The following is a transcript of the Weekly News Rundown.
Elakai Anela: Welcome to the Weekly Rundown, it’s Monday, Nov. 24. I’m Elakai Anela, filling in this episode again for Annabel Prokopy.
Nate Soco: In major campus news, Indiana University put multiple fraternities on cease and desist in October and November after reports of hazing incidents. These fraternities included Tau Epsilon Phi, Phi Kappa Psi, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Beta Chi Theta and Chi Phi. The university said the suspensions were necessary to protect student safety. In a letter from Vice Chancellor for Student Life Lamar Hylton to the IU Interfraternity Council, Hylton said, “the risk is too high to continue this arrangement given the status of the IFC community.”
N: Hylton’s letter did not mention when restrictions will be lifted. Under the event suspension, fraternities cannot host social, philanthropic and brotherhood events or tailgates, group activities, new member education and events with alcohol. They can still hold standards meetings, engage in community service, hold elections, participate in intramural sports and gather in small groups. IU’s sororities were not named in Hylton’s letter. In the spring, both the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association temporarily paused all social events to address community health and safety concerns.
E: Shifting to campus leadership, President Pamela Whitten asked the University Faculty Council to review the Chicago Principles on free speech and make a recommendation on if the university should adopt them. The principles were outlined by the Committee on Freedom of Expression at the University of Chicago in 2015, and over 100 educational institutions have adopted them. Indiana University came under scrutiny in October after it fired former Indiana Daily Student Student Media Director Jim Rodenbush after he refused to dictate content in the print newspaper. The university initially ordered the IDS to stop producing its print edition after firing Rodenbush but ultimately rolled back that decision. IU also ranked third-worst out of 257 schools for free speech in rankings by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
N: In local education news, the Monroe County Community School Corporation is facing an over $30 million budget loss over five years due to the effects of Senate Enrolled Act 1, which requires property tax cuts. MCCSC is creating an online financial portal to make sense of its financial changes and budget spending.The Monroe County Community School Corporation Board of Trustees will present its next financial update in February 2026.
E: And finally, a Bloomington favorite, Darn Good Soup, is back after a five-year hiatus after the store went out of business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Soups are available for purchase at The Chocolate Moose on South Walnut Street seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
N: Eight to 10 rotating recipes — from broccoli cheddar and chicken tortilla to West African peanut — will be served daily, with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. The owners, Pat and Jamie East, say partnering with Chocolate Moose lets them focus on food and customers while balancing soup demand in the winter with ice cream in summer. Fans can once again enjoy original recipes from the original owner, Nels Boerner, now in a new home.
E: That’s all for this week’s rundown. To stay informed, visit idsnews.com for more updates.
