This is an audio transcript of the Weekly News Rundown Episode 26.
Annabel Prokopy: It’s Monday, Sept. 15.
Nate Soco: In IU news, the Board of Trustees voted in June to pass a policy that allows the university to relocate professors to different campuses. While tenured and tenure-track faculty were previously allowed to relocate voluntarily, they could face mandatory reassignment. IU has nine major and regional campuses and nine School of Medicine campuses throughout the state where faculty could be reassigned. Annabel, what else does this and other new policies mean for IU?
A: Nate, the policy changes also have implications for the role of faculty input in some academic department decisions. One of the changes removes the requirement that when a department reorganizes, it needs to provide documentation explaining the justifications for it and a financial forecast. Now, IU administrators can use their "discretion" to decide if they will provide the documentation. Read more about these policy changes at idsnews.com.
N: Thanks Annabel. Also in university news, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression ranked IU third-worst in the country for free speech on Sept. 9. Following Barnard College and Columbia University, this ranking puts IU as the lowest public university in the United States for free speech. Annabel, what contributed to this ranking?
A: The ranking considered five instances of “speech controversies” that occurred in 2024 and 2025. The first of these included IU cancelling an art exhibition in February 2024 by Palestinian-American artist Samia Halaby. Another instance was the university's response to IU Hillel's plan to host former Hamas member and Israeli spy Mosab Hassan Yousef in March 2024. The plan to host the speaker was criticized by the Middle Eastern Student Association and Palestine Solidarity Committee. IU ultimately asked Hillel to postpone the event due to security concerns and warned MESA and PSC organizers it could be violating university policies. Next, in April of 2024, protesters disrupted a College Republicans event with then-Representative Jim Banks and social media “Libs of Tiktok” creator Chaya Raichik. The protesters were briefly detained after being escorted out of the event by the IU Police Department.
N: In late April 2024, over 50 protesters were arrested for participating in the pro-Palestinian encampment in Dunn Meadow. A policy passed the night before the start of the demonstration was used to arrest the protesters, and the county chief deputy prosecutor described the policy change as “constitutionally dubious.” In January of this year, the IU School of Medicine also cancelled an annual conference on LGBTQ+ health care citing “challenging” timing and state and federal diversity, equity and inclusion restrictions.
A: That’s right, Nate. Overall, FIRE gave IU a yellow ranking of 43.9% in its spotlight rankings, an F. The nationwide average was 58.63%. Nate, Purdue University was ranked second best in the country for free speech, DePauw University was ranked 18th, and the University of Notre Dame was ranked 238th.
N: Also on campus, the Indiana University College Republicans hosted state representative Dave Hall on Sept. 8. Hall, who represents parts of Monroe and Jackson counties and all of Brown County, declined to comment on potential redistricting in Indiana stating he wanted to fully understand the issue first. Annabel, what is redistricting and what are we seeing here in Indiana?
A: Nate, redistricting is the process of redrawing electoral district boundaries. While this usually takes place every 10 years and is not slated to take place in Indiana until after the 2030 census, President Trump has pushed for maps to be redrawn mid-decade. Republican lawmakers in Indiana have been both for and against this. Redistricting could impact the party makeup of Indiana’s representation in the House of Representatives, potentially eliminating one or both Democrats’ seats.
N: While visiting IU, Hall also discussed the campaign trail and answered questions about internship and volunteer opportunities with his office.
A: A temporary legal agreement has been reached in the case between Louis Moore and the NCAA regarding Moore’s eligibility to play for Indiana’s football team this season. Moore is a sixth-year senior safety. Following the temporary legal agreement, the NCAA will not take “action with respect to Moore’s eligibility” until Sept. 24.
