Dear faculty members,

 

This week (either Wednesday, September 22nd or Thursday, September 23rd), the Ohio legislature will be holding a hearing on House Bills 322 and/or 327, which would prohibit the teaching of “certain current events and certain concepts regarding race and sex” (HB 322) and “divisive concepts” (HB 327).  

 

Not only are these bills extreme threats to academic freedom, but they would place severe pressure on many types of faculty speech in the classroom given the serious consequences if found to be in violation of these laws (the university would lose ¼ of its state funding for the first offense!).

 

We are encouraging you to contact the Committee members and voice your opposition to these bills.  You can refer to these talking points in your communications with Committee members.  You can also find more information about these bills by watching the recent Save Ohio Higher Ed forum on Sept. 2, reading this recent Academe blog, or accessing more information and toolkits at the League of Women Voters' Honesty for Ohio Education website.

 

House State & Local Government Committee

District

Representative

Position

Office Phone

Email

Twitter

Facebook

1

Scott Wiggam

Chair

614-466-1474

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

@Scott_Wiggam

NA

2

Marilyn John

Vice Chair

614-466-5802

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NA

https://www.facebook.com/MarilynForOhio

31

Brigid Kelly

Ranking Member

614-466-5786

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

@brigidekelly

https://www.facebook.com/brigidkellyohio/

61

Jamie Callender

Majority Party Member

614-644-6074

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

@JamieCallender

https://www.facebook.com/JamieCallenderOH/

43

Rodney Creech

Majority Party Member

614-466-2960

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NA

https://www.facebook.com/rodneycreechohiohouse

74

Bill Dean

Majority Party Member

614-466-1470

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NA

NA

99

Sarah Fowler Arthur

Majority Party Member

614-466-1405

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NA

https://www.facebook.com/SarahOhioEdu7

35

Tavia Galonski

Minority Party Member

614-644-6037

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

@RepGalonski

https://www.facebook.com/RepGalonski/

5

Tim Ginter

Majority Party Member

614-466-8022

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

@RepTimGinter þ

https://www.facebook.com/State-Representative-Tim-Ginter-570781376390526/

76

Diane Grendell

Majority Party Member

614-644-5088

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NA

https://www.facebook.com/OhioRep76

24

Allison Russo

Minority Party Member

614-466-8012

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

@Russo4Ohio

https://www.facebook.com/Russo4Ohio/

13

Michael Skindell

Minority Party Member

614-466-5921

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

@MikeSkindell

https://www.facebook.com/mikeskindell/

45

Lisa Sobecki

Minority Party Member

614-644-6017

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

@ForSobecki

https://www.facebook.com/RepSobecki45

78

Brian Stewart

Majority Party Member

614-466-1464

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

@BrianStewartOH

https://www.facebook.com/BrianStewartOhio

91

Shane Wilkin

Majority Party Member

614-466-3506

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

@WilkinForOhio þ

https://www.facebook.com/WilkinforOhio/

Committee Site: https://ohiohouse.gov/committees/state-and-local-government

 

Additionally, you can submit opposition testimony, either in writing or in-person during the hearing.  Testimony must be submitted 24 hours in advance to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can use this testimony template, fill in your own information, and even include some of these talking points. You must include the required Witness Information Form (which should be added as the first page). You can also contact your State Representative here or through this easy tool.

 

Coleen Taylor, MPA

Executive Director

330.673.9118

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

AAUP-KSU

136 N. Water Street

Suite 213

Kent, Ohio 44240