Monroe County Judge Upholds Law Giving Gov. Braun Authority Over Previously Woke IU Trustees

Liberal Alumni Influence Curtailed as Braun Wins Control of IU Governance

A Monroe County judge has ruled that Indiana’s new law restructuring the selection process for Indiana University’s Board of Trustees is constitutional.

The legislation, enacted earlier this year, eliminates the long-standing practice of allowing IU alumni to elect three members of the university’s governing board. Instead, Governor Mike Braun now has authority to appoint all nine trustees, although state law still requires that five of those appointees be Indiana University graduates.

The lawsuit was brought by IU alumnus Justin Vasel, who had been seeking one of the alumni-elected trustee positions before the law took effect. The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana argued on his behalf that the legislation unfairly singled out Indiana University and deprived alumni of a voice in university governance.

Special Judge Erik Allen concluded that while Vasel had standing to challenge the law, the legislation did not violate Indiana’s constitutional prohibition against special legislation.

The court noted that IU’s trustee system had long been unique among Indiana’s public universities and that the General Assembly had previously modified the university’s governance structure numerous times throughout its history.

In his ruling, Allen stated that courts are not permitted to substitute their policy preferences for those of lawmakers, emphasizing that decisions regarding accountability and governance of public universities rest with the Indiana General Assembly.

The Indiana University Board of Trustees oversees major university matters, including budgets, tuition rates, academic programs, and broader institutional policies affecting tens of thousands of students across the IU system.

The decision grants summary judgment in favor of the State of Indiana, though an appeal remains possible.