Students returning to campus for the new school year will see major changes to campus life following the implementation of Ohio Senate Bill 1, also known as the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act. The law, which took effect June 27, requires public universities across the state to alter diversity, equity and inclusion policies, as well as other areas such as faculty rights and hiring practices.
As a result, Ohio University closed the Multicultural Center, Women’s Center, Pride Center and Office of Inclusion. These closures directly respond to the law’s ban on funded DEI programs.
OU President Lori Stewart Gonzalez said in a June 23 email the spaces in Baker University Center once occupied by these identity-based centers have been temporarily repurposed for the 2025-26 academic year based on student feedback from the university’s Belonging Survey.
The Multicultural Center’s second-floor location is now the Visible Student Lounge, designed as a gathering spot for students to express their identities and perspectives.
The offices next to the lounge will house the Make Respect Visible Coordinator, the LINKS program staff and the Center for Student Engagement and Leadership staff.
The former Women’s Center on the fourth floor has been converted into Baker Landing, a casual space for studying or taking breaks between classes, while the former Pride Center is now a reservable meeting room for student organizations.
However, the Office of Accessibility Services and the Veterans and Military Students Center were not affected, according to a previous report by The Post.
“‘We expect respect across differences and recognize our responsibility to practice empathy, to appreciate diverse perspectives and cultures, and to develop the capacity to solve problems that transcend borders,’” Gonzalez said via email. “Let’s all keep those words in our minds as we plan new approaches that will help us live our values and support our students.”
Senate Bill 1’s passage comes alongside Senate Bill 104, or the Protect All Students Act, which took effect Feb. 24.
The law requires multi-occupancy restrooms, locker rooms and overnight accommodations to be designed for either male or female students.
“Moving forward, we will continue our efforts to ensure that our public restroom signage and accommodations can meet the needs of our University community while remaining compliant with all applicable state and federal laws,” the OU website states.
Organizational changes were also announced, including shifting Cultural History and Heritage Programming, such as the annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration, to the Center for Student Engagement and Leadership.
The Dean of Students Office will now manage the University Interfaith Association, and Civil Rights Compliance will oversee accessibility resources like lactation room listings and single-user restrooms.
University officials have also addressed questions on how the laws will impact campus, including requirements for American civic literacy sources, how “controversial” topics will be handled in classrooms and whether certain federal scholarships will be affected in a Q&A page on their website.
“Guided by our University mission, vision and values, Ohio University is working to fully understand, respond to, and inform our community about recent and ongoing changes to Ohio law as well as federal actions and guidance,” the website states.
