As Ohio’s colleges and universities begin implementation of Senate Bill 1, Cleveland State University (CSU) students and faculty continue to grapple with its provisions.
CSU Faculty Senate President Carol Olszewski, at the latest two-hour senate meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 1, addressed faculty representatives directly as spirits were low.
“I know morale is low…I know that many of you do not feel as seen or heard or respected as you would like to be,” said Olszewski. “All I can say is that a lot of the issues that are creating these feelings…are past our campus. Please know…we’re working to navigate the concerns. We continue to advocate for the greatness of what each faculty member can contribute to this community.”
The prohibition of diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) programs and the teaching of “controversial subjects” are the S.B. 1 provisions that have generated some of the most challenging conversations among staff and faculty. Many simply struggle with the line between what is and isn’t “controversial.”
Faculty representatives such as Professors Kim Fuller and Gary Dyer, who teach social work and English, respectively, referred to examples within their own coursework.
“The primary responsibility of faculty is to engage in an honest, courageous and persistent effort to search out and communicate the truth that lies in the areas of their competence,” began CSU President Laura Bloomberg. “I struggle with the word competence. I think it would be areas of expertise. Essentially, what you’re teaching in the classroom.”
Bloomberg used statistical significance as an example of how to navigate the blurred lines.
“Statistical significance and understanding how to teach statistical significance, that’s your area of expertise,” said Bloomberg. “The example could be data around health disparities based on a demographic characteristic like gender or race or age. Can I talk about race in the context of statistical significance and understanding what might cause disparities? I would say the answer is absolutely yes because the focus is on statistical significance.”
If students wish to discuss the topic further in the context of race, gender or another subject that S.B. 1 declares is controversial, faculty and staff may take the conversation outside the classroom, added Bloomberg.
As questions from concerned faculty kept coming up, Provost Nigamanth Sridhar momentarily spoke beyond his role as an administrator:
“At a human level, I’m sorry that you have to go through what you’re going through.”
Student concerns on S.B. 1: LGBTQ+ Center, Mareyjoyce Green Women’s Center cuts
Since the start of the semester, CSU has quietly eliminated its LGBTQ+ Student Center, Mareyjoyce Green Women’s Center and other related programming and resources.
“I am aware that students have a number of questions about the email that went out last week identifying centers that have closed or have been restructured in compliance with Senate Bill 1,” said Bloomberg.
The cuts came in the absence of formal announcements or notices from the University. Bloomberg emphasized support for student organizations amid these losses.
“I want to be really clear that Senate Bill 1 does not constrain student organizations,” said Bloomberg. “They have the right to exist. What we cannot have is a staff LGBTQ+ center, a staff center focused on what the legislation speaks to as D.E.I. We can have student organizations. We can support student organizations. We can help students find their voice, including their…dissent about this decision. I do not want to squelch that.”
Indeed, student-run organizations are running and working to provide resources and community as these changes take into effect.
The next meeting of the CSU Faculty Senate is Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 3 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom. Senate meetings are open to the public and livestreamed.
