IUB Organizing Hub

Inviting Snipers & Police to Campus

A long-standing policy on protest guidelines was changed in a closed-door meeting on April 24, less than 24 hours before the start of a scheduled protest. The policy change was used to justify the presence of state police on IU Bloomington’s campus and the arrest of more than 50 students and faculty on April 25 and 27. Year-long bans were meted out to those arrested.

Formal statements

• Students begin to erect tents on Dunn Meadows (Apr 25, 2024). This action was taken in accordance with a longstanding written IU policy about an absolute right to free speech at Dunn Meadows. That policy, passed in 1969, explicitly acknowledges that signs, displays, and even structures can legitimately be part of that exercise of free speech. You can read it here: https://vpfaa.indiana.edu/files/policy-pdfs/bl-aca-i18-use-assembly-ground.pdf.

• Projected court date for protestors who were arrested (Jun 05, 2024).
• Indiana State Police arrive at Dunn Meadows (Apr 25, 2024). ISP troops were in full riot gear and a sniper was posted on the roof of the Indiana Memorial Student Union. See 

Social Media Posts

• Indiana State Police arrive at Dunn Meadows (Apr 27, 2024). https://twitter.com/IUonStrike/status/1784256319580455212, https://x.com/iustvnews/status/1784257949130436897
• Observers note the departure of Indiana State Police after arrests (Apr 25, 2024). See https://twitter.com/fez_irl/status/1783602081783324814

Media Coverage

• The Past Month Has Seen a Flurry of No-Confidence Votes in College Presidents (May 09, 2024). A flurry of votes of no confidence in college leaders, many of them prompted by their handling of pro-Palestinian encampments, has swept higher ed in the past month. The Chronicle of Higher Education
• The New Anti-Antisemitism (May 08, 2024). The response to college protests against the war on Gaza exemplifies the darkness of the Trumpocene. Mentions IU's Board of Trustee's hiring of a right-wing compliant president. The American Prospect
• I'm a former IU provost. Jim Banks should remember he represents professors, too. (May 07, 2024). Open letter from former IU Provost asking Rep. Banks to exercise restraint and civility to IU faculty in light of his vilification and name-calling. Indianapolis Star
• IU school faculty call for Whitten and Shrivastav’s resignations, among other requests (May 05, 2024). Article detailing multiple IU school faculties that have come forward in regards to the Dunn Meadow tent policy, campus bans, Shrivastav's removal/resignation, and Whitten's removal/resignation. Indiana Daily Student
• Protesters host 'alternative commencement' in Dunn Meadow (May 04, 2024). Hours before Indiana University’s Saturday undergraduate ceremony at Memorial Stadium, protesters in Dunn Meadow hosted an alternate graduation ceremony in Dunn Meadow. Indiana Public Media
• LIVE UPDATES: Scenes from day 10 of Gaza encampment, campus protests (May 04, 2024). Updates from multiple sites on and off campus on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Indiana Daily Student
• Jim Banks lies about the IU protests — and about me (May 03, 2024). Jim Banks is a powerful Republican congressman who is likely to be elected in November as one of Indiana’s two U.S. Senators — unless Hoosiers wake up to the fact that his recent Star comments about IU Bloomington are lies. Indianapolis Star
• ACLU sues Indiana University, alleging First Amendment violations against demonstrators (May 03, 2024). The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana announced Friday it is suing Indiana University for violating the First Amendment rights of three demonstrators who were arrested and given no-trespass orders on April 25 at the pro-Palestinian encampment in Dunn Meadow. The Herald-Times
• Universities take steps to prevent pro-Palestinian protest disruptions of graduation ceremonies (May 03, 2024). Some U.S. universities with weekend graduation ceremonies are taking steps to contain any disruptions amid tension over the Israel-Hamas war The Washington Post
• ACLU of Indiana files lawsuit against IU challenging bans for arrested Dunn Meadow protesters (May 03, 2024). The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed a lawsuit Friday against the IU Board of Trustees and President Pamela Whitten to challenge campus bans for three plaintiffs after they were arrested during a pro-Palestinian protest April 25 and April 27. Indiana Daily Student
• LIVE UPDATES: Scenes from day 9 of Gaza encampment, campus protests (May 03, 2024). Updates from multiple sites on and off campus on Friday, May 3, 2024. Indiana Daily Student
• Around 30 IU faculty silently protest outside graduate commencement Friday (May 03, 2024). Around 30 IU faculty gathered ahead of the graduate commencement ceremony Friday outside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in a silent protest against IU administration. Indiana Daily Student
• LIVE UPDATES: Day 8 of Gaza encampment, campus protests (May 02, 2024). Updates from multiple sites on and off campus on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Indiana Daily Student
• At Indiana University, Protests Only Add to a Year Full of Conflicts (May 02, 2024). The tumult in Bloomington, Ind., where large protests have led to dozens of arrests and calls for university leaders to resign, shows the reach of the protest movement. The New York Times
• ISP Leader on IU protests: 'If in fact, we have to come back, then we will' (May 01, 2024). Report by Indiana Public Media about the Indiana State Police leader saying that ISP would make more arrests on campus if they felt it necessary Indiana Public Media
• Live Coverage of protests on IU Campus (May 01, 2024). Coverage by Indiana Public Media of every day of the protests Indiana Public Media
• Faculty condemnation grows as pro-Palestine protests at IU continue (Apr 30, 2024). Faculty Condemn IU Actions The Herald-Times
• Hundreds gather for IU faculty-led protest calling for Whitten, Shrivastav's resignations (Apr 30, 2024). Hundreds of Faculty Call for Whitten’s and Shrivastav’s Resignations. The Herald-Times
• Those Who Preach Free Speech Need to Practice It (Apr 30, 2024). FIRE Response to Campus Crackdowns. The Atlantic
• Abrupt Changes to Protest Policies Raise Alarm (Apr 30, 2024). Indiana University changed a 55-year-old policy on student assembly hours before protesters set up an encampment. Free speech advocates are worried. Inside Higher Ed
• Protests and demonstrations continue on Indiana University's campus  (Apr 30, 2024). Video coverage from WTHR covering rallys and protests at IUB following arrests at the encampment WTHR
• Protests continue on IU campus after criticism of Indiana State Police and university's response  (Apr 30, 2024). Video from CBS4 Indy covering protests at IUB and the response of the university regarding arrests by Indiana State Police CBS4 Indy
• IU protests and police action draw criticism, defense (Apr 29, 2024). Tension between police and student protesters enveloped Indiana University’s Bloomington campus in recent days as arrests mounted along with distrust in IU leadership after a change to long-standing policy the day before the initial protest. Indiana Capital Chronicle
• I'm a Professor. I never expected to be arrested on campus: This madness must end (Apr 29, 2024). Firsthand account of being arrested by Indiana State Police on 4/27 written by IUB professor Sarah D. Phillips Chronicle of Higher Education
• Local organizations and officials weigh in on protests on IU campus (Apr 29, 2024). Article in Indiana Public Media about the response of local organizations and officials in response to campus protests Indiana Public Media
• UPDATE: IU faculty, schools respond to Dunn Meadow arrests (Apr 29, 2024). Coverage by the Indiana Daily Student of arrests made on Thursday 4/25 and Saturday 4/27 Indiana Daily Student
• LIVE UPDATES: Scenes from day five of Gaza encampment, protests on campus (Apr 29, 2024). Coverage by the Indiana Daily Student of Day 5 of protests, including the faculty protest at Bryan Hall Indiana Daily Student
• Serious First Amendment problem': IU changed policy on eve of protests (Apr 28, 2024). The Herald-Times
• LIVE UPDATES: Scenes from day four of Gaza encampment, protests on campus (Apr 28, 2024). Coverage by the Indiana Daily Student of Day 4 of protests, including the faculty protest at Bryan Hall Indiana Daily Student
• UPDATE: Student leaders denounce Whitten, Shrivastav’s first signed statement on protests (Apr 28, 2024). Article in the Indiana Daily Student about Whitten and Shrivastav's response to protests and their denunciation by IU student leaders Indiana Daily Student
• LIVE UPDATES: Scenes from the third day of Gaza protest, encampment on IU campus (Apr 27, 2024). Coverage by the Indiana Daily Student of Day 3 of protests, including the faculty protest at Bryan Hall Indiana Daily Student
• IU changes policy day before encampment arrests (Apr 26, 2024). Article in Indiana Public Media about how IU changed its policies the day before making arrests at the encampment Indiana Public Media
• Answering questions about the Gaza War protests in IUs Dunn Meadow (Apr 25, 2024). Fact Checking ISP and IU. The Herald-Times
• State police detain protesters at Indiana University pro-Palestinian rally (Apr 25, 2024). The Herald-Times
• ‘Utterly unprincipled’: Policy created on eve of protest used to make arrests (Apr 25, 2024). Article in the Indiana Daily Student about how IU changed its policies as an excuse to arrest protestors on April 25, 2024 Indiana Daily Student

Open letters and testimonials

• Letter to Indiana University protesting the banning from campus of Professor David McDonald (May 06, 2024). A letter from the Middle East Studies Association of North America and its Committee on Academic Freedom expressing concern at the decision of IU administration to ban Professor David McDonald from campus following his arrest. Middle East Studies Association
• AHA Statement on 2024 Campus Protests (May 01, 2024). The AHA has issued a statement deploring recent decisions among college and university administrators to draw on local and state police forces to evict peaceful demonstrators. American Historical Association
• Statement by Jewish IUB Faculty and Students (Apr 30, 2024). Statement by Jewish students and faculty at IUB condemning the Whitten administration's siccing of police on peaceful protestors.
• In Defense of the Right to Free Speech and Peaceful Protest on University Campuses (Apr 29, 2024). The AAUP and its chapters defend the right to free speech and peaceful protest on university campuses, condemn the militarized response by institutional leaders to these activities, and vehemently oppose the politically motivated assault on higher education. American Association of University Professors
• MY ARREST ON DUNN MEADOW: Peace in the face of brutality (Apr 29, 2024). A faculty member's story of the Thursday April 25 protest and her subsequent arrest Barbara Dennis
• Open Letter to IU community (Apr 29, 2024). An open letter to the IU Community Colin Johnson

Other

• A humorous grading-style mark-up of Whitten's statement in response to arrests (Apr 30, 2024). anonymous

Fromal statements

• Statement Concerning Police Action at Dunn Meadow (Apr 26, 2024). AAUP Indiana University Bloomington Chapter's statement responding to police action at Dunn Meadow. Executive Committee of the IU-Bloomington American Association of University Professors