Press Release on Indiana SB 202

For Immediate Release

February 16, 2024

 

In response to Senate Bill 202 being considered by the Indiana State Legislature, on Thursday, February 15, 2024, the Ball State University Faculty Council adopted the following motion:

 

“The Ball State University Faculty Council rejects the provisions in SB 202 which grant the Board of Trustees oversight of intellectual diversity on campus. The Board of Trustees as a body is not equipped to judge matters of intellectual diversity in instruction or research. As a body appointed by the government of the State of Indiana, its actions on matters of intellectual activity in the university would represent an improper extension of state control over matters of academic freedom. We, therefore, urge all members of the Indiana General Assembly to reject this measure. We also call on all our constituents, members of the university community and supporters of academic freedom in Indiana to actively lobby their representatives to oppose this measure.”

 

Hundreds of college faculty and dozens of faculty representatives to university faculty senates, have also voiced their objections to SB 202. 

 

Senate Bill 202: 

 

  1. Politicizes appointments to university and college Boards of Trustees with direct legislative appointments;
  2. Imposes a 5-year tenure review process with penalties undermining existing tenure policies, creating a chilling effect on free academic inquiry;
  3. Encourages students to file complaints against faculty and courses “they find offensive and disagreeable,” which constrains freedom of speech in educational settings; and,
  4. Forbids all state universities and colleges to admit students, hire, promote, or renew faculty who include statements on diversity, equity, and inclusion in their materials.

 

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For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

 

Dr. Chris Van Hof, Chair, Ball State University Faculty Council President, cevanhof@bsu.edu  

Dr. Jennifer Erickson, Co-President, Ball State AAUP and Faculty Council representative, jlerickson@bsu.edu