In his address to the largest freshman class in Ohio State University history, President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. reminded students that this year they will be confronted with new ideas and new perspectives.
“As we share our views, it is important to do so with decency and respect, a skill that will serve you well on all of our campuses,” Carter said during Monday morning’s gathering at the Schottenstein Center on OSU’s main campus.
Carter took over as OSU’s president in January. He will now oversee the growing university, which is welcoming an estimated new class of more than 9,000 students.
“We want them to know that their voice will be heard. However, we do have some rules.”
– Ted Carter, President of Ohio State University
First Amendment Rights – with Rules
Before the gathering, Carter told WOSU and members of the media that he understands that emotions are running high given the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas and the presidential election in November.
The campus saw numerous pro-Palestinian protests last school year, including a large demonstration in April in which more than three dozen people were arrested for alleged trespassing. The Columbus district attorney offered the protesters a settlement in July.
Carter said the university is implementing an academic program this year called “Listen, Learn, Discuss” designed to allow students to engage in dialogue and exchange views. The program lists upcoming workshops in September that focus on difficult conversations surrounding the 2024 election.
Carter said the university wants students to continue to exercise their rights under the First Amendment.
“We don’t just want to give them a voice, we want to show them that their voices are heard. But we do have a few rules,” Carter said.
Carter said the rules remain “essentially the same” as last school year. That means students will not be allowed to camp overnight in campus gathering spaces and they will not be allowed to use “language that incites violence,” Cater explained.
“I simply cannot provide the security to protect our students when they stay there,” Carter said.
More security on campus
In a more general discussion about safety on and around campus – an issue Carter has made a priority during his brief tenure at Ohio State University – he said the university has hired more police officers.
Carter listed the current roster of 75 Ohio State University police officers. He also said the university has installed more cameras, with more than 5,000 in use on and around campus, including license plate cameras.
“Everything we do here is to ensure that our students are not only safe, but feel safe,” Carter said.
“We want our students to come here and be presented with a wide range of ideas.”
– Ted Carter, President of Ohio State University
Diversity, equity, inclusion
Speaking on the issues of diversity, equity and inclusion, Carter praised the diversity on campus, which is “so much more” than the color of a person’s skin. He highlighted the number of incoming first-generation students, non-traditional students such as single parents, and the “geographical diversity” of students.
“Ultimately, it’s about diversity of thought. And we want our students to come here and be presented with a broad range of ideas,” Carter said.
When asked about legislative attempts to regulate DEI initiatives, Carter acknowledged that Ohio State is “kind of a bureaucracy” and did not say whether the university would shrink, maintain or expand its DEI programs. He said only that the university is looking for ways to become more efficient.
