Indiana University Faces Scrutiny in National Free Speech Report, Ranks Among Lowest for Campus Expression

Written from report

Bloomington, Indiana – May 21, 2025

https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/students-under-fire-2020-2024

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University has received one of the lowest rankings in the country for its campus speech climate, according to a new report by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). Compounding concerns over free expression, a recent change to Indiana law has handed Governor Mike Braun full control over the university’s Board of Trustees, prompting further alarm about IU’s institutional independence and academic freedom.

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class="wp-block-heading">Free Speech Climate Rated “Poor”

In FIRE’s 2025 College Free Speech Rankings, IU Bloomington received an overall score of 24.67 out of 100, placing it 243rd out of 251 institutions surveyed. The rankings are based on responses from more than 58,000 students and assess openness, tolerance, self-censorship, administrative support for free speech, and campus policy enforcement.

IU’s individual rankings include:

• Openness: 198th
• Tolerance (Liberals): 142nd
• Tolerance (Conservatives): 124th
• Administrative Support: 231st
• Comfort Expressing Ideas: 211th
• Self-Censorship: 143rd
• Speech Climate: Poor
• Speech Code Rating: Yellow Light (at least one policy could restrict protected expression)

Additionally, the report notes IU has had:

• 2 deplatformings
• 1 disruption of speech
• 4 sanctioned scholars
• 3 sanctioned students
• 0 “honor roll” free speech statements

Only 26% of IU students said they believe the administration clearly protects free speech, and fewer than half felt comfortable expressing unpopular opinions on campus.

Governance Shift Raises Further Concerns

Amid IU’s struggles with free speech and academic climate, recent legislation has dramatically altered how the university is governed. As part of the state’s biennial budget, a provision was quietly added that eliminates alumni-elected trustees and gives the governor sole authority to appoint all nine members of the Board of Trustees.

Previously, three trustee positions were filled by IU alumni through a democratic process. Now, Governor Mike Braun holds total power, effectively consolidating state executive control over one of Indiana’s flagship public institutions.

Critics, including free speech advocates and university faculty, have warned this could increase political pressure on the university and further undermine independent governance. The ACLU of Indiana has filed a lawsuit challenging the change, arguing it violates the state constitution’s ban on special legislation targeting a specific institution.

A Pattern of Controversy

The FIRE report and trustee overhaul follow a series of high-profile incidents involving free expression at IU:

• In 2022, faculty were warned against discussing abortion legislation on university listservs, prompting FIRE to issue a public letter defending their academic speech rights.
• Student protests in 2024 over the Gaza conflict resulted in arrests and increased scrutiny of the university’s protest policies.
• IU’s bias response team policy faced legal challenges from Speech First, though the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case in 2025.

https://speechfirst.org/news/free-speech-group-sues-indiana-university-over-its-bias-reporting-system-unconstitutional

With IU’s climate for open dialogue already under fire, many fear the trustee power shift signals a deeper erosion of democratic norms within Indiana’s public higher education system.

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