Senate Bill 1 does not change who we are or what we stand for here at YSU, and we will continue to be a place where students are empowered to think critically [and] where they can engage in meaningful dialogue and prepare to meet the challenges of their generation," Johnson said.

Senate Bill 1 was signed into law by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine on Friday. In addition to banning diversity efforts, the bill also bans faculty strikes, requires post-tenure reviews and mandates syllabus transparency.

You can read more about the bill in our related coverage below.

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