Opponents of a multifaceted higher education bill protest across the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio, May 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Samantha Hendrickson, file)

The University of Toledo is suspending several undergraduate programs — like religious studies, data analytics, Spanish and women’s and gender studies — to comply with Ohio Senate Bill 1.

SB 1 is a higher education reform law written by Republicans and signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine (R) in March. The law, which goes into effect before the 2025-26 school year, bans diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at public colleges and universities, bars professors from “indoctrinating students” and prohibits professors from striking. It also prohibits professors from taking a stance on topics like climate change, which is generally proven to be real.

The University of Toledo released a full list of programs that they will not accept admissions for this year in a press release from April 21.

Dr. Scott Molitor, the interim provost and executive vice president of academic affairs at the school, gave a statement in the release.

“I also want to be clear that these disciplines remain an important part of UToledo,” Molitor said. “Faculty will continue to teach courses that are part of minors, certificates or concentrations, as well as significant components of our core curriculum. We may be in a moment in our history where there is not current demand from students to major in these programs, but we will continue to provide students opportunities to take these courses.”

The bill was written and introduced by Sen. Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland), a former medical device company executive who has served in the Ohio state Senate since 2021.

“No student should ever be ostracized, cancelled or have to worry about a failing grade for merely daring to have a difference of opinion with classmates or a professor,” Cirino said in a statement when introducing the bill in January. “It is essential for students to learn how to think rather than what to think, and how to listen to opposing views with a respectful but critical ear.”

On Tuesday, opponents of SB 1 were cleared to collect signatures for a referendum to repeal the law. If enough signatures are collected by early July, approximately 250,000, the referendum could appear in front of voters on the November ballot. The effort is being lead by faculty members from Youngstown State University.

Republicans passed SB 1 through committee, the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate with no Democratic support thanks to significant GOP majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. These majorities have been preserved by Republican gerrymandering that have prevented competitive elections in the state since the early 2010s.