Today’s news validates exactly why the ACLU of Indiana and I are challenging this unconstitutional law in court. The removal of alumni-elected trustees—including Vivian Winston, who had the courage to ask tough questions and vote her conscience—demonstrates the dangerous precedent of eliminating democratic oversight when it becomes politically inconvenient.
For over 130 years, IU alumni have had a voice in selecting their representatives on the Board of Trustees. This targeted attack on IU’s governance, buried deep in a budget bill, violates Indiana’s constitution and undermines the principles of accountability that universities need to thrive.
The Governor’s actions today prove that this was never about improving representation—it was about silencing independent voices and installing trustees who won’t ask difficult questions. This is exactly the kind of political interference that threatens academic freedom and institutional integrity.
Our legal challenge will continue because IU deserves equal treatment under the law and trustees who serve the university’s mission of ‘Lux et Veritas,’ not political agendas. The fight for transparency, shared governance, and principled leadership is far from over.
