Stoltzfus and Jones Send Letter to KSU President to Halt Assigning Adult-oriented Material to Underage Students

State Reps. Reggie Stoltzfus (R-Paris Twp.) and Don Jones (R-Freeport) announce they have sent a formal letter to Kent State University (KSU) urging the institution to cease assigning adult-oriented material to underage students and review its policies to ensure it never happens again. Stoltzfus previously contacted KSU about the issue after receiving a complaint from a parent, after no action was taken by the university, Stoltzfus and Jones now have highlighted some of these concerns in the letter.

“As you know, I recently contacted Kent State University in good faith after speaking with a parent concerned about the highly inappropriate mandatory reading assigned to his 17-year-old son, who is a high school junior who is taking classes at a KSU branch campus through the college credit plus program,” wrote Stoltzfus and Jones. “The graphic sexual violence detailed and glorified in some of this “educational” material the student’s parent shared with me is deeply disturbing. Just as disturbing is Kent State’s refusal to take any action or make any accommodation for the underage student.”

While most college students are legally adults, several students are enrolled in the college credit plus program. The program allows students in grades 7-12 to earn high school and college credits by taking courses from colleges or universities.

Specifically, Stoltzfus and Jones cited that the book exhibiting inappropriate content is “Anime from Akira to Howl's Moving Castle: Experiencing Contemporary Japanese Animation,” which is required reading in at least one offering of College Writing 1. The two legislators also noted this type of material should never be required reading at Ohio’s taxpayer-funded colleges and universities.

The two representatives are now awaiting a response from Diacon pertaining to the questions they posed to the KSU president.

“In closing, I would simply ask you this: Do you believe this material is appropriate for minors? And should it be required reading for any students? I look forward to your response.” Stoltzfus and Jones concluded.