DeLaney amendment to reverse changes to IU Trustee selection process rejected

Today, State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) offered an amendment to House Bill 1408 that would reverse changes slipped into the 2025 budget bill at the last minute that allowed the governor to have sole appointing power of all nine Indiana University trustees. The amendment also aims to restore the IU faculty’s role in university policymaking to its former level. The amendment was defeated.

“One of the reasons that IU has seen so much success is that we have the nation’s largest living alumni network," DeLaney said. "This body stripped away their power to influence university policy with no debate in a midnight budget vote.

“Aside from taking power away from alumni, my Republican colleagues also robbed IU’s faculty of their ability to influence university operations and added on a system where professors must submit to 'productivity reviews.' This isn’t a factory—it’s a university. People should be able to turn on their TVs and hear Pam Whitten say, ‘Google us, we have great football and great academics!’ Only one of those things can be said right now.

“We should be rejoicing in IU’s athletic achievements while giving their academics the same type of support that we give the football team. This amendment is an opportunity to right last year's terrible legislative wrong. From Eugene, Oregon, to Pasadena, California, to Miami, Florida, IU alumni showed up for the Hoosiers. It's high time we showed up for them.”