The Bowling Green State University Faculty Association (BGSU-FA) is hosting a forum titled “Uniting Against Legislative and Electoral Challenges,” alongside the faculty union Wednesday, March 20, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in room 201 of the Bowen-Thompson Student Union (BTSU).

BGSU-FA members say the panelists will discuss threats to higher education in legislation and ongoing actions to further centralize control over K-12 education. They also say the forum will cover the political and electoral landscape in Ohio heading into the Nov. 2024 elections.

Who is BGSU-FA?

The BGSU-FA has a mission “to negotiate the terms and conditions of employment for all full-time BGSU faculty, including salary and benefits, working conditions, and faculty grievances. This work, all of which is performed by volunteers from within the organization, can take many forms.”

According to their website, The BGSU-FA works to ensure that every academic unit elects one faculty member to serve as the Department Representative to the BGSU-FA.

Senate Bill 83

Organizers of “Uniting Against Legislative and Electoral Challenges” particularly pointed to Senate Bill 83 (SB 83), otherwise known as “The Ohio Higher Education Enhancement Act,” when pointing to legislative threats to higher education.

Ohio Senate Bill 83 Coverage

Professor calls SB 83 "unnecessary" and "destructive"

Ohio Senate Bill 83 creates concern on campuses

Legislation targets university diversity and affirmative action

Senate Bill 83 could sever academic ties to China

What would it do?

The primary sponsor of the bill, Sen. Jerry Cirino, alongside seven co-sponsors, introduced the legislation to the Ohio Senate to “expose students to a variety of thoughts” and eliminate “bias” within college classrooms. The bill encompasses a wide variety of regulations to implement in Ohio’s higher education system.

The bill, if imposed, would eliminate universities from taking a stance on “controversial” social issues. The bill defines this political controversy as “including issues such as climate change, foreign policy, diversity, equity and inclusion programs, immigration policy, marriage or abortion.”

“This bill will move us toward true academic freedom,” said Senator Cirino. “We need students to be taught how to think, not what to think. Now, more than ever, it is vital to preserve the credibility and confidence in our state universities, four-year colleges and community colleges by making sure they are not straying from their core mission of education.”