Ohio State dorms told to stick with Buckeyes themes, citing DEI concerns

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — In part due to Ohio’s new anti-DEI higher education law, Senate Bill 1, Ohio State University dorm rooms have a much narrower theme this year.

In years past, resident advisers, or RAs, have decorated the residence hall floors they lead with creative themes, often featuring pop culture references and famous media. But spokesperson Dave Isaacs confirmed RAs were asked to stick to Ohio State spirit themes this year.

“We are committed to providing an open and welcoming environment for all students, including in our residence halls, as we build community throughout our spaces and programming,” Isaacs said. “To assist Resident Advisors in their welcoming programming and public area décor, we have advised them to focus on Ohio State spirit themes.”

Isaacs said the goal was to create a welcoming environment, but Senate Bill 1 was “certainly a factor.” Senate Bill 1 went into effect in late June, banning DEI programming and stopping public universities from endorsing “controversial policies.”

“I think it’s kind of silly, like some dorm themes are Mario Kart,” Kimmara Yarbrough, a 2025 OSU alumna now getting her graduate degree at Ohio State, said. “You could regulate it better; you don’t have to take a full thing away.”

Christopher Cade, a sophomore, said one of his friends’ dorms last year was recycling and climate change themed, but now that could be seen as taboo. He said his dorm last year was Bratz themed, something he said his floormates loved talking about.

“I think it sort of sucks,” Cade said. “I think dorm decorations were a way to not only inspire students to explore their creativity, but it was also a unique way (for) RAs who put them up to express themselves to the students.”

Isaacs said the concept is also being implemented in residence hall activities. He said Ohio State has planned activities for students in dorms to make buckeye necklaces and decorate mugs. Each dorm will also have a photo booth set up for move-in with Buckeyes cutout signs and a scarlet background.

“I love OSU, I love Ohio State so much but I don’t want to see football everywhere,” Cade said.

The move comes as Ohio State also banned sidewalk chalk on campus, something Cade and Yarbrough felt was a further limitation of student expression. OSU cited “continued complaints” as the reason for updating the university signage standards to no longer permit chalking. See previous coverage in the video player above.