[email protected]

Ohio State University Proposes New 'Intellectual Diversity' Center Amid Controversy

Ohio State University Proposes New ‘Intellectual Diversity’ Center Amid Controversy

Sandy Staggs

After facing setbacks in Ohio State’s University Senate, a proposal to officially recognize the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture & Society has now moved to a new governing body for final approval.

Ohio State Provost Ravi Bellamkonda, who officially began his role earlier this month after serving as provost at Emory University, introduced the proposal Wednesday afternoon to the Board of Trustees’ Academic Affairs & Student Life Committee.

The proposed resolution seeks to officially establish the Chase Center as a tenure-initiating unit (TIU). This move would grant the center authority to offer courses, develop various degree programs—including minors, majors, and graduate courses—and exercise the full range of academic responsibilities under the law.

In 2023, the state General Assembly passed a law that mandated the creation of Ohio State’s Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture & Society. The law also called for similar centers at five other state public universities. As previously reported, these centers aim to focus on civics, culture, and societal education.

Washington State's ambitious $45 million Electric Vehicle (EV) Instant Rebate Program, aimed at making EVs more affordable and reducing carbon emissions, has been criticized for not meeting expectations. A recent policy brief by the Washington Policy Center (WPC) revealed that the program did not deliver the promised environmental benefits or provide much assistance to middle-income earners. The program, which was launched by the Washington State Department of Commerce, promised up to $9,000 off the lease of a new EV for low-income drivers. The state claimed that this rebate would make EV leases affordable, potentially bringing payments down to under $200 per month – far below the average $700 monthly payment for a gas-powered vehicle. However, after analyzing vehicle registration data for the two-and-a-half months the program was active, experts concluded that the program fell short of its goals. Failure to Meet Expectations Todd Myers, Vice President for Research at WPC, expressed disappointment with the outcome during an interview with The Center Square. He explained that the program was expected to increase sales of EVs and plug-in hybrid vehicles by about 8,700 units. In reality, it achieved only half of that target, with only around 4,800 vehicles sold through the rebate program. Myers pointed out that the environmental impact was minimal, saying, “For $45 million, we reduced emissions by just 0.03%. That’s virtually nothing for taxpayer money.” Despite the high cost of the program, the actual CO2 emissions reduction was almost negligible. Program Favors Higher-Income Earners One of the program's main goals was to provide assistance to low- and middle-income residents, making EVs accessible to those who traditionally struggle to afford them. However, data revealed that this was not the case. Before the rebates were introduced in August, the average income of individuals buying cars in the participating ZIP codes was around $122,000. After the program started, this dropped slightly to $118,000, indicating that the rebates were largely claimed by individuals with relatively high incomes. “The same people who were buying electric vehicles before the subsidies were still the ones purchasing them during the rebate period,” Myers said. “They’re certainly not poor.” Unintended Beneficiaries: Wealthy Buyers The WPC report highlighted that the rebate program disproportionately benefited wealthier buyers, particularly those purchasing popular models like the Tesla Model 3. Tesla sales more than doubled during the subsidy period compared to 2024 sales before the rebates. For example, buyers could receive $9,000 from Washington State, and an additional $7,500 from the federal government, totaling $16,500 in taxpayer-funded subsidies. While these subsidies may have made EVs more affordable for some buyers, they did not help to significantly shift the market toward low-income individuals. Myers called this outcome a waste of taxpayer money, especially considering that the program fell far short of its environmental goals. A Step Backward for Environmental Goals? The WPC’s analysis also pointed out that while the EV market in Washington State did see growth, it wasn't as significant as hoped. By October, EVs and plug-in hybrids accounted for just 21.8% of new vehicle sales in Washington, a slight increase over the 2023 level of 20.5%. This falls well short of the 35% target for 2026. Andrew Wineke, Deputy Communications Director for the Washington Department of Ecology, defended the program, pointing out that Washington is a national leader in the transition to clean vehicles. He noted that more than 200,000 zero-emission vehicles are now on the road in the state, with a 30% increase in sales over the past year. Wineke further stated that the rebates are just one tool in a larger strategy to accelerate the adoption of clean vehicles. The state's zero-emission vehicle regulations are expected to continue driving progress toward their long-term targets. What’s Next for EV Programs in Washington? Despite the program's shortcomings, Governor Jay Inslee's outgoing budget proposal included a request for an additional $82 million to extend and expand the EV rebate program for the current biennium. The question remains whether the new administration, under Gov. Bob Ferguson, will continue this initiative. The Center Square reached out to Gov. Ferguson's office for comment, but no response was received at the time of publication. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how Washington will adjust its strategy to meet the state’s environmental and economic goals.
Washington State’s ambitious $45 million Electric Vehicle (EV) Instant Rebate Program, aimed at making EVs more affordable and reducing carbon emissions, has been criticized for not meeting expectations. A recent policy brief by the Washington Policy Center (WPC) revealed that the program did not deliver the promised environmental benefits or provide much assistance to middle-income earners.

According to the law, the Chase Center must function as an independent academic unit located within the John Glenn College of Public Affairs. The center must also have the authority to hire 15 tenure-track faculty members, with the center itself acting as a TIU.

Bellamkonda explained that approval by the Board of Trustees is legally required for the Chase Center to move forward, allowing its executive director, Lee Strang, to begin hiring faculty and staff.

Although the University Senate’s vote last week saw a narrow defeat of the proposal, with a 64-57 vote against it and four abstentions, it did not impact the center’s creation, as the state law mandates the establishment of these civic centers. However, the vote does influence how the center will interact with and operate within the university’s broader academic structure.

In December, Ohio State’s Council of Academic Affairs overwhelmingly approved granting TIU status to the Chase Center, according to Bellamkonda.

Washington State's ambitious $45 million Electric Vehicle (EV) Instant Rebate Program, aimed at making EVs more affordable and reducing carbon emissions, has been criticized for not meeting expectations. A recent policy brief by the Washington Policy Center (WPC) revealed that the program did not deliver the promised environmental benefits or provide much assistance to middle-income earners. The program, which was launched by the Washington State Department of Commerce, promised up to $9,000 off the lease of a new EV for low-income drivers. The state claimed that this rebate would make EV leases affordable, potentially bringing payments down to under $200 per month – far below the average $700 monthly payment for a gas-powered vehicle. However, after analyzing vehicle registration data for the two-and-a-half months the program was active, experts concluded that the program fell short of its goals. Failure to Meet Expectations Todd Myers, Vice President for Research at WPC, expressed disappointment with the outcome during an interview with The Center Square. He explained that the program was expected to increase sales of EVs and plug-in hybrid vehicles by about 8,700 units. In reality, it achieved only half of that target, with only around 4,800 vehicles sold through the rebate program. Myers pointed out that the environmental impact was minimal, saying, “For $45 million, we reduced emissions by just 0.03%. That’s virtually nothing for taxpayer money.” Despite the high cost of the program, the actual CO2 emissions reduction was almost negligible. Program Favors Higher-Income Earners One of the program's main goals was to provide assistance to low- and middle-income residents, making EVs accessible to those who traditionally struggle to afford them. However, data revealed that this was not the case. Before the rebates were introduced in August, the average income of individuals buying cars in the participating ZIP codes was around $122,000. After the program started, this dropped slightly to $118,000, indicating that the rebates were largely claimed by individuals with relatively high incomes. “The same people who were buying electric vehicles before the subsidies were still the ones purchasing them during the rebate period,” Myers said. “They’re certainly not poor.” Unintended Beneficiaries: Wealthy Buyers The WPC report highlighted that the rebate program disproportionately benefited wealthier buyers, particularly those purchasing popular models like the Tesla Model 3. Tesla sales more than doubled during the subsidy period compared to 2024 sales before the rebates. For example, buyers could receive $9,000 from Washington State, and an additional $7,500 from the federal government, totaling $16,500 in taxpayer-funded subsidies. While these subsidies may have made EVs more affordable for some buyers, they did not help to significantly shift the market toward low-income individuals. Myers called this outcome a waste of taxpayer money, especially considering that the program fell far short of its environmental goals. A Step Backward for Environmental Goals? The WPC’s analysis also pointed out that while the EV market in Washington State did see growth, it wasn't as significant as hoped. By October, EVs and plug-in hybrids accounted for just 21.8% of new vehicle sales in Washington, a slight increase over the 2023 level of 20.5%. This falls well short of the 35% target for 2026. Andrew Wineke, Deputy Communications Director for the Washington Department of Ecology, defended the program, pointing out that Washington is a national leader in the transition to clean vehicles. He noted that more than 200,000 zero-emission vehicles are now on the road in the state, with a 30% increase in sales over the past year. Wineke further stated that the rebates are just one tool in a larger strategy to accelerate the adoption of clean vehicles. The state's zero-emission vehicle regulations are expected to continue driving progress toward their long-term targets. What’s Next for EV Programs in Washington? Despite the program's shortcomings, Governor Jay Inslee's outgoing budget proposal included a request for an additional $82 million to extend and expand the EV rebate program for the current biennium. The question remains whether the new administration, under Gov. Bob Ferguson, will continue this initiative. The Center Square reached out to Gov. Ferguson's office for comment, but no response was received at the time of publication. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how Washington will adjust its strategy to meet the state’s environmental and economic goals.
Homeland Security Today Welcomes TSA Leader Holly Canevari to Editorial Board to Strengthen Expertise

Reggie Wilkinson, a trustee for Ohio State and chair of the Academic Affairs & Student Life Committee, expressed strong support for the Chase Center. He emphasized that the center would align directly with the university’s motto: “Education for Citizenship.” Wilkinson also praised Strang’s collaborative and collegial approach to the center’s establishment and urged fellow trustees to vote in favor of the proposal.

The proposal will appear on the Board of Trustees’ consent agenda and is set for a vote during the Board’s next public meeting on February 19.

Sheridan Hendrix is a higher education reporter for The Columbus Dispatch. Sign up for Extra Credit, her education newsletter, here.

Disclaimer – Our team has carefully fact-checked this article to make sure it’s accurate and free from any misinformation. We’re dedicated to keeping our content honest and reliable for our readers.

Remembering the Past: Ohio’s Holocaust Commemoration Shines a Light on Education and History
Remembering the Past: Ohio’s Holocaust Commemoration Shines a Light on Education and History

Related Posts