To the editor: SB 1 "Strikes At the Heart" of Minority Communities

With heavy hearts and unwavering determination, the Black Student Union at the University of Toledo stands in firm opposition to the recent Senate Bill 1. This legislation threatens to dismantle the very foundation upon which we have built our community, our advocacy, and our progress. As an organization dedicated to raising the level of consciousness for students of all ethnic backgrounds regarding the Black experience in America, we cannot stand idly by as policies attempt to erase the voices and histories of marginalized communities.

Our mission has always been to celebrate the growth and richness of the Black experience, highlight the resilience and progress of African American people, and foster unity among all. Senate Bill 1 does not just impact the Black Student Union—it strikes at the heart of every marginalized community and student organization on this campus. This bill seeks to undermine the tireless work that we, along with so many other organizations, including all the organizations under BOU (Black Organizations United), have dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment.

We are deeply moved and profoundly concerned about what this means for the future—not just of our university, but of the world. This bill threatens to erase the progress we have made in advocating for a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) plan, one designed to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, have the support and resources necessary to thrive. This is not just about policy; this is about people. This is about students who deserve to see themselves reflected in their education, in their leadership, and in the spaces they occupy on campus.

The Black Organizations United will not be silenced. We will continue to make our voices heard. We call on university administrators, policymakers, and all those in positions of power to take a hard and honest look at the decisions they are making. Understand the weight of this bill and how it will echo far beyond the walls of our university. It is not just about one school, one organization, or one student—it is about the collective future of higher education and the fundamental rights of every individual seeking knowledge, opportunity, and belonging.

We are hurting, but we are hopeful. We know that change is possible, but it requires action.

We will not back down. We will not be erased. We will stand united, in the face of injustice.

In solidarity,

The Black Student Union and Black Organizations United

Note: Black Organizations United is a formal alliance between all African American organizations on campus. It includes the National Pan-Hellenic Council, F.I.R.E. Squad, the Black Student Union, Minority Professionals in Business, Black Nursing Students Organization, the UToledo chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the Association for the Advancement of African American Women.