listen to this story
Loading audio file, please wait.
Speed
1.00
Indiana University IU Banner” class=”wp-image-62408″ srcset=”https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/18735817_G.jpg 960w, https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/18735817_G-640×360.jpg 640w, https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/18735817_G-320×180.jpg 320w, https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/18735817_G-768×432.jpg 768w” sizes=”(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px”>(photo courtesy of Indiana University)
A free speech group has filed a lawsuit against Indiana University President Pamela Whitten, the IU board of trustees and several administrators at the university’s Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses.
Speech First Inc. alleges that IU’s bias incident policy is designed to “deter, suppress and punish unfavorable and controversial speech,” especially among students with conservative views.
IU has a bias incident reporting policy in which anyone can submit a report to a team of “trained university officials” who will review and respond.
The university’s website defines a bias incident as “any conduct, speech or expression, motivated in whole or in part by prejudice or bias intended to intimidate, demean, mock, demean, marginalize or threaten individuals or groups based on the characteristics of that individual or group. real or perceived identities.
IU says anyone who experiences, witnesses or is aware of a bias incident can file a report.
“This policy is so broad that anything students find offensive can be reported,” Speech First said in a news release. “This could include something as simple as asking why the Biden Administration has added
‘gender identity’ as a protected class under Title IX. Or claim that uncontrolled illegal immigration
lead to an increase in crime.”
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, alleges that the university’s policy violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
Click here to view the full complaint.
“Indiana University and its officials have enacted a far-reaching policy that is designed solely to deter, discourage, and ‘prevent’ students from expressing unfavorable opinions on the political and social issues of the day,” the lawsuit says.
In a statement to Inside Indiana Business, IU spokesperson Mark Bode said the university does not comment on pending litigation.
Speech First bills itself as a national organization of students, alumni, and other concerned citizens “dedicated to preserving civil rights guaranteed by law, including the freedom of speech guaranteed by the First Amendment.”
In the lawsuit, Speech First names five unnamed IU students who it says want to have open discussions with their peers about topics such as abortion, gender identity, illegal immigration and the war in Gaza, but fear they will be reported. for committing them. a bias incident.
“The bias incident policy does not provide students with any guidance on what expression is permitted and what is not, and the policy authorizes arbitrary and discriminatory application,” the lawsuit says.
IU’s website says its Bias Response Team cannot take disciplinary action related to reports that are filed, although Speech First states that reports can be “referred to formal disciplinary procedures.”
Speech First seeks a preliminary and ultimately permanent injunction prohibiting IU from enforcing its bias incident policy, which includes “investigating, recording, threatening, referring, or punishing (formally or informally) students for incidents of bias.” prejudices.”
In addition to Whitten and the IU Board of Trustees, defendants in the lawsuit are Lamar Hylton, vice chancellor for student life at IU Bloomington; Kathy Adams, associate vice chancellor for student life and dean of students at IU Bloomington; Cedric Harris, assistant dean of student support and bias education at IU Bloomington; Jason Spratt, associate vice chancellor and dean of students at IU Indianapolis; Heather Brake, associate dean for student conduct and advocacy at IU Indianapolis; and Katherine Betts, associate vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion at IU Indianapolis.
The lawsuit is the second filed in a month against Indiana University. The ACLU of Indiana filed a lawsuit in early May on behalf of three people who received no-trespass orders after being arrested for protesting the war in Gaza on the Bloomington campus, citing a violation of their First Amendment rights.
Story continues below
Keynote USA
For the Latest Local News, Follow Keynote USA Local on Twitter.