Latest news with #EboniPringle
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio universities are closing their LGBTQ+ centers to comply with a state DEI ban
Multiple universities in Ohio have announced that they will be closing their LGBTQ+ student centers to comply with a state ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. Senate Bill 1, which is set to go into effect on June 27, doesn't just impose a sweeping DEI ban on state universities, but also restricts their ability to "endorse or oppose, as an institution, any controversial belief or policy, except on matters that directly impact the institution's funding or mission of discovery, improvement, and dissemination of knowledge." Related: What is DEI, what does it mean, and why are companies really getting rid of it? As a result, several colleges have shuttered their LGBTQ+ centers and related services. Ohio State University has so far closed two DEI offices, cut 16 staff positions, and took down its website offering support to LGBTQ+ students. The link is now deactivated, though the Internet Archive shows the page was active as recently as May 25, as reported by Signal Ohio. The University of Toledo has also discontinued nine undergraduate majors in response to the bill, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Meanwhile, Kent State University announced that it would be shutting down "several identity-based centers," such as its LGBTQ+ Center, Women's Center, and Student Multicultural Center. KSU is also ending its LGBTQ+ Living-Learning Community, which allowed queer students to live together, while stating "all other university academically based Living-Learning Communities will continue within our residence hall system." "We understand these centers and the Living-Learning Community have been powerful sources of connection, support and growth, and we acknowledge the emotional and personal impact this change may have on many members of our community," wrote Eboni Pringle, KSU's senior vice president for student life. Related: Iowa State students hold 'funeral' for LGBTQ+ center shut down by anti-DEI bill The ACLU of Ohio has maintained that the law violates students' and universities' freedom of speech, with Policy Director Jocelyn Rosnick saying in a statement that "as students nationwide witness the ongoing assaults against their First Amendment rights, it is disheartening to see Ohio's own legislators follow suit in this dangerous pattern of stifling political discourse." "By dismantling DEI structures, Senate Bill 1 sends a clear, harmful message to students that their unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are not welcome in Ohio," Rosnick said. "Further, the exceedingly vague and contradictory language regarding the banning of so-called 'controversial beliefs or policies' creates a slippery slope for faculty and administration. This could lead to faculty avoiding any such topics in classrooms for fear of retaliation." "Institutions of higher education must remain places where academic freedom and diversity can foster – not be censored," she said.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Kent State University to close LGBTQ Center, Women's Center and Multicultural Center
Kent State University. Photo from Wikimedia Commons. Kent State University is closing its LGBTQ+ Center, Women's Center and Student Multicultural Center because of a new state law banning diversity efforts that is set to take effect at the end of the month. Kent State's LBGTQ+ Living-Learning Community will cease to exist because of Senate Bill 1 going into effect, according to a statement from KSU. Kent State's Stark Campus will also close its LGBTQ Resource Center. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'Although the centers are closing, the Division of Student Life remains deeply committed to fostering student success, student belonging and ensuring continued access to resources, benefits students have consistently associated with the centers,' Senior Vice President for Student Life Eboni Pringle said in a statement Monday. Senate Bill 1 also prohibits faculty strikes, regulates classroom discussion of 'controversial' topics, creates post-tenure reviews, puts diversity scholarships at risk, creates a retrenchment provision that blocks unions from negotiating on tenure, shortens university board of trustees terms from nine years down to six years, and requires students take an American history course, among other things. S.B. 1 has affected other public and community colleges in Ohio, where some are taking administrative action and others are attempting to fight the measure. Ohio University is closing its Pride Center, the Women's Center and the Multicultural Center. Ohio State University is closing its Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of Student Life's Center for Belonging and Social Change. The University of Toledo is suspending nine undergraduate programs in response to S.B. 1. Miami University announced it will close the Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence and the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion. Youngstown State University faculty are collecting signatures to get a referendum on the November ballot to block S.B. 1. Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Kent State to close LGBTQ+, women's, multicultural centers
Editor's Note: The video above is about a peace mural unveiled at Kent State. KENT, Ohio (WJW) — Kent State University will close several identity-based student centers on its Kent and Stark campuses this summer to comply with new state law, the university announced Monday. Effective June 27, the Kent Campus will no longer operate its LGBTQ+ Center, Women's Center and Student Multicultural Center. The Stark Campus also will cease operations at its LGBTQ Resource Center, the University announced in a press release. Motorcycle pulling a camper trailer overturns in fatal crash Although the centers themselves will close, university officials said their physical spaces—including the E. Timothy Moore Center and Williamson House, home to the Center for Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services (SRVSS) — will remain open as general-use spaces accessible to all students. Guidelines for using these spaces are still being developed. In addition to the closures, Kent State's LGBTQ+ Living-Learning Community will be discontinued. Other academically based Living-Learning Communities will remain in operation. 'We understand these centers and the Living-Learning Community have been powerful sources of connection, support and growth, and we acknowledge the emotional and personal impact this change may have on many members of our community,' said Eboni Pringle, Ph.D., Senior Vice President for Student Life. The move is in response to new state directives affecting diversity, equity and inclusion programs at public universities. Read more about Ohio Senate Bill 1 here. 'Once-in-a-lifetime:' When you can see all three Goodyear Blimps together over NE Ohio Students will still have access to resources that support mental health, wellness and basic needs, the university said. 'Our mission remains the same: to foster a campus where every student feels a sense of belonging,' Pringle said. The university also expressed appreciation for the staff and student employees affected by the changes, stating, 'The university places a high value on their contributions.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
