Hoeppner withdraws from GOP event

Misuse of IU insignia caused football coach Terry Hoeppner to withdraw from a Dec. 12 Republican fund-raising event Tuesday evening.\nHoeppner was contacted earlier this fall to speak at the $300-per-plate luncheon fund-raiser for the Indiana Senate Majority Campaign Committee. IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre said Hoeppner was not aware the luncheon was a fund-raiser.\nFliers distributed to Republican contributors featured Hoeppner's Uncle Sam-esque pose with the writing "Coach Hep wants you to give to Republican candidates for the Indiana Senate." Hoeppner was wearing a hat and a jacket featuring IU emblems. \n"We don't think there's anything wrong with coach Hep addressing a Republican group anymore than we think there'd be anything wrong with him addressing a Democratic group," MacIntyre said. "The problem here is the flier made it appear as if the coach was promoting contributions to the Republican Party. He cannot do that, and he would not do that."\nIU employees are allowed to advocate for a political party, but they are not allowed to solicit funds for a political party, according to the IU Academic Handbook. \nMacIntyre said the University makes itself available for discussion with legislators, but it does not promote any certain political ideology.\n"It was nothing more than an unfortunate mistake," he said. "We're all sorry that it happened. We all know what the rules are. Coach Hoeppner had nothing to do with this. He did not know it was a fund-raiser; he thought it was a group of legislators. The whole thing is innocent."\nState Sen. James Merritt, R-Indianapolis, who is also treasurer of the campaign committee, said he approached IU in late October to secure Hoeppner as a speaker. He did not, however, ask IU or Hoeppner for approval of using its trademark. \n"It was an error," Merritt said. "We should not be using that."\nMerritt said he apologized to the University.\nIU will not pursue legal action against the Indiana Republican Party for copyright and trademark violation, MacIntyre said.\nThe Indiana Democratic Party is concerned that IU would be endorsing a political party, said Jennifer Wagner, communications director for the Indiana Democratic Party.\n"I'm an IU graduate. I love IU football, I love coach Hep and what he's done with the program," she said. "We wouldn't want them endorsing the Democratic Party because they'd be alienating Republicans." \nHoeppner was on board as a speaker because many Republican senators are IU graduates, Hoeppner has an engaging personality, the campaign committee has a sports theme and there is increased interest in IU football, Merritt said.\n"Coach Hoeppner is a terrific speaker with lots of energy," he said.\nThe party has not yet secured another speaker for its luncheon.