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Universities adjust programs amid legislative uncertainty

Last Updated 2 weeks by Amnon J. Jobi | Amnon Front Page

Universities in Indiana grapple with federal government programming shifts

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — In response to recent executive orders from President Trump and actions taken by the Braun administration, schools across Indiana are reevaluating their programs.

Purdue’s student newspaper, The Exponent, is deleting past coverage to protect international students and staff after a new order from President Trump threatens visas over pro-Palestine support.

“We don’t want to be responsible for these people being deported or having their student visas cancelled or facing any kind of repercussion for exercising their First Amendment right,” The Exponent Editor-in-Chief Seth Nelson said.

Purdue University is not the only school making a change. At Ball State University and Indiana University, programs and conferences have been cancelled.

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IU’s School of Medicine cancelled it’s annual LGBTQ+ Health Care Conference which was scheduled for April. We reached out to the school about the reason for the cancellation and have not yet received a reply.

Ball State University changed plans for their LGBTQ+ faculty development program.

When asked about the change, the university gave the following statement:

“The session was scheduled nearly three months out on April 16. Amid bills that have been introduced in Indiana’s current legislative session, leadership of the Office of Inclusive Excellence at Ball State felt it was prudent to pause this session until there is further clarity.”

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One parent of a student at Ball State, that did not want to share her identity, was worried for her child’s safety.

“This apparent war against the LGBTQ+ community is saddening and scary. If Ball State is following Indiana and/or federal legislative proposals, then I blame both the state and federal government for any cancelling of DEI-type of facility trainings, not Ball State. I just hope that BSU recognizes that LGBTQ+ college students have a three-times higher rate of depression than their cisgender, heterosexual friends. This alone should be reason to educate staff members,” she said.

Another concerned Hoosier who wanted to anonymous said, “It’s no secret that Indiana and Muncie aren’t the most queer-friendly locations. LGBTQ+ folks rely on our smaller communities to feel seen, and Ball State has been that place for so many LGBTQ+ students, faculty, staff and Muncie residents. Pulling back on this type of programming feels like a loss of ally ship.”

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Nelson said universities are supposed to be hubs where students feel welcome, and when student’s don’t feel safe, it goes against a university’s mission.

“We’re finding ourselves in a position right now where a lot of students at Purdue, at IU, at Ball State – all over the country, really – the very act of being a student at a University is terrifying. The act of being a student at a university in a red state, as in Indiana, is terrifying,” Nelson said.