Senate Bill 1

Cleveland State University joins Kent State University, Ohio State University and others in Ohio ending identity centers in response to Senate Bill 1's diversity, equity and inclusion ban.

Ohio's new higher education bill, Senate Bill 1, requires universities to submit lists of programs granting five or less degrees annually, to be ended in a bid to make colleges more efficient. Kent State University and Cuyahoga Community College both submitted several dozen programs each.

The move to close the centers to comply with Senate Bill 1 comes after other major universities in Ohio have closed their diversity, equity and inclusion offices and ended their multicultural, women's and LGBTQ+ centers.

Protesters gathered outside as state Sen. Jerry Cirino defended the higher education bill as a needed course correction to "monolithic liberal agenda" at universities in Ohio.

Ohio Republicans have made it a top priority this legislative session to cut state regulatory restrictions.Senate Bill 1 calls for a 30 percent reduction…