Gov. Mike Braun has attacked Indiana University by replacing three alumni-elected trustees after Republicans in the Indiana General Assembly inserted a special provision in the state budget allowing Braun to select all of its members.
Alumni have elected three out of nine trustees for more than a century. Changing this to further Braun and the state legislature’s extremist, out-of-touch political agenda is not what is best for IU or the state.
Braun claimed the move was necessary, as the alumni election process “enabled a clique, a few people, to actually determine three board members,” ironically deeming that he alone is more qualified than thousands of alumni to know what is best for several major research universities.
His claim is disingenuous, at best. The move appears to be a power grab from an uninspiring politician trying to emulate President Trump’s recent retribution against Harvard.
My IU degree is part of my personal brand and has carried me far in life, including to executive positions in my career and opportunities to serve my community.
As an alumnus who has been engaged in matters related to the university for decades, I see Braun’s interference at IU as detrimental to that brand.
The American Civil Liberties Union recently filed a lawsuit against Braun, claiming the provision in the state budget that specifically targeted Indiana University’s board of trustee elections was a form of “special legislation” in violation of the Indiana constitution.
I pray for the success of their lawsuit against Braun for his warrantless seizure of all of the trustee positions, and that IU would be protected from further political attacks.
Brian Will is the chair of Citizen’s Climate Lobby, South Bend/Elkhart Area Chapter and an alumnus of Indiana University Bloomington.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Braun’s power grab over IU silences alumni, harms IU brand | Letters
Reporting by Brian Will / Indianapolis Star
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