Indiana University’s Board of Trustees will meet for an executive session Friday.
The session in Bryan Hall is only open to the trustees and invited participants. The trustees will discuss legal advice with an attorney, exempting them from Indiana’s Open Door laws.
The board is currently dealing with a variety of challenges and legal cases.
IU has significantly reduced diversity, equity and inclusion programs, following pressure from Gov. Mike Braun, Indiana’s legislature and the federal government. The U.S. Department of Justice has stressed legal risks of continuing certain DEI programming, and the Office of the Attorney General also advised public colleges such as IU to end DEI practices now considered unlawful.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana and former trustee candidate Justin Vassel are suing Braun, claiming the state passed special legislation targeting IU to remake the Board of Trustees. IU is not named as a defendant, and it has not commented on Braun’s removal of alumni-elected trustees.
This year, IU was added to a $2 billion lawsuit alleging stolen business ideas in the Kelley School of Business. In another lawsuit, a former Swain Hall resident is seeking payment after glass from a window fell onto her head.
A federal judge recently dismissed efforts to stop Indiana’s “intellectual diversity” law for colleges. IU and Purdue University were sued by the ACLU and three professors.
In another recent lawsuit, a federal judge signaled IU’s expressive activity policy was likely unconstitutional. The university has since removed time restrictions for protests, gatherings and other activities protected by the First Amendment. The amended policy is still in place.
A university spokesperson referred back to the public notice.
