AAUP-Ohio State

Colker said that in the wake of SB 1, some faculty have considered finding jobs elsewhere, or, as in her case, retire. “I’m also aware of other universities that are deliberately seeking to recruit people at Ohio State, thinking that there are faculty here who would very much like to leave,” Colker said. Colker said that this type of career move is unusual, that most university professors try to move upward to higher ranked institutions, but “[I’ve seen] people moving laterally, or sometimes even a downward shift.”

I think we’re going to see an attrition of talented faculty who can find positions elsewhere or retire,” Colker said. “I think that attrition is probably going to disproportionately be attrition by women and racial minorities who are more targeted by SB 1 than others.” Colker said that this will “harm the overall quality of the faculty.”

Colker said that the deciding factor in her retirement was a revision regarding the voluntary disclosure of personal pronouns in the classroom. “I learned through the university’s own webpage that it was impermissible for faculty member[s] to use any university resources to voluntarily request a student to disclose their pronouns,” Colker said.

Colker said that she had been requesting students to voluntarily disclose their preferred pronouns so as not to unintentionally misgender them, similar to many of her colleagues, so the change came as incompatible to her teaching philosophy and she considers it disrespectful to her students. “That’s not how I live my life,” Colker said. “It’s important for me to gender people appropriately.”

Colker said that when she was younger, she presented as more androgynous and would be intentionally and unintentionally misgendered as male. “It’s important to me not to do that to other people,” Colker said. “I’m not trans[gender] but I just don’t really feel like looking like [what] the traditional rules [say] what women should look like.”

Ruth Colker, a highly distinguished law professor and the Heck Faust Memorial Chair in Constitutional Law,  said that Ohio State’s “overcompliance” with SB 1 and its DEI rollbacks played a direct role in her early retirement. “[What] SB 1 itself says and how Ohio State implemented it, those are two different things,” Colker said. “Ohio State’s implementation of SB 1 is what caused me to retire a little earlier than I might have otherwise chosen to retire.”

In addition, Ohio State is required to avoid certain phrases and words in public-facing communications and on Ohio State’s website, deemed DEI language. Outlined in a style guidethat went into effect in June 2025, words like diversity, equity, implicit bias, social justice and microaggression cannot be used. “I’ve seen the university change websites to be no longer accurate because of their attempt to get rid of these words,” Colker said.

Colker gave an example of David Roper, a 2019 graduate of the Moritz College of Law and the first African American editor-in-chief of the Ohio State Law Journal, who received the 2019 Distinguished Diversity Enhancement Award for his dedication in “advocating for diversity and inclusion within the Moritz College of Law and the law profession,” according to a 2019 webpage. 

In June 2025, Colker said Roper was profiled in a Moritz college article for his work “to make the journal an atmosphere where everyone felt welcomed and heard,” not for receiving the diversity award. “They rewrote why he got the diversity and enhancement award in a way that made it inaccurate because they didn’t want to talk about the fact that he had worked to racially diversify the law journal,” Colker said. “That wasn’t something they could say even though it was factually true.” 

Here’s more from the article.

As the Lantern notes, Ruth
was recognized in a symposium last week “for her contributions to the field of disability justice, her OSU faculty profile names her as ‘one of the country’s preeminent scholars in constitutional law & disability discrimination.’ She has published 17 books & 90+ articles.”

Former Ohio State law professor reflects on how SB 1 led to her early retirement It’s been nearly a year since Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 1 into law. Since the bill’s enactment on March 28, 2025, which became effective in June, Ohio public universities have been required ...

Ruth Colker, a highly distinguished law professor and the Heck Faust Memorial Chair in Constitutional Law, was interviewed by the OSU’s the Lantern on how SB1 and OSU’s DEI rollbacks contributed to her early retirement. Ruth is also a member of the AAUP.

www.thelantern.com/2026/03/form...

that word should be “preemptive”!

Students and faculty arm in arm

Students with signs defending DEI

Student with sign on why DEI is important

Students listen to speakers at rally

SB1 passed later in March despite years of efforts - and the chilling effect of the law remains with us today. But March 4 is a day we will all remember, because it showed how we can come together, how we will not remain silent in the face of injustice.

Professor speaking at the rally

Rep Munira Abdullahi at the rally

Professor speaking at the rally

Again, this was a protest against increasing repression of free speech on campus. The event had to be held without megaphones, which, since the pro-Palestine protests, have been banned on campus before 5:30.

Student leaders address rally on March 4 2025

View of protest from the far end of the rally

Students at rally with “Save Higher Ed” sign

Students climbing tree for better view

We also spoke out against OSU admin’s pre-emotive compliance before SB 1 even passed, shutting down DEI on campus. Anger against this decision was palpable, and remains to this day.

A thousand protestors gather on the Oval at OSU

Flyer for March 4 Day of Action with the slogan “Shred SB1”

One year ago, on March 4, 2025, about 1000 students, faculty, and staff at Ohio State came together to protest Ohio’s Senate Bill 1. Organized by AAUP-OSU. OSA at OSU, and many more, we spoke out against this bill to repress academic freedom, unions, DEi, and implement surveillance on our teaching.

‘Very Republican, very patriotic’: right-leaning civic centers now offer courses at US public colleges Republican lawmakers push for conservative professors to counter purported leftwing indoctrination in schools

Want to know more about the sweeping trend of state mandated taxpayer financed and hyper empowered civics centers, and the political project they embody, as in Ohio? See this excellent @theguardian.com article @osuaaup.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

With the recent assault of a journalist by Chase Center affiliate Luke Perez, the Center deserves more national scrutiny. Let’s hope journalists keep a spotlight on an institution that many rightfully call a “trojan horse” - hiding what it really is, and imposed on us by the legislature.

“But ideologically speaking, the diversity mostly ranges along a conservative spectrum. There are Reagan-supporting neoconservatives who object to the views of MAGA along with professors who support President Trump and others whose politics are shaped by conservative interpretations of Christianity.”

Strang brags that the Chase Center is “much more diverse than almost any academic unit in a large public university.” But check out this reporting on what it really amounts to - Chase represents the entire spectrum of opinion from Reagan to Trump!

Conservative-leaning civic centers now teach courses at public colleges A growing number of Republican legislators are using their power in the name of intellectual diversity to get right-leaning professors in front of all students, at conservative-leaning civic centers.

The Hechinger Report on OSU’s Chase Center: very useful information and data.

Especially visible is the contrast between what politicians & Chase director Lee Strang says and the reality that we all see.

hechingerreport.org/conservative...

AAUP-OSU Februrary Chapter Meeting Join us for our upcoming Chapter Meeting, where we will discuss the state of affairs on campus.

Have you signed up for our Feb chapter meeting tomorrow (online)? Register at the link below.

You don’t want to miss it: guests from AAUP national, plus updates on the NTT labor campaign, next steps after the ONA picket to remove the Wexner name, and more.

actionnetwork.org/events/aaup-...

Most Conservative Students Don’t Feel Persecuted on Campus A new survey of college students contradicts Republican rhetoric that campus culture is hostile to right-wing views.

No, if you ask them conservative student don’t feel persecuted. Contrary to what so many on the political right been asserting as a fact in their attacks on higher education @aaup.org @osuaaup.bsky.social www.insidehighered.com/news/student...

Flyer describes event: “Who Controls the Narrative: From Free Speech & Polarization to Solidarity on Campus.” Tuesday 2/24 Denney Hall 453 (hybrid). Speakers: Tom Alter, Shannon Winnubst, Pranav Jani & grad/undergrad leaders. Several co-sponsors. More details and RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScx2H6dkLla4Z5-f6UrHM12ht2SdYbqxZsz2S3s8p51xM5uSQ/viewform Link to register for zoom: https://aft.zoom.us/meeting/register/cXxTTIZZRQyM2tSm64Uv2Q

It’s been a busy week/mobth/semester and there’s a lot to talk about. Including the NTT Labor campaign, the solidarity action with the nurses On Sunday, and the panel discussion on Tuesday with Professor Tom Alter, and faculty and student leaders.

See you tomorrow (hybrid) and see you on Friday

AAUP-OSU Februrary Chapter Meeting Join us for our upcoming Chapter Meeting, where we will discuss the state of affairs on campus.

Mark your calendars for the February chapter meeting (virtual). Register to get the zoom link.

actionnetwork.org/events/aaup-...

““It’s a gross misuse of funds,” Beaton said. “We brought our umbrellas here, we’re crossing out the Wexner name, and we’re going to donate the umbrellas after that.”

“Erynn Beaton, treasurer of AAUP-OSU and associate professor at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, said that Ohio State employees received a free umbrella to commemorate the opening of the new tower, which has Wexner’s name printed on it.

Protesters call for Wexner’s name to be removed from new hospital tower during opening day In front of the Wexner Medical Center’s new hospital tower, over 100 people called for Ohio State to remove Les Wexner’s name off the building and all others on campus. The protest, which took place o...

Here’s coverage from the Lantern, including a comment from our treasurer and board member, Erynn Beaton.

www.thelantern.com/2026/02/prot...

The AAUP-OSU umbrella contingent

more of the AAUP umbrella contingent

AAUP-OSU faculty came out with the umbrellas that the Wexner Medical Center had sent to many of us to advertise their new building—and crossed off the name.

Photo of informational picket in front of Wexner Medical Center demanding that Ohio State remove Wexner‘s name from its buildings.

sign says Wexner equals pain, remove the name.

signs in front of James Cancer Hospital say things like: a place for care should not have a reminder of harm.

Photo of protesters gathered for the informational picket

The OSU community turned up on Sunday, despite the weather, to stand up for survivors. The Ohio Nurses Association picket demanded that OSU remove Wexner’s name from medical and all campus buildings.

Just one day away. Don’t miss this excellent panel!

The Lantern Q = The protest drew in students, as well as faculty from the medical center and faculty members from the American Association of University Professors, also known as AAUP. Erin Beaton, an associate professor at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, said that Ohio State employees received a free umbrella to commemorate the opening of the new tower, which has Wexner's name printed on it. "It's a gross misuse of funds," Beaton said. "We brought our umbrellas here, we're crossing out the Wexner name, and we're going to donate the umbrellas after that."

Students, nurses with @ohnursesassoc.bsky.social, and faculty with @osuaaup.bsky.social all protested the opening of Ohio State’s new hospital, calling for the Wexner Medical Center to be renamed
www.thelantern.com/2026/02/prot...

Flyer describes event: “Who Controls the Narrative: From Free Speech & Polarization to Solidarity on Campus.” Tuesday 2/24 Denney Hall 453 (hybrid). Speakers: Tom Alter, Shannon Winnubst, Pranav Jani & grad/undergrad leaders. Several co-sponsors. See link in initial post for more details and for registering for zoom.

2/24 Panel with Prof Tom Alter. New flyer with new endorsers!

Details and RSVP: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Link to register for zoom: aft.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Thanks. Someone else also reminded. Added written text to the post.

Forgot to add alt text. Flyer describes event: “Who Controls the Narrative: From Free Speech & Polarization to Solidarity on Campus.” Tuesday 2/24 Denney Hall 453. Speakers: Tom Alter,
Shannon Winnubst, Pranav Jani & grad/undergrad leaders. Several co-sponsors, will add link later for zoom details.

Will do, thank you.

Join us Tuesday for this panel on free speech, academic freedom and solidarity with Prof Tom Alter, unjustly fired from Texas Tech and OSU faculty & students. Flyer updated as more groups endorse.