Withhold Your Donations to IU: A Statement to Donors

President Pamela Whitten’s administration unleashed state police onto peaceful protesters in Dunn Meadow, a space on Indiana University’s campus revered for its dedication to free speech. The violent scenes from Dunn Meadow over the past week, which featured state police pulverizing peaceful protesters and snipers taking aim atop the student union building, have made Indiana University a local, state, and national embarrassment. 

Over her tenure, President Whitten has shown that she has no respect for democracy, shared governance, or free speech. Many students, faculty, and staff have long pointed out these failures of the administration, but few, if any, would have expected a militarized assault on students exercising these basic principles. 

These students are fighting for the people of Gaza and an end to the genocide there, IU’s financial divestment from “Israel” and adherence to BDS, and an end to IU’s partnership with Crane. Protestors have followed the 55-year-old university protocols for protesting in Dunn Meadow. The administration’s overnight, “ad hoc” changes to those policies constitute a discriminatory attack on free speech.

Everyone but the administration recognizes that. Despite one’s particular political viewpoints, one has the right to voice those positions. The brave protesters at the encampment in Dunn Meadow, mostly students, should have the right to do so without weapons aimed at them.

The Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition Coordinating Committee is calling on everyone who donates to IU to withhold donations to the university until we receive confirmation that the police will no longer be used to enforce “ad hoc” policies at Dunn Meadow and until President Whitten and Provost Rahul Shrivastav resign or are fired.

We ask donors to consider donating money to other causes instead. Since more than 55 people have been arrested, you may donate to the bail fund. You may also donate money toward supplies or food for those at the encampment. 

At the very least, we ask donors to pause donations to put pressure on the Board of Trustees to end Whitten’s administration. Please share this information with anyone you know who donates money to Indiana University.