The following is the text of an email sent on April 30, 2024.
Freedom of lawful peaceful speech and expression is uncompromisable. We take this as given and must not let it be taken from us by fear, by criticism, or by any other means. Freedom of lawful peaceful speech and expression is a privilege that we must take seriously and cherish.
We are all aware of continued campus protests. At the same time, we are in the season on our campus that would usually portend great reflection and celebration as thousands of students prepare to commemorate their graduation from Indiana University Bloomington. What is typically an electric and joyous time of year is no less exciting than in years past, but in light of the turmoil we are all navigating, we must be vigilant and prepared to exercise our patience and tolerance. We must be sensitive to the class of 2024 who lost their high school graduation celebrations to COVID-19 and make these coming days extra special for them.
As situations on campus and elsewhere continue to evolve, we in the IU School of Public Health-Bloomington maintain steadfast in our gratitude for—and celebration of—our right to freedom of expression. Every person on this campus is entitled to peacefully and lawfully voice their opinion; to engage in thoughtful debate and discussion. Every person is permitted to agree or disagree with decisions made by peers, administrators, and others. And SPH-B leadership, including the undersigned, commend all who have spoken up and participated peacefully, lawfully, and actively with the goal of making the world a better, healthier place.
The freedom to express opposition to policies and actions, to debate and question and explore via constructive dialogue, is one that we hold dear. And while we know this is a challenging time for IU Bloomington, we affirm our support for peaceful participation in these activities that are undoubtedly the bedrock of democracy.
We encourage faculty to remain flexible for any student working with IUPD to appeal a campus ban that affects their ability to attend class or complete assignments between now and the end of the semester. The appeal process is described in the April 28 email from President Pamela Whitten and Provost Rahul Shrivastav.
In challenging times, none of us are alone. We encourage faculty and staff to contact SupportLinc for empowering mental and emotional resources. As always, students are invited to reach out to Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) to be connected with professional strategies and support.
Thank you for being a valued member of the SPH-B community. We are grateful for your insight, courage, and commitment to justice everywhere.
Sincerely,
David B. Allison, Ph.D.
Dean
NiCole R. Keith, Ph.D.
Executive Associate Dean
Jerono P. Rotich, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Organizational Climate, Inclusion, and Belonging