Ohio University Students Stand United: Demanding Transparency in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives

Ohio University Students Demand Transparency on Diversity Efforts

ATHENS, Ohio — On Thursday, a wave of over a thousand students from Ohio University left their classes. They voiced their need for more transparency from university leaders about the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. This protest is one of many happening across the country as new laws threaten to reshape these initiatives.

Tamya Edwards, a senior and protest coordinator, emphasized the urgency of their demands for answers. “Students deserve to know what’s happening,” she said. She believes that students should be able to express their thoughts freely, without needing scripted statements.

Earlier this month, Ohio University President Lori Gonzalez acknowledged that the university must follow state laws. However, she did not specify whether the university would challenge these laws. Edwards and other students found this response inadequate.

The protesters urged the university to clarify how Ohio’s upcoming Senate Bill 1 would affect everyone on campus. Supporters of this bill claim it will put an end to what they call “liberal indoctrination” by restricting DEI initiatives and imposing strict reviews on faculty performance. They also want courses focused on American history and free market capitalism.

“We understand that compliance is necessary,” Edwards noted. “But there should be some effort to fight back before simply complying.”

The march began at Peden Stadium and moved toward Cutler Hall, where they wanted President Gonzalez to speak to them directly. Unfortunately, she did not appear. Her predecessor had previously engaged with students during a similar protest four years ago.

The atmosphere during the rally was electric. Jireh Burton from the Black Student Cultural Programming Board said, “Seeing everyone united gave me chills. That’s when the emotions just started to flow.” It was clear that students from all backgrounds stood together in support of their shared values.

Inspired by other protests at institutions like the University of Cincinnati, the students at Ohio University stressed the importance of maintaining the integrity of their educational environment.

Ohio State University has already started to cut or revise its DEI programs in response to similar laws and federal directives. Universities are warned that failure to comply could result in loss of federal funding.

As of now, Ohio University is one of the few large institutions in the state that has not fully dissolved its DEI programs.

Edwards expressed frustration with universities that comply without resistance, saying, “It shows that they’re money-hungry. They just want to keep their funding.”

WOUB reached out to Ohio University for a comment regarding the demonstration but had not received a response by publication time.