Vacationland Times

Representative Gary Click (R-Vickery) recently cast his vote in support of Senate Bill 1, a piece of legislation aimed at bringing a "Students First" agenda to Ohio's state universities. This bill seeks to align higher education with Ohio's workforce needs by making several significant reforms.

One of the main objectives of Senate Bill 1 is to eliminate DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs, trainings, and orientations. Representative Click expressed his support for this aspect of the bill by referencing a historical quote: "When I visit the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., I love to place my feet where Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. I stand in solidarity with him when he spoke of a dream of a day when his children would be judged by the content of their character, rather than the color of their skin. DEI turns that dream on its head and judges individuals by the color of their skin rather than the content of their character. This is why I proudly voted in favor of Senate Bill 1 declaring that D.E.I is D.E.A.D."

The bill outlines several changes for state higher education institutions:

- **DEI Elimination**: It aims to remove programs related to DEI, asserting that these lead to institutional discrimination and indoctrination.

- **Freedom of Speech and Equality**: The legislation ensures that opinions are not silenced or marginalized, fostering an environment that encourages diverse perspectives.

- **Ensuring Educational Continuity**: It prohibits faculty strikes or walkouts to prevent disruptions in students' academic progress.

- **Maintaining Quality**: Institutions must evaluate tenured faculty not meeting performance expectations to ensure continued educational standards and rigor.

- **Workforce Relevance**: Programs graduating fewer than five degrees over three years will be subject to sunset, ensuring relevance to Ohio's workforce needs.

- **Primary Civics and Capitalism Education**: The bill emphasizes the necessity for students to gain an understanding of American civics and capitalism.

- **Restricting Foreign Influence**: It includes measures to prevent interference from foreign nations, particularly the People's Republic of China, in Ohio's educational institutions.

The proposed legislation will now proceed to the Ohio Senate for a concurrence vote.