TOLEDO, Ohio — A sweeping new education law is set to take effect across Ohio college campuses at the end of the month, drawing sharply opposing reactions from faculty and lawmakers.

Signed into law in March, the Ohio Higher Education Enhancement Act introduces a series of controversial reforms, including restrictions on diversity-based hiring, changes to collective bargaining rights and mandates aimed at increasing what lawmakers call “intellectual diversity.”

University of Toledo political science professor Sam Nelson fears the law could chill classroom discussions.

“It’s been a concern to faculty, it’s been a concern to students,” Nelson said. “We’re already seeing schools start to close their women’s centers, or LGBTQ centers, or multicultural centers, and we’re seeing that around t

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