To the editor: Will Ohio’s public universities lead the nation in free speech?

Ohio’s public universities have made big improvements in their policies on free expression and intellectual diversity, in most cases thanks to the recently passed Senate Bill 1. This law requires all public universities to take several important actions, from adopting new statements on free expression and policies of institutional neutrality, to ending the use of DEI statements in hiring, to promoting intellectual diversity in faculty hiring. These moves signal Ohio’s serious commitment to free expression and diversity of thought.

Ohio leaders have made other reforms. They have created new academic centers devoted to civic education and civil dialogue at five universities. They have also established the Ohio Civics Board to support the missions of these centers and to advise the General Assembly and Ohio’s chancellor of higher education.

These efforts have the potential to bring lasting benefits to Ohio’s universities and students. As Mark Bauerlein, a visiting professor at Ohio State’s new Salmon P. Chase Center, says, “The legislature has done important work on moving higher education in Ohio back to its traditional mission of open discussion, civic learning, and accountability to the people.”

But the work of reform is not complete. After acknowledging Ohio’s legislative successes, Bauerlein goes on to note, “Now comes the plodding part, namely, implementation, and monitoring.” For a concrete example, he points to Ohio State’s general education requirement in “Race, Ethnicity, and Gender Diversity,” which defines those traits as “historically and socially constructed.” Defining things this way cannot avoid excluding credible alternative definitions and discouraging the types of broad-ranging discussions students always deserve — especially on such a controversial topic. As Bauerlein says, “the requirement contradicts the very intellectual diversity mandated by S.B. 1. Let’s hope the legislators and trustees pay attention.”

Ohio’s public universities themselves need to take ownership and prioritize free inquiry and the open exchange of ideas on their campuses. Our organization, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, has identified several policies these schools could implement to support a culture of freedom on their campuses.

For example, many of the universities we studied do not appear to offer free expression or civil dialogue training during new student orientation. This is an easy way to start building a culture of free expression among students.

When it comes to expressive activity, different campus offices set the terms for access to student activity funding, campus events and spaces, and security fees. These matters need to be addressed with scrupulous fairness, without regard to political, ideological, or social prejudice. All staff, especially those in student-facing roles, should be properly trained to abide by free speech and free-expression laws and policies in a content-neutral manner.

These universities also need leaders who will do more than merely carry out the letter of the law: They need to be committed to the values of intellectual freedom. Candidates for leadership positions — especially university president — should be evaluated on their records of protecting and prioritizing these values that are the lifeblood of any true university.

Between declining public confidence and pressure from government, both state and national, this is a challenging time for American higher education. The clear way forward is to embrace the free expression and intellectual diversity that reflect America’s values. Ohio’s public universities have an opportunity to become national leaders by choosing to make these values central to their missions. Will they take it?

This piece was originally published by The Toledo Blade on June 1, 2026.