BLOOMINGTON – An Indiana University professor is facing an investigation for a potential violation of Indiana’s recently enacted “intellectual diversity” law, SEA 202. Ben Robinson, a professor of Germanic Studies, stated the investigation stems from a complaint alleging he failed to foster “free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity” in his classroom, as mandated by the law.
SEA 202, which also established a complaint process for alleged violations, is at the center of the issue. Robinson believes that an anonymous complaint, initially filed on IU’s Bias Incident Reporting page, was escalated by the university administration to an official SEA 202 violation investigation through the university’s EthicsPoint system. This distinction is significant, as IU states its Bias Response Team does not conduct formal investigations or impinge on free speech.
Robinson said the complaint arose from a class discussion where he spoke about his experience of potentially being jailed for civil disobedience during a protest at an Israeli Consulate. He contextualized this experience as a lesson on philosophical concepts, such as the master-slave dialectic and the prisoner’s dilemma, as well as the realities of incarceration. Robinson is known for his activism and support for the Palestinian cause, among others.
Professor Robinson expressed his “extreme disappointment and extreme indignation,” asserting that he does not believe the complaint has merit. He voiced concern about the precedent this case could set, potentially allowing any anonymous complaint to be reclassified as an SEA 202 violation, leading to investigations based on discomfort.
According to the College of Arts and Sciences’ 2024 policy, an investigation will determine if the complaint has standing and sufficient evidence. The case comes amid an ACLU lawsuit against IU and Purdue seeking to halt the implementation of the intellectual diversity law.
