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FIRE Statement on Free Speech at Ball State University
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) has issued a letter (see below) to President Mearns expressing serious concerns about the university’s decision to discipline students for visiting the Administration Building in November, 2025. Among FIRE’s concerns are vague and overly broad policies and constitutional concerns about BSU’s definition of “disorderly conduct.” These concerns
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Faculty Council Resolution on Freedom of Expression at Ball State University
Rationale: On September 17, 2025, Ball State University terminated an employee for a statement she made in a private, friends-only Facebook post. This action appears to be in conflict with Ball State’s stated policies and procedures and has left faculty and staff uncertain of how to properly comport themselves as educators, employees, and citizens. The
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AAUP Public Statement on Freedom of Expression at Ball State University
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Response to the Termination of Suzanne Swierc
Response to the Termination of Suzanne Swierc The Ball State University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) Preamble The Ball State University chapter of the American Association of University Professors (BSU AAUP) strongly and unequivocally condemns violence and the celebration of violence. Indeed, true threats, incitement of imminent lawless action (i.e., “fighting
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BSU Faculty Compensation and Morale Report
In anticipation of the Board of Trustees budget meeting on June 13, 2025, we assembled and sent a report to board members, President Mearns, and Provost Marri with some of the findings from the survey we conducted during the spring semester. While there is much more in the survey that we plan to analyze and
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Statement Condemning the Adoption of the April 17 Resolution by University Leadership
The Ball State University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) April 19, 2025 The Ball State chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) strongly condemns the actions of the President, Provost, and the Board of Trustees in adopting their April 17th resolution and closing the Office of Inclusive Excellence (OIE).
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Statement on Anticipatory Obedience from Ball State University Administration
The Ball State University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) February 4, 2025 With current legislative attacks on student and faculty First Amendment rights at the state and federal levels, the Ball State University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is gravely concerned about events on our own campus
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Statement of Solidarity with LGBTQAI+ Students and Faculty at Ball State University
Ball State University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) February 4, 2025 The Ball State chapter of the AAUP expresses continued solidarity with and commitment to defending the rights of LGBTQAI+ students, faculty, and staff on campus. We call on our university administration to do the same. Recent events, both on and
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In Defense of the Right to Free Speech and Peaceful Protest on University Campuses
The AAUP and its chapters defend the right to free speech and peaceful protest on university campuses, condemn the militarized response by institutional leaders to these activities, and vehemently oppose the politically motivated assault on higher education. Â Our colleges and universities are places of free and open expression, inquiry, and debate. Even in sharp
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AAUP Statement on SB 202
Ball State’s AAUP chapter calls upon President Geoff Mearns, Provost Anand R. Marri, the Presidents and Provosts of Indiana’s other state universities, all State Senators and Representatives, and all university faculty, employees, and students of Indiana to oppose the government overreach and restriction of academic freedom of expression inherent to Senate Bill 202. This bill proposes to:
