Indiana's Senate Bill 202 Faces Backlash for Undermining Academic Freedom
The controversial bill, aimed at increasing political oversight of public universities, has sparked widespread opposition for its potential to chill faculty teaching and research.
- The Indiana Senate has passed Senate Bill 202, aiming to increase political control over public universities and colleges, sparking widespread condemnation for undermining academic freedom.
- Critics argue the bill would replace scholarly and professional employment criteria with political litmus tests, potentially causing a chilling effect on faculty's teaching and research.
- The bill proposes changes to the composition of university boards of trustees and introduces requirements for faculty tenure and promotion to foster 'intellectual diversity.'
- University leaders, faculty, and other groups have united in opposition, warning that the bill threatens the integrity of higher education and could lead to a brain drain of top faculty.
- The fate of Senate Bill 202 may hinge on the reaction of Indiana's business leaders, editorial boards, and local officials, beyond the academic community.
Forbes 