AAUP-Ohio State

‘Very Republican, very patriotic’: right-leaning civic centers now offer courses at US public colleges Republican lawmakers push for conservative professors to counter purported leftwing indoctrination in schools

Want to know more about the sweeping trend of state mandated taxpayer financed and hyper empowered civics centers, and the political project they embody, as in Ohio? See this excellent @theguardian.com article @osuaaup.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

With the recent assault of a journalist by Chase Center affiliate Luke Perez, the Center deserves more national scrutiny. Let’s hope journalists keep a spotlight on an institution that many rightfully call a “trojan horse” - hiding what it really is, and imposed on us by the legislature.

“But ideologically speaking, the diversity mostly ranges along a conservative spectrum. There are Reagan-supporting neoconservatives who object to the views of MAGA along with professors who support President Trump and others whose politics are shaped by conservative interpretations of Christianity.”

Strang brags that the Chase Center is “much more diverse than almost any academic unit in a large public university.” But check out this reporting on what it really amounts to - Chase represents the entire spectrum of opinion from Reagan to Trump!

Conservative-leaning civic centers now teach courses at public colleges A growing number of Republican legislators are using their power in the name of intellectual diversity to get right-leaning professors in front of all students, at conservative-leaning civic centers.

The Hechinger Report on OSU’s Chase Center: very useful information and data.

Especially visible is the contrast between what politicians & Chase director Lee Strang says and the reality that we all see.

hechingerreport.org/conservative...

AAUP-OSU Februrary Chapter Meeting Join us for our upcoming Chapter Meeting, where we will discuss the state of affairs on campus.

Have you signed up for our Feb chapter meeting tomorrow (online)? Register at the link below.

You don’t want to miss it: guests from AAUP national, plus updates on the NTT labor campaign, next steps after the ONA picket to remove the Wexner name, and more.

actionnetwork.org/events/aaup-...

Most Conservative Students Don’t Feel Persecuted on Campus A new survey of college students contradicts Republican rhetoric that campus culture is hostile to right-wing views.

No, if you ask them conservative student don’t feel persecuted. Contrary to what so many on the political right been asserting as a fact in their attacks on higher education @aaup.org @osuaaup.bsky.social www.insidehighered.com/news/student...

Flyer describes event: “Who Controls the Narrative: From Free Speech & Polarization to Solidarity on Campus.” Tuesday 2/24 Denney Hall 453 (hybrid). Speakers: Tom Alter, Shannon Winnubst, Pranav Jani & grad/undergrad leaders. Several co-sponsors. More details and RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScx2H6dkLla4Z5-f6UrHM12ht2SdYbqxZsz2S3s8p51xM5uSQ/viewform Link to register for zoom: https://aft.zoom.us/meeting/register/cXxTTIZZRQyM2tSm64Uv2Q

It’s been a busy week/mobth/semester and there’s a lot to talk about. Including the NTT Labor campaign, the solidarity action with the nurses On Sunday, and the panel discussion on Tuesday with Professor Tom Alter, and faculty and student leaders.

See you tomorrow (hybrid) and see you on Friday

AAUP-OSU Februrary Chapter Meeting Join us for our upcoming Chapter Meeting, where we will discuss the state of affairs on campus.

Mark your calendars for the February chapter meeting (virtual). Register to get the zoom link.

actionnetwork.org/events/aaup-...

““It’s a gross misuse of funds,” Beaton said. “We brought our umbrellas here, we’re crossing out the Wexner name, and we’re going to donate the umbrellas after that.”

“Erynn Beaton, treasurer of AAUP-OSU and associate professor at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, said that Ohio State employees received a free umbrella to commemorate the opening of the new tower, which has Wexner’s name printed on it.

Protesters call for Wexner’s name to be removed from new hospital tower during opening day In front of the Wexner Medical Center’s new hospital tower, over 100 people called for Ohio State to remove Les Wexner’s name off the building and all others on campus. The protest, which took place o...

Here’s coverage from the Lantern, including a comment from our treasurer and board member, Erynn Beaton.

www.thelantern.com/2026/02/prot...

The AAUP-OSU umbrella contingent

more of the AAUP umbrella contingent

AAUP-OSU faculty came out with the umbrellas that the Wexner Medical Center had sent to many of us to advertise their new building—and crossed off the name.

Photo of informational picket in front of Wexner Medical Center demanding that Ohio State remove Wexner‘s name from its buildings.

sign says Wexner equals pain, remove the name.

signs in front of James Cancer Hospital say things like: a place for care should not have a reminder of harm.

Photo of protesters gathered for the informational picket

The OSU community turned up on Sunday, despite the weather, to stand up for survivors. The Ohio Nurses Association picket demanded that OSU remove Wexner’s name from medical and all campus buildings.

Just one day away. Don’t miss this excellent panel!

The Lantern Q = The protest drew in students, as well as faculty from the medical center and faculty members from the American Association of University Professors, also known as AAUP. Erin Beaton, an associate professor at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, said that Ohio State employees received a free umbrella to commemorate the opening of the new tower, which has Wexner's name printed on it. "It's a gross misuse of funds," Beaton said. "We brought our umbrellas here, we're crossing out the Wexner name, and we're going to donate the umbrellas after that."

Students, nurses with @ohnursesassoc.bsky.social, and faculty with @osuaaup.bsky.social all protested the opening of Ohio State’s new hospital, calling for the Wexner Medical Center to be renamed
www.thelantern.com/2026/02/prot...

Flyer describes event: “Who Controls the Narrative: From Free Speech & Polarization to Solidarity on Campus.” Tuesday 2/24 Denney Hall 453 (hybrid). Speakers: Tom Alter, Shannon Winnubst, Pranav Jani & grad/undergrad leaders. Several co-sponsors. See link in initial post for more details and for registering for zoom.

2/24 Panel with Prof Tom Alter. New flyer with new endorsers!

Details and RSVP: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Link to register for zoom: aft.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Thanks. Someone else also reminded. Added written text to the post.

Forgot to add alt text. Flyer describes event: “Who Controls the Narrative: From Free Speech & Polarization to Solidarity on Campus.” Tuesday 2/24 Denney Hall 453. Speakers: Tom Alter,
Shannon Winnubst, Pranav Jani & grad/undergrad leaders. Several co-sponsors, will add link later for zoom details.

Will do, thank you.

Join us Tuesday for this panel on free speech, academic freedom and solidarity with Prof Tom Alter, unjustly fired from Texas Tech and OSU faculty & students. Flyer updated as more groups endorse.

AAUP-OSU is in solidarity with the Ohio Nurses Association, who is standing with survivors & calling for the removal of Wexner’s name from the medical center & all campus facilities.

Did you get a Med Center umbrella in the mail? Bring it to the picket! And some red tape to cross off the “W.”

National AAUP statement on the attack of a journalist by a Chase Center affiliate at OSU.

This isn’t just any professor being violent. This is the product of shared governance being dismantled.

“We urge OSU to stop criminalizing free expression and to create an intellectual civic space that befits a university. We call on university leaders to explicitly commit to defending our community against lawless intimidation by ICE, CBP, and related agencies.”

“We urge OSU to stop criminalizing free expression and to create an intellectual civic space that befits a university…And we call on university leaders to explicitly commit to defending our community against lawless intimidation by ICE, CBP, and related agencies.”

Thanks to NBC4 for covering our statement on DHS/ICE, student protests, and free speech.

www.nbc4i.com/news/local-n...

Coverage of @osuaaup.bsky.social’s statement about ICE as a threat to university values: “We urge OSU to stop criminalizing free expression…And we call on university leaders to explicitly commit to defending our community against lawless intimidation by ICE, CBP, and related agencies.”

Seeking stronger stance supporting students and OSU community, truly embracing free speech commitment @osuaaup.bsky.social www.nbc4i.com/news/local-n...

Our cartoon series continues with Leaf and Brutus salting the campus walkways. “Really think this will keep ICE out?” says Brutus, holding a bag that says “4th amendment.” Lead replies “we’ll be here until it does,” pouring salt from a bag labeled “Protest.”

Cartoon #5! Yes, the weather’s improved recently. But it’s still ICE-y out.

Great quote @cmcknichols.bsky.social!

The quotation from Nichols says that many faculty staffed students have been talking about the possibility of being secretly recorded in the classroom and how detrimental it would be in this political moment