Kent State University announced today it will be ending its Women鈥檚 Center, LGBTQ+ Center and its Multicultural Center to comply with a state ban on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in higher education.
However, the university said that the physical spaces that formerly housed those centers . That includes the E. Timothy Moore Center, the home of the multicultural center, and the Williamson House, the home to the women鈥檚 center. Eboni Pringle, senior vice president for student life, said in a letter to the campus Monday that those spaces will serve 鈥渁ll students.鈥�
鈥淎lthough the centers are closing, the Division of Student Life remains deeply committed to fostering student success, student belonging and ensuring continued access to resources, benefits students have consistently associated with the centers,鈥� Pringle wrote. 鈥淭he Center for Student Involvement will continue to serve as a vibrant gateway to an exciting, connected and fulfilling college experience. This includes clubs, organizations, leadership opportunities, and fraternity and sorority life.鈥���
The changes are a direct response to Senate Bill 1, signed into law earlier this year, which prevents institutions from providing an 鈥渁dvantage or disadvantage鈥� to staff or students based on ethnicity, religion, race, sexual orientation, sex or gender. Ohio University and Ohio State University their versions of these centers earlier this year. The Trump administration has also issued executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs at institutions that accept federal funds.
Pringle announced a host of other changes coming to Kent鈥檚 campuses in the letter Monday, which will take effect June 27 when the higher education law goes into effect.
- Kent鈥檚 Stark Campus will no longer operate its LGBTQ Resource Center, but the space will 鈥渃ontinue to be available as a general resource room intended to serve all students.鈥�
- The university鈥檚 LGBTQ+ Living-Learning Community will be discontinued. This program allowed LGBTQ+ students to live in the same area of a residence hall together. Pringle said other living-learning communities will remain.
- Despite the Women鈥檚 Center closing, the Williamson House will remain home to the Center for Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services
At the same time, Pringle said the university will be expanding support for student clubs and organizations, including fraternities and sororities. She said the staff will offer guidance to students, work with student leaders and advisors and provide other support to the organizations as needed.
The university will not be laying off any staff who had worked at the centers, a spokesperson said Monday, after identifying 鈥減ositions in other departments that align with their expertise.鈥�
Cleveland State University is reviewing the higher education law, CSU said in a May 23 statement. Currently, it operates a women鈥檚 center, an Office of Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement and an LGBTQ+ Student Services office.
鈥淭he University continues to review the law and how it will impact our programs and activities,鈥� spokesperson Kristin Broka said. 鈥淭his is an ongoing process and we are working toward being in full compliance. CSU remains focused on our primary responsibility of meeting the educational needs of our students.鈥�
The University of Akron does not operate any affinity-based centers, a spokesperson said on May 23, and is 鈥渨orking to comply鈥� with SB1.
Youngstown State University didn鈥檛 respond to multiple requests for comment sent recently.
