BUZZ
Kent State University fields bias complaints under Ohio’s one-year-old anti-DEI law
A Kent State University student alleges a loss of points on a paper from a U.S. history professor for briefly comparing Charlie Kirk to Martin Luther King Jr.
That is one of several complaints fielded by Kent State University over the last school year under a relatively new anti-DEI law in Ohio. Senate Bill 1, passed last year, allows students to file complaints if they feel their intellectual diversity rights have been violated.
At Kent State, only seven complaints have been filed so far, the Akron Beacon Journal reported, adding none have been filed at the University of Akron. The newspaper determined the results through a public records request.
The Journal reported that of the seven complaints at KSU, two did not meet the parameters for an SB1 violation, and another appeared to be some sort of false or hoax report. The other four are:
[A] complaint was filed against a part-time faculty member in the School of Theatre and Dance. The complaint alleged the professor made “inappropriate” and “unethical” comments during his lectures, like saying pro-life individuals are uneducated and Catholic belief is impractical and inaccurate. …
A School of Art professor also was reported. The complaint alleges that the professor brought up Charlie Kirk’s murder during a lecture the day after it occurred. The professor is accused of allowing students to share controversial and aggressive comments that made the complainant feel uncomfortable. …
University housing also received a complaint. The complainant alleged that they were unable to fly a Palestinian flag in their dorm due to resident assistant and housing supervisor biases. …
The final complaint was made against a professor of American history at the Geauga Regional Campus. The complainant alleges that they lost points on a paper because of a reference they made to Charlie Kirk, briefly comparing him to Martin Luther King Jr. The complainant alleges professor bias influenced their grade.
The last complaint regarding Kirk and MLK remains under investigation, according to the Journal, which noted: “The complaint was filed Dec. 17, and it remains in the investigation stage. The professor didn’t respond to a request for comment.”
“Because professors around the country have suffered harm, including doxxing and harassment, over unsubstantiated complaints, this story does not name the professors,” the Journal noted.
The other three complaints have been resolved, according to the newspaper.
According to some faculty, the new law has made professor walk “on eggshells” and avoid some controversial subjects, the Journal reported.
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