Indiana ACLU sues Gov. Braun over section of budget bill targeting Indiana University

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- In a lawsuit filed this week by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, Governor Mike Braun is accused of approving a section to the budget bill (HEA 1001) that changes Indiana University’s Board of Trustees’ selection process, which they claim violates the Indiana Constitution.

"Indiana law provides a method at every other Indiana public university for alumni to select a number of the members of each university’s board of trustees," an ACLU of Indiana spokesperson said.

"Prior to the change in the law alumni of IU had the ability to elect three trustee members. But now, with the changes, the alumni have no role whatsoever."

The lawsuit was filed in Monroe Circuit Court and alleges that sections of HEA 1001 violate the Indiana Constitution because they are “special legislation.”

“The new provisions violate the prohibition on special legislation contained in the Indiana Constitution,” ACLU of Indiana legal director Ken Falk said.

“Every other four-year public university in the state has a process for allowing alumni to select at least some members of the board of trustees, and there is no justification for denying that ability to the alumni of IU.”

According to the ACLU, the plaintiff in the lawsuit, Justin Vasel, is an IU alum and was a candidate for the IU board of trustees’ election, which was scheduled to begin on June 1, 2025.

“When I decided to run for IU Trustee, I committed to defending the university's interests and alumni representation. I never imagined my first act would be to defend the very existence of the position itself,” said Vasel.

“Thousands of alumni are preparing to cast their votes in this election, as they have done for over 130 years. Their voices deserve to be heard and respected, not silenced through legislative maneuvering that our state constitution was designed to prevent."