Masks slipping at the Statehouse

This past Saturday, as Buckeyes everywhere donned their scarlet and grey and prepared for THE game, Honesty For Ohio Education posted a graphic that everyone needs to see.

This image really highlights how Ohio’s new law — SB 1 — has already harmed OSU and universities across the state:

If you aren’t familiar with Ohio Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), here’s a very quick overview.

This new law:

• Heavily restricts the teaching of “controversial” subjects such as climate change, immigration, marriage, foreign policy, and current events

• Bans most diversity policies and programs

• Places entire departments, majors, and courses at risk

• Guts workers’ rights for college/university educators and staff

• Bans meaningful tenure

• Bans academic partnerships with China

• And much more

SB 1 is expected to be a major hit to Ohio’s economy. Experts have warned it will cause Ohio to lose students, professors, tuition dollars, tourism dollars, and countless jobs to other states.

(Based on the image above, the experts are already being proven correct)

Then, in the middle of the OSU game, Ohio Republic State Rep Adam Mathews posted a disturbing response. He celebrated Ohio State’s significant loss of international students (and the tuition dollars that come with them):

First of all, Rep Mathews declared during the Ohio State game that he wants *ichigan to beat Ohio. Absolutely wild.

But more importantly, we need to state plainly that his comment is racist and prejudiced, pure and simple.

There is simply no other explanation for why someone would celebrate a 38% drop in international students.

International students bring in tons of money and prestige for a university. They also bring culture. They bring new and diverse perspectives. They bring incredible talent. And they enhance the quality of American students’ education, because the American students get to interact and engage with people from around the world.

I’m sure Rep Mathews will claim he simply wants “American schools for American kids” (or something else that sounds eerily similar to a white nationalist propaganda poster from the 1940s). But we all know that’s BS.

The top three countries of origin for international students attending OSU are China, India, and South Korea. I can pretty much guarantee that Rep Mathews did not have Swedish students in mind when posting that meme.

It’s time to call out and publicly shame people for dog whistles like this one. Let Rep Mathews know your thoughts on his recent post: 614-644-6027 or Rep56@OhioHouse.gov

Let Senator Jerry Cirino know what you think about SB 1 (he wrote it): 614-644-7718 or Cirino@OhioSenate.gov

Then contact your Ohio legislators by typing your address below these maps. Tell them to REPEAL SB 1 before Ohio loses even more students to that school up North.