On Wednesday, March 19, students representing Otterbein University Student Government (OUSG) attended the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio (AICUO) Independent College Day at the Ohio statehouse and found themselves partaking in the OSU protest against Senate Bill 1 (SB1) which dismantles diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in public universities.
The AICUO Independent College Day is hosted by Otterbein’s lobbying group that advocates for the Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG), which supports low-income students, around 32% of the undergraduate students at Otterbein.
Nabiha Ilkaqor, freshman class senator, and Cordaejah Ridley, OUSG campus commissioner, both spontaneously stood to speak at the protest expressing support on behalf of Otterbein for OSU’s efforts against the passage of the bill. They did this knowing Otterbein’s status as a private institution would exempt it from the legislation.
Ridley spoke about the importance of Black history in American history saying that, “Black history is not separate from American history, it is American history.”
She said the bill, which she said will erase Black history from education, will shield people from the “uncomfortable realities” of oppression instead of “fostering accountability.”
“Equality is oppression to the privileged,” said Ridley to the crowd.
Ilkaqor, daughter of immigrants from Kenya, reflected on how her parents gave up their dreams to give her the opportunity to dream and get an education in America, but she asked the crowd about the value of an education founded on ignorance. She emphasized the importance of being “thorns in the side” of injustice.
SB1 passed in the house by a 59-34 vote during the protest.
Rowan Ratvasky, OUSG vice president, along with Skye Hamilton, OUSG treasurer, expressed disapproval for the bill as well and discussed OUSG’s DEI advocacy efforts on campus. Ratvasky recounted a conversation he had with John Comerford, president of Otterbein University, urging him to publicly oppose the bill. Over spring break, students received an email from the president’s office where Comerford addressed SB1.
“Elements of it [SB1] are concerning as precedent to me and I know many others on campus,” wrote Comerford in the email. “To prevent this from applying to Otterbein, I have been asking lawmakers to remember we are a private enterprise, not a state agency like the public universities. This tends to be a winning argument for legislators from both parties who control the State House.”
Comerford further wrote, “One last word on all this. It may seem to many of you that these efforts are an attempt to divide us. To make some people feel unwelcome. To block access to college education. Know that no one can make Otterbein unwelcoming except for us. No external force can make us turn on each other. And I’m proud of our community that welcomes everyone regardless of where they come from, what they believe, how they vote, or who they love."
