Columbus, OH – On Friday, Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) President Dr. John Langell sent a letter to students and faculty retracting his previous announcements of new campus protocols that would have infringed on students’ First Amendment Rights. These revisions followed a letter sent by the ACLU of Ohio on March 11 alerting NEOMED of their overly broad and incorrect interpretation of recent guidelines from the Trump administration.
Dr. Langell had previously confirmed in a February 24 address that the University would begin denying university support to any student organization whose mission pertains to race, unless those organizations agree to revise their governing documents to eliminate references to race. His new correspondence reaffirms NEOMED’s “commitment to equality, fairness, and the well-being of every student,” and confirms that “all campus organizations that demonstrate an open invitation to all students, faculty and staff ... will remain eligible for University support[.]”
NEOMED’s reversal responds directly to the ACLU of Ohio’s concerns, as stated in its March 11 letter.
Statement from ACLU of Ohio Deputy Legal Director David Carey:
“We are pleased that legal action has proven unnecessary, as NEOMED’s administration has correctly rescinded their misguided attacks on student activities. Universities nationwide must stand firm in their commitment to fostering spaces free of censorship and exclusion. The ACLU of Ohio will continue to monitor the actions taken by NEOMED and higher education institutions statewide to ensure they remain the pillars of expression and academic freedom they were designed to be.”
