Professors at Central State University are concerned about a new higher education law that can potentially affect its campus. Central State is the only public HBCU in the state of Ohio.

The university was originally the Normal and Industrial Department at Wilberforce University, which is the oldest private HBCU in the country. Central State was also a significant stop on the Underground Railroad. Four-year degrees were first offered by the department in 1941, and in 1951 it gained independence from Wilberforce to become Central State College. Central State was officially recognized as a university in 1965.

Ohio lawmakers quickly passed Senate Bill 1, and Governor Mike DeWine signed the bill into law back in March. Among other things, the new law will reduce the length of university board of trustees terms from nine to six years, ban diversity initiatives, prohibit faculty strikes, control classroom discussion of “controversial” topics, establish post-tenure reviews, jeopardize diversity scholarships, and create a retrenchment provision that prevents unions from negotiating on tenure. Students will also be required to take an American history course.

In a recent interview with the Ohio Capital Journal, members of the Central State University chapter of the American Association of University Professors expressed their concerns regarding Senate Bill 1.

“Even if it’s not stopping me from teaching something on a practical level, it could make me think twice about something,” said J. Brendan Shaw, president of the Central State’s AAUP chapter.

“Even if the letter of the bill does not say that, it still creates that chilling effect of making people think twice about something that our students might benefit from,” Shaw said.

Both students and faculty at Central State are concerned about the effects of the bill. Assistant professor of history Sarah Siff says she’s worried about the effect on people’s freedom of speech, which could potentially damage academic freedom. While students at the university are worried that they won’t be able to access scholarships and grants specifically for Black students.

“It’s quite stark to think that someone’s response to that might just be, well, then I won’t teach that part, or I’ll toss that out and keep myself safe,” said Siff. “As a person who does not have tenure, I really have to think about that.”

The bill is set to take effect at the end of June.