Ohio State student and faculty organizations speak out against student visa revocations

Following ongoing visa revocations for international college students across the country, organizations within higher education institutions are speaking out to advocate on behalf of those affected — and Ohio State is no exception.

Over the last week, the university’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors and Ohio State’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine issued statements condemning the Trump administration’s sweeping revocation of F-1 visas.

Twelve Ohio Stat...

Ohio State to host Kwibuka event to commemorate 31st anniversary of genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda

Ohio State will host Kwibuka, an event commemorating the 31st anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, Saturday.

This Kwibuka is one of 34 events across the United States organized by IBUKA USA, an organization founded by survivors of the genocide who are devoted to supporting other survivors and promoting genocide education, and will be held in room 220 of Sullivant Hall at 1 p.m.

Hollie Nyseth Nzitatira, an associate professor of sociology at Ohio State and panel speaker...

Newly formed Columbus Commission of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs appoints 15 inaugural members

Fifteen members of the Columbus Commission of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs were officially sworn in as the city’s newest community leaders April 8.

The newly formed commission was first established by an ordinance introduced by Columbus City Council member Lourdes Barroso de Padilla, which was confirmed Nov. 18, 2024, according to The Columbus Dispatch. The 15 members will “represent Columbus’ vibrant immigrant populations” and amplify immigrant voices in the wider Columbus community, accordin...

Ohio State faculty members discuss F-1 visas, legal status and how universities can navigate supporting international students

Over the past few weeks, universities across the country have seen several of their international students lose their F-1 visas due to federal revocations.

At least 12 international students attending Ohio State have had their F-1 visas revoked at the time of publication, university spokesperson Ben Johnson confirmed Tuesday.

Students, faculty, staff and university leaders are now raising various questions about the federal government’s level of transparency, why this is happening to students...

Over 35 protesters gather on South Oval Tuesday to oppose Turning Point USA presentation by Riley Gaines

Over 35 protesters gathered on the South Oval Tuesday evening in response to an Ohio State Turning Point USA event featuring Riley Gaines — a prominent former collegiate swimmer known for advocating against transgender women’s participation in women’s sports.

The protest, which included Ohio State students and community members, began at 6 p.m., an hour before Gaines’ presentation — titled “The Fight is Far From Over” — was scheduled to begin in the Ohio Union’s U.S. Conference Bank Theater.

T...

US Department of Education investigates Ohio State for alleged racial discrimination due to DEI-related partnership

Ohio State is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights due to alleged racial discrimination in its graduate programs.

Earlier this month, Ohio State and 45 other universities were accused of violating Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act — which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin in federally funded programs — by partnering with the PhD Project due to the organization’s “eligibility based on the race of participants,...

‘Buckeyes don’t stand for foolishness’: Roughly 900 students, faculty and staff gather to protest SB 1, criticize university President Ted Carter Jr. and state legislature

Around 900 students, faculty and staff gathered in the Oval from 1-4:30 p.m. Tuesday to protest Ohio Senate Bill 1 and Ohio State’s diversity, equity and inclusion rollbacks.

From Ohio State community members to administrators, religious leaders and politicians, the crowd grew from a mere few dozen people just before 1 p.m. to approximately 900 by 2:30 p.m. The protest was organized by Ohio State’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors and the university’s chapter of the...

‘We laughed at him:’ Ohio State community reacts as President Carter announces end of Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Center for Belonging and Social Change

The fabric of Ohio State’s diversity, equity and inclusion programming has begun to unravel following Thursday’s University Senate meeting.

Inside Drinko Hall’s Saxbe Auditorium, Ohio State President Ted Carter Jr. announced the university’s plan to discontinue the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Center for Belonging and Social Change effective Friday, meaning 16 related professional staff positions will be removed within 60 days, per prior Lantern reporting. The 3:30 p.m. meeting dre...

Center for Latin American Studies awarded $645,000 grant to host Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders cultural exchange program

The Center for Latin American Studies was awarded a $645,000 grant by the U.S. Department of State to fund a cultural exchange program that will host a cohort of 20 students from Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic at Ohio State.

The Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders cultural exchange program allows visiting students to participate in various classes, workshops and panels, said the program’s academic director Heather Harper. She said these l...

Board of Trustees discusses DEI legislation and Ohio State’s athletic success at Wednesday meeting

The university Board of Trustees held a meeting Wednesday morning to discuss recent diversity, equity and inclusion legislation and honor Ohio State’s champion sports teams for their achievements in athletics and academics.

University stance on DEI

During the meeting, university President Ted Carter Jr. addressed federal policy changes involving DEI programs, acknowledging public institutions receive direct instruction from the U.S. Department of Education.

Friday, the Department of Education...

DEI-banning bill SB 1 passes through Ohio Senate Wednesday afternoon, heads to Ohio House

A version of this story was originally published Feb. 5 but has since been updated in light of Senate Bill 1’s passing.

A bill that proposes banning diversity, equity and inclusion programs at all public Ohio higher education institutions passed through the Ohio Senate Wednesday.

Senate Bill 1 — or the “Enact Advance Ohio Higher Education Act” — was passed in a 21-11 vote, largely along party lines, despite roughly 200 Ohioans testifying against the bill in person at the Statehouse Tuesday, pe...

Ohio GOP bill to cancel DEI programs and ban university faculty strikes, first Ohio Senate Committee hearing held Jan. 29

Senate Bill 1 — or the “Enact Advance Ohio Higher Education Act” — had its first hearing in the Ohio Senate Higher Education Committee Jan. 29, according to the Ohio Legislature website. In addition to cutting funding for DEI initiatives, the bill would also ban college faculty from going on strike.

SB 1 is the ideological successor of Senate Bill 83, which similarly aims to make changes conservative lawmakers believe will promote “diversity of thought” in the state’s higher education instituti...

Ohio State Board of Trustees opens applications for undergraduate student trustee

Ohio State’s Board of Trustees has opened applications for the undergraduate student trustee position.

To apply, students must be Ohio residents capable of serving a two-year term, according to the board’s website. In addition, candidates need to be in good academic and disciplinary standing with the university. Applications officially close Friday, and university spokesperson Chris Booker said in an email student trustees are appointed to bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the board.

“Ohio...

School of Music and Department of African American and African Studies collaborate to host first-ever ‘Can I Kick It?’ hip-hop festival

A brand-new festival celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop music is coming to Ohio State Saturday.

Ohio State’s School of Music and Department of African American and African Studies are set to host the inaugural “Can I Kick It?” hip-hop festival in the Timashev Music Building Saturday from 12:30-9 p.m. to honor 50 years of hip-hop.

According to the event listing on Ohio State’s website, the festival — which is free to Ohio State students and faculty — will include workshops with local h...