The student government at Ohio State University refuses to sanction a resolution brought forth by one of its members to support a pro-free speech bill winding its way through the state’s legislature.
The resolution sought to support the Campus Free Speech Act, introduced by a pair of Republican lawmakers. The bill seeks to block university officials from disinviting speakers based on any potential negative reactions or protests, and prohibit administrators from taking action that limits campus expression.
The resolution stated in part “we call on the university to promote a diverse and inclusive campus culture where all ideas can be shared openly and freely.”
But the student government at Ohio State on Wednesday indefinitely tabled the resolution after heated debate, the Lantern campus newspaper reports.
“Senators indirectly made jabs about the bill supporting hate speech, questioned the political affiliation of the sole sponsor and discussed the bill’s ‘slippery slope,'” the Lantern reports.
The resolution was brought forth by student Sen. Nick Davis, who last year launched Students for Trump at Ohio State.
“Disappointed, but not surprised, to see our Undergraduate Student Government overwhelmingly vote down free speech,” Davis wrote on his Facebook page today. “I don’t think I have ever in the span of 2 hours been called (or have it implied that I’m) racist, sexist, homophobic, ISIS, Richard Spencer, you name it, so much for any reason ever. The amount of personal attacks I endured last night by people in a misguided and unrelated debate was unbelievable and incredibly disappointing, but again, not surprising.”
“All this because I wanted to stand up for my beliefs- the idea that ALL people should be able to speak whatever they want and that ALL speech is protected speech,” Davis continued. “Unfortunately, these people don’t feel the same, as they for some ludicrous reason believe thought and speech should be policed. If the idea of policing speech is what we have to look forward to leading our country, I must say we are on a decline.”
MORE: Ohio bill would block universities from disinviting controversial speakers
Please join the conversation about our stories on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, MeWe, Rumble, Gab, Minds and Gettr.