Hello IU Indy AAUP!
As we start the new academic year, we want to reflect on our accomplishments from last year and look ahead to our priorities for this academic year.
AY ‘25-’26 was challenging as we saw sweeping changes at the federal, state, and university level. In response, we revived the AAUP chapter and started organizing. At this time last year we had a small band of members, now we are at 60 strong and growing!
We are facing statewide (and nationwide) attacks, which requires a statewide strategy. The chapter is active at the state level, meeting frequently with chapter leaders from across the state to share information, strategies, and resources. Chapter leaders are working to coordinate communications and messaging across the state: sharing research, flyers, slide decks, and events to make it easier for chapters to host teach-ins, inform members of on-going issues, and advocate for higher education. Learn more and get involved with the Indiana State Conference of AAUP here.
We are working closely with other IU chapters to share information and coordinate responses to shared threats. A recent case that required a joint chapter response was the termination of Jessica Adams, whose contract was not renewed following an SEA 202 complaint filed by Dean Brenner at the request of Senator Jim Banks who received a complaint from a constituent. While Professor Adams teaches in Bloomington, she is considered a faculty of IU Indianapolis given the structure of the School of Social Work. Read our joint statement with the IUB AAUP chapter here.
Over the past year the University has backed away from its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, closing system-wide DEI offices, including the Multicultural Center and the LGBTQ+ Center. Students protested these closures earlier this week. Notably on our campus was the cancellation of the MLK dinner, a beloved student-led, community event that has run for 57 years. Read our statement here. The university was also noticeably absent from the annual Pride Parade. IU Indy AAUP stepped in to provide a space for any IU student, faculty, or staff to walk in Pride.
We are proud that several AAUP members have taken on leadership roles at the IFC, BFC, and UFC level. We are going into the AY ‘26-’27 with strong advocates for academic freedom because faculty made their voices heard.
This year we will be focusing on voter turnout and statewide legislation. We are a statewide chapter – IU Indianapolis encompasses IU Indy, IU Columbus, IU Ft. Wayne, and the IU School of Medicine which comprises 9 campuses (Evansville, Bloomington, Terre Haute, Indy, Muncie, West Lafayette, Gary, South Bend, and Ft. Wayne). While our membership is spread across the state, it is most heavily concentrated in downtown Indianapolis, walking distance from the State Capital. We, more than any other chapter, have the greatest ability to interact with lawmakers, participate in the legislative process, and advocate for higher education at the state level. We’ve spent the last year and a half feeling the direct impact of attacks against academic freedom, tenure, and funding. Now we have the opportunity to fight back.
Our fight begins at the ballot box. The overall turnout rate of eligible voters in Indiana in the last midterm general election was 37.2%. The national average for the same year was 46.2% (source: https://www.electproject.org/2022g ). The legislatures who cut our funding, restrict academic freedom, and create inane requirements that eliminate our programs are being chosen by a little more than a third of registered voters. These are not wildly popular measures. Check your registration and find your polling location at https://indianavoters.in.gov/. Ask your friends, family, and colleagues to do the same. Then make a plan to vote. Make a lunch date with a friend to do early voting at a polling location. Help with childcare to make voting possible for your friends and family with young children.
On the Indy campus, Women4Change, a student org, does “voting parties” to help first time voters get familiar with the ballot box. They have a number of resources to help students register and make a plan to vote: https://www.women4changeindiana.org/vote . Learn more about what’s on the ballot and how to get help involved in Indianapolis at Naptown Votes https://blackjoyindy.com/naptown-votes/ and through https://vote.indy.gov/
It was great to see everyone who made it to the membership meeting! Monthly member meetings happen on the 2nd Friday of the month at 2:30 p.m. Meetings are online, and members should have received a calendar invite from this email address. Our next member meeting is Friday, October 9th at 2:30.
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