COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Protesters gathered on Wednesday afternoon calling on Gov. Mike DeWine to veto Senate Bill 1 when it reaches his desk and, in their words, protect higher education. Lawmakers in the Ohio House passed Senate Bill 1 at the statehouse Wednesday evening, putting it one vote a way from reaching DeWine's desk and becoming law. Ohio higher education bill one step closer to law College students, faculty, staff and community members marched from Ohio State’s campus, down High Street to the Statehouse on Wednesday to show their opposition to the bill. “We’re hopeful that if we build enough student power and show him that enough of us are vehemently opposed to the passage of SB1 that he will do the right thing,” said OSU student Molly Hornberger. “The vast, vast majority do not want this bill. We don’t need it and if they pass it, a lot of us are going to leave,” said Erynn Beaton, an associate professor at Ohio State. They said they are concerned about how the legislation might restrict freedom of speech and diversity on campus. Senate Bill 1 would eliminate all DEI -- or diversity, equity and inclusion -- scholarships, offices and policies on Ohio public campuses. “Personally, I’m worried for the quality of my education, but for the wider student community, this sets a precedent that very intentionally attacks specifically Black, brown and LGBTQ students,” Hornberger said. The bill would also prohibit universities from taking stances on controversial topics. Beaton said tough subjects are a big part of higher education that students need to be exposed to. “I already have professors talking to me about how if the legislature is going to pass a bill like this saying that there are controversial beliefs, that there are things we can and can’t do in the classroom, they are already saying ‘I’m just not going to talk about these hard things in the classroom,’” Beaton said. Statewide burn ban begins in Ohio: What to know On the other side, Buckeye Institute Research Fellow Greg Lawson testified in favor of Senate Bill 1 before it passed on Wednesday. He said the bill just makes it so universities and professors can’t tell students what to think or give them a bad grade over a specific opinion the student holds. “Yes, it gets rid of DEI offices, but it also says you can’t basically force someone to have an opinion within a classroom but you can still discuss things,” Lawson said. He said Senate Bill 1 is beneficial to higher education. Lawson said it protects students and puts them first by not allowing faculty to strike and by not letting professors tell them what to think. “I think there’s an awful lot of fear that’s been out there," Lawson said. "I think that you have to look at it from the big picture of what’s good for the student." Protesters outside the Statehouse on Wednesday already believed lawmakers would pass Senate Bill 1, which is why they were imploring the governor to veto the bill. They said DeWine is their last line of defense. ...read more read less