As an educator who served Ohio children for 40 years as a teacher, college professor and school leader, I was stunned and disappointed by Senator Vance’s disparaging comments about OSU efforts to be inclusive in both its curriculum and faculty. I was stunned because, with his heritage, he personally has benefited from just such inclusive efforts. I know from my own experience that in many education institutions those from Appalachia, a generation earlier, would not have been welcomed at institutions like OSU.. How hypocritical of the senator, when the same inclusive efforts he benefitted from, are now directed to other populations, he calls them “racist.” I’m greatly disappointed because he didn’t recognize that our state is becoming more diverse and great institutions like OSU are trying to address the needs of all Ohioans. I suggest he felt these remarks may serve him politically — which must have been his intent or why else would he have posted his comments on Twitter, rather than simply sending a letter to the incoming president — but they do not represent our state. Perhaps someone needs to remind Senator Vance it’s his responsibility to represent all Ohioans, including diverse populations.
- Randy Overbeck, Lebanon