Some faculty at Cleveland State University voiced frustration after the Feb. 26 Faculty Senate meeting during which the administration declined to address concerns over Ohio Senate Bill 1 (SB1). At the meeting, the university's leadership focused on its ongoing efforts to rein in the budget deficit, cuts to athletics and plans for new campus construction.

SB1, which would eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and restrict faculty governance at Ohio’s public universities, was mentioned briefly but not addressed in depth by Faculty Senate President Carol Olszewski, Ph.D., or CSU President Dr. Laura Bloomberg. 

In her report to the Senate, Dr. Bloomberg focused on CSU’s $17.4 million budget shortfall, attributing the financial strain to the ongoing impact of several years of declining enrollment and current reductions in state funding.

As part of CSU’s cost-cutting measures, Bloomberg referred to January's elimination of three athletic programs -- wrestling, women's golf and softball. The cuts, she said, were necessary to stabilize finances. 

However, the meeting also saw plans for new campus development projects, including the construction of updated academic buildings, a new student art gallery and a research center, prompting one faculty member to question the university’s spending priorities.

“This bill (SB1) could fundamentally alter how we teach, hire, and operate as a university, and yet leadership seems unwilling to confront it,” they said, asking not to be named. “It’s concerning that we’re talking about cutting sports and claiming a budget crisis while also pushing forward with expensive construction projects.”

Faculty Senate President Olszewski did briefly acknowledge the potential impact of SB1 on CSU.

“There are some very clear objectives in this legislation, but there are also some unclear targets," Olszewski said. "We will be affected by this legislation,” she added, without going into detail about the possibilities of how.

Matching the administration's reticence on the issue, Cleveland State faculty declined to put forward any resolution addressing SB1 at the meeting, while remaining skeptical about leadership's position on the bill.

With academic freedom, financial stability and campus priorities all in question, uncertainty about how CSU will navigate the coming challenges was the only clear message from the Feb. 26 Faculty Senate meeting.