YSU-OEA, the union representing faculty workers at Youngstown State University, is collecting signatures to put Ohio Senate Bill 1 on the ballot in Ohio.

Senate Bill 1 was signed into law by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine in late March and aims to ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at Ohio universities, as well as prohibit faculty strikes, weaken tenure and increase state oversight over university curricula and and faculty evaluations.

YSU-OEA is looking to give Ohioans a voice in deciding whether or not this law should go into effect.

"It's a cobbled together bill that does not address any of the real issues facing Ohio's universities and has widespread unintended consequences that threaten the quality of higher education in Ohio," said YSU-OEA Executive Committee member Mandy Fehlbaum.

Fehlbaum added that this bill doesn't clearly explain what "controversial topics" are, defining them as "any belief or policy that is the subject of political controversy" listing topics like marriage and foreign policy.

"At a time when people can be and are offended by so many things, what's left to teach? Researchers study and teach about marriage in counseling, economics and so on. We study and teach foreign policy in political science, finance and economics. And we have no way of knowing what the next political hot button issue is going to be that this poorly written bill would restrict," Fehlbaum said.

Meanwhile, YSU-OEA President Mark Vopat described the bill as "yet another nail in the coffins of unions and free speech in Ohio."

"This is a watered-down federal approach to DEI that leaves universities vulnerable, because there is no clear guidance on 'controversial topics,' while it also attacks union rights. We expect that other public unions will be next," Vopat said.

Dr. Cryshanna Jackson Leftwich, a YSU professor and spokesperson for YSU-OEA, feels legislators ignored those speaking out against Senate Bill 1. She feels it's time to give the power to the people.

"If you look at Senate Bill 1, there were so many people in the state of Ohio that protested, and the legislators refused to listen. They're going to do what they're going to do. So even when people gave great examples, and all this opposition testimony to it, they were just kind of like we're not going to listen to our constituent," said Jackson Leftwich. "We really have to start figuring out when enough is enough. And so when you start looking at what it is that we want for our state and for our students. And for me personally, I fight when I start seeing things that are going to be detrimental in my classroom."

Proponents of the bill felt it was time for lawmakers to step in.

"SB 83 was introduced nearly two years ago, and the abuses that led to its introduction were well known long before that. So, the universities have had lots of time to act. What have they done?" said George Dent, Spokesperson for the Ohio Association of Scholars.

Representative Tex Fischer (R-Boardman) sent 21 News the following statement:

SB1 delivers some long-needed reforms like promoting diversity of thought, protecting the right of students to express their opinions freely without fear of political retribution, and preventing the ever-increasing influence from the Chinese government that is being discovered in universities across the country. I voted yes on the bill because I support all of those goals.

I would encourage anyone approached to sign on to an effort to place the duly-enacted law on the ballot for a referendum to think critically about the issue at hand and consider the overall impact of these policies on the students, rather than the interests of an organization with a vested interest in preserving the status quo.

I support the right of citizens to make their voices heard. Regardless of whether or not we agree on the issue, I hope more people play an active role in our government and continue to engage with their friends, neighbors, and elected officials.

Ohio State Senator Al Cutrona said he also stands by Senate Bill 1, and that it's sadly and poorly misrepresented by the opposition. Even so, Cutrona said people have the right to put this on the ballot.

YSU-OEA is hoping for 1,500 signatures. If the ballot language is approved by the Secretary of State, they will need 250,000 signatures to get on the ballot.

Members of the union already started collecting signatures at protests and union activities.

Anyone interested in reading or signing the petition can do so by emailing www.ohsb1petition.com .