North Columbus News

With Buckeye students, faculty, and staff back on campus—some for the first time—Ohio State University has outlined important new and existing initiatives and resources for the 2024-25 academic year.

The updates include:

- On- and off-campus safety and well-being

- Listen. Learn. Discuss., the university’s new civil discourse initiative

- Free speech, academic freedom, and freedom of expression

- Political activity guidelines

For more information on faculty and instructor resources, visit the Office of Academic Affairs website.

**Safety and Well-being Resources**

The safety of the Ohio State community is a top priority. The university has increased police presence on the Columbus campus by hiring additional Ohio State University Police Division (OSUPD) officers and collaborating with the Columbus Division of Police (CPD) to increase patrols off-campus. This fall includes an expanded joint patrol program between OSUPD and CPD.

The Lyft Ride Smart at Ohio State program continues to offer students discounted late-night rides from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., while the Office of Student Life provides complimentary personal safety alarms available at the Willie J. Young Sr. Off-Campus and Commuter Student Engagement office.

Additional safety measures include authorizing OSUPD to hire more officers, expanding joint patrols in the University District, purchasing mobile surveillance cameras, supporting license plate reader programs, renewing Buckeye Block Watch foot patrols, and offering home safety devices like window alarms.

Mental health resources are also emphasized. Over a third of students reported receiving mental health care last year. The university is adding more resources with nearly $2.5 million in new state funding.

Services include free teletherapy through a partnership with Uwill, mental health grants for hospital visits or specialist care costs, confidential conversations through Counseling and Consultation Service’s Let’s Talk program, individual therapy sessions with Ohio State counselors, and support from the Monda Student Resource Center opening in winter 2025.

**Listen. Learn. Discuss. Initiative**

Ohio State has launched this initiative to foster an environment where trust and respectful dialogue are standard practices. The new website listen-learn-discuss.osu.edu offers courses, workshops, events for navigating difficult conversations across various settings including classrooms and workplaces.

**Free Speech, Academic Freedom, and Freedom of Expression**

Ohio State remains committed to protecting First Amendment rights on its campuses as per its Campus Free Speech Policy adopted in May 2023. The updated Freedom of Expression website serves as an online hub for support resources.

Academic freedom allows faculty to discuss relevant material freely within classrooms while encouraging broad latitude for student discussion. The university supports lawful exercise of free speech by its community members in public discourse activities such as voting advocacy.

Updated University Space Standards clarify appropriate space use based on input from students, faculty, and staff.

**Election-related Resources**

To promote nonpartisan civic engagement aligned with Ohio State's motto “Education for Citizenship,” OSU Votes—a student-led initiative—works to register students to vote while providing educational materials about voter registration processes.

Guidelines regarding political activity help faculty understand how to exercise their constitutional rights without appearing to endorse specific candidates or causes.

On Nov. 5 election day this fall there will be asynchronous learning across the university as a pilot trial to support student participation in elections.