Letter to alums

Dear Fellow Alumni,

Now that the celebrations of our first-ever football national championship are dying down (Will we ever stop celebrating? Time will tell!), it’s time to get back to the serious matters affecting the status and reputation of our beloved university.

Things are not good at IU, and President Pamela Whitten is largely to blame. For the last several months, we’ve been talking to students, faculty, administrators, and alumni about what’s going wrong at IU and what we can do about it.

If you’ve been paying more attention to football than to academics (we don’t judge), here’s some of what’s been happening at IU since Pam Whitten took over.

Under Whitten, IU has become the worst-ranked public university in the US for free speech. Whitten has modified long-standing policies governing free speech on campus to restrict students’ rights, including:

Falsely declaring peaceful student protestors to be “violent outsiders.” Closing off Dunn Meadow, a haven for student protests, for months to prevent protests. Allowing the police to violently and aggressively raid the protestors’ encampment, confiscating medical supplies and feminine hygiene products. Allowing snipers on the roof of the IMU with their sights trained on students;
Suspending a professor and advisor to the Palestinian solidarity committee. Canceling the exhibit of a world-renowned Palestinian artist at the Eskenazi Art Museum;
Firing a Jewish Studies professor without notice and replacing him with a hard-line, anti-free speech professor.

The administration has defunded/restructured IDS and IU Radio;

The IDS was ordered not to print news, and the print edition was discontinued (it’s returned, thanks to a huge alumni outcry);
IU fired the IDS advisor who pushed back on the “no news” policy;
IU has refused calls to disclose where alumni donations to the IDS actually went.

Under Whitten, the relationship between the faculty and the university has deteriorated

The faculty gave an overwhelming vote of “no confidence” in President Pamela Whitten, Provost Rahul Shrivastav, and Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs Carrie Docherty;
Whitten received a raise of 28 percent ($225,000), while IU employees saw their matching retirement contributions by the University decreased by 1 percent, and received multiple years of raises of 2 percent, which did not keep up with the rate of inflation;
National outlets have reported on Whitten’s apparent plagiarism;
IU dismantled its DEI programs;
Whitten has diluted educational standards at IU, pushing for online classes and reducing faculty input.

Worst of all, Whitten has helped Governor Mike Braun take over the IU Board of Trustees, which no longer has any member elected by alumni.

Reportedly, the language in the legislation that allowed Braun to take over the BOT was written by Whitten.
Indiana Senate Bill 110 in the current legislative session would restore alumni governance. Its prospects don’t look good, however.

IU has fallen prey to the MAGA agenda in Indiana, and President Whitten has led the charge. So what can we do?

We are asking you, as alumni, to pledge not to make any further donations to IU until the following conditions are met:

Pamela Whitten resigns as President of Indiana University;
IU restores its DEI programs;
IU reinstates more robust free speech protections for students, faculty, and administrators; and
Alumni-elected seats are restored to the Board of Trustees

To that end, we’re asking you to add your name to the attached Google Doc, which we will present to Pamela Whitten and the University on July 1, 2026.

For those of you who are concerned that Coach Cig’s contract extension is tied to President Whitten’s tenure, please keep in mind that 1) Whitten almost certainly included such language to protect herself; and 2) contracts can always be modified, rewritten, or honored even if the original conditions are not met. We know that IU alums are smart enough to celebrate the success of the Football Hoosiers and condemn what Pamela Whitten is doing to degrade the prestige of our degrees.

Please help us take a stand against the debasement of our university and restore the glory of old IU.

Never daunted,

Alumni for a Better IU

Steering Committee:

Julie DiCaro Class of ‘95

Terry Mark Class of ’92

Stephanie Miller Classes of ‘90, ‘03

Jaicey Bledsoe Class of ‘22

Shannon Beaty Class of ‘10

Rachel Rosenthal Class of ‘01

Pledge:

We, the undersigned alumni, faculty, and students, having become increasingly concerned about the devaluation of our degrees and IU's reputation on the global stage, pledge to withhold donations to Indiana University until such time as the following conditions are met:

Pamela Whitten steps down as President of Indiana University
IU restores DEI programs to previous levels
IU reinstates robust free speech protections for students, faculty, and administrators
Alumni-elected seats are restored to the IU Board of Trustees

Signatories:

Shannon Beaty Class of 2010

Julie DiCaro Class of 1995

Zina Kumok Class of 2011

Kyle Kenyon Class of 2025

Jacob Morgan Class of 2025

Jenna Whiteaker Class of 2007

Calla Norman Class of 2020

Michael Bradford Class of 1999/2004

Rihona Bing-English Class of 2018/2023

Kim Kinney Class of 2005

Syd Tomlinson Class of 2021

Betsy Brazy Class of 1982

Emma Kearney Class of 2022

Patricia Esgate Class of 1973

Cristina Matracia Class of 1994

Troy D. Plumer Class of 1989

Killian R. Orion Class of 2015

Ann Schroeder Class of 1980/1982

Zachary Schmucker Class of 2012

Chris Hussar Class of 1987/1989

Natalie Rowthorn Class of 2016

Michael D. McCullough Class of 1989

Althea Kaminske Class of 2008

Aaron Xavier Q Wilson Class of 2016

Kelly Hill Class of 1992

Rachel Kantrowitz Class of 2017

Heather Mielke Class of 2015

Heidi Støa Class of 2018

Brendan Biesen Class of 2015

Michael Coleman Class of 2005

Jonathan Blanks Class of 2006

Jennifer Burklow Class of 1979

Rebecca Gerber Class of 2012

Joe Heath Class of 2017

Laura Olson Class of 2012

Laura Gerber Class of 2022

Sue Morrow Class of 1988

Cathy Cowan Becker Class of 1995

Grey Parker-Low Class of 2007

David Hedrick Class of 2002/2007/2008

Nick Golding Class of 2014

Lexia Banks Class of 2016

Kelly Slinkman Kuglitsch Class of 1994

Kelsey Peters Class of 2024

Judith Olson Parent of 2012 graduate

Timothy William Walls Class of 1980

Mary Armstrong Class of 1991

Terry Mark Class of 1992

Linda Sue Standish Class of 1974/ 1982

Amanda Crockett Class of 2015/ 2024

Krista Bailey Class of 1994

Paul Steury Class of 1997

Nicole Messacar Class of 2006

Terry Allison Chancellor and Professor Emeritus

Corey Long Class of 2014

Alison Moss Class of 2007

Chrissy Cowell Class of 2020/2025

Moira Dyczko Class of 1998

Maggie Kent Class of 2016

Kathleen (Carrico) Craft Class of 2014

Ranjan Rohatgi Class of 2016

Stacie Balentine Class of 2025

Kelly Limberg Class 2009

James Kollars Class of 2013

Linzi Richmond Class of 2020

Karen Baierl Class of 1990

Erica Overton Class of 2013

Jessica Pugsley Class of 2014/2023,

Sarah Greenawalt Class of 2025

Christine Voss (Pulliam) Class of 2005

Tiffany Goehring-Eggers Class of 2004/ 2019

Missy Hatfield Class of 1998/2025

Megan Jerrils Class of 2013

Mary Ann Cain Class of 1980

Mary Lisek Class of 2016

Melissa Glasert Class of 2002

Julie Feighery Class of 2001

Tonya Newton Class of 2019

Reverend Jane Emery Class of 2005

Katie Martinez Class of 2014

Jennifer Purdy Class of 2013 / 2019

Myrna Haas Class of 2015

Yessica Lawson Class of 2020

Amanda Parkinson Class of 2022

Jason Moreno Class of 2012

Shelby Geyer Class of 2013 / 2017

Tracey Malesa Class of 2013

Cheryl Gray Class of 2016

Jessica Koscher Class of 1995 /2005

Raychel Minasian Class of 2018

Alexa Zapata Class of 2022

Janelle Curry Class of 2015

Alicia Einfalt Class of 2020 /2023

Cassidy Yost Class of 2016 /2025

Shannon Kling Class of 1988

Jennifer Jones Class of 2016 / 2019

Abigail Utterback Class of 2021

Nicole Richardson Class of 2020

Helen Wright Class of 1996

Tabitha Simmons Class of 2024

Kim Koscher Class of 2013

Chloe Garner Class of 2025

Michelle L. Wallis Nixon Class of 2018

Crystal Harvel Class of 2016

Tara L. Uebelhor Bayse Class of 1997

Gabrielle Hopkins Class of 2022

Georgette Hood Class of 2009

Travis Smith Class of 2011

Brandon W Rickey Class of 2013/2018/2024

Michelle Gloss Class of 1998

Kellee Lowry Class of 2012/2014

Miriam Lidinsky-Smith Class of 2019

Christopher Cokinos Class of 1986

Karen Nemes Class of 1995

Morgan Donat Hancock Class of 2013

Sarah Hodgdon Class of 1993

Emyle Kruyer Class of 2011

Dina Pintal Class of 1992

Jessica Beckman Tillinghast Class of 2015

Peter Pletcher Class of 1993

Bonita Bent Nelson Class of 2006

Madison Bates Class of 2017

Diana Paloko Class of 2010

Peter Laramore Class of 2013

Allison Zacharski Class of 2020

Heidi Beidinger Class of 1989

Timothy Shaw Class of 2006

Anita Westhues Class of 1998

Karen Kaser Class of 2011

Cassandra Castro Class of 2020

Linda Sue Taylor Class of 1996

Elizabeth Georges Class of 2014

Dana FitzGerald Class of 1992

Mary Ellen Hegedus Class of 1975/1977

Andrea Hutslar (née Barbour) Class of 2016

Sandra McCarthy Class of 2017

Barbara McCarthy Green Class of 1985

Matthew McQueen Class of 2005

Tom Robson Class of 2006 /2011

Stephanie Egyed Class of 2016

Michael Snyder Class of 2013

Cassandra Reyes Class of 2019/ 2023

Renee Ruocco Class of 2009

Jane Bentkowski Class of 2007

Sarah Myers Class of 2013/2026

Liz Karczewski Class of 2020

Amy Murray Class of 2016/2020

Dawn Dice Class of 2015

RICH BYKOWSKI Class of 2014

Matt Mikels Class of 2006

Laura Mikels Class of 2006

Michelle Couto Class of 2017

Noe Montez Class of 2009

Vickie Marshall Class of 1981

Zach Rohbock Class of 2022

Rhonda Redman Class of 2016/2026

Sharon Holston Class of 2003/2007

Teresa Naomai Class of 2005

Brandi David Class of 2008/2012

Steven Low Class of 1996

Beck Robbins Class of 2015

Sandra Eisert Class of 1973

Ginger Santiago Class of 2015/2019

Stacie Jensen Class of 2012

Wendy Davis Class of 2016

Brittany Powers Class of 2021

Heath Hicks Class of 2006/2019

Jennifer Talboom Class of 2022

Karen Maes Lance Class of 2008

Linda Conyers Class of I989

Alaynna Goheen Class of 2013

Kirby Dipert Class of 2020

Tricia Wainscott Class of 2003/2007

Brennan Lennox Class of 2021

Pamela Wycliff Class of 1984

Brittany Gardner-Kennel Class of 2008

Kimberly Teska Class of 1985

Teresa Moran Class of 1977

Thomas Butler Class of 1993 /1996

Damion Steele Class of 2002/2007

Jill DeLucia Class of 1994

Jhunixa Salazar Class of 2012

Robert Rynerson Class of 1984

Molly Burgos Class of 2016

Emma Schaul Class of 2014

Emily Barker-Werntz Class of 2013

Carrie Gaines Class of 1996

Ian Cunningham Class of 2015

Alex Trautman Class of 2005

Gregory Koehler Class of 1997

Emily Cohen Class of 2008

James Colborn Class of 1983

Maddison Hines Class of 2019

Alison Stankrauff Former Faculty Member

John Thompson Class of 2006

Jacqueline Harding Hilliard Class of 1975

Hailey Colpitts Class of 2022

Alicia Class of 1996

Jennifer Brock Class of 1982

Carol Tilley Class of 1992/1993/ 20007

Sean Hall Class of 2018

Austin Wodock Class of 2021

Stacy Burns Littlewood Class of 2012

David Bender Class of 1989

Barbara Gilles Class of 1983

Lesley Brown Class of 1985/1993/2000

Steven Moore Class of 1995

Trevor Lacey Class of 2027

Jared Stancombe Class of 2009/2020

Lia Saunders Class of 2011

Katy Lengacher Class of 2010

Jon Cluce Class of 2012

Karley Spriggs Class of 2020

Chirag Divecha Class of 2018

Michelle Hairston Class of 2009/2017

Jason Hoskin Current Doctoral Student

Kimberly Aigner Class of 1996

Michelle Foutz Class of 1993

Kinsey Davis Class of 2015

Daria Zieminska Retired IU Research Scientist

Baelen Kaufmann Class of 2025

Cassity Harris Class of 2024

Elizabeth Stoutenour Class of 2005

Christine Balzano Class of 1995

Tiffany Stream Class of 1997

Lauren Wiseman Abraham Class of1996

Fernando Garcia Class of 2022

Alison Davenport Class of 2009/2011

Rachel Charak Carlson Class of 1999

Michelle Greene Class of 1998/2002/2015

Todd Halvorsen Class of 1995/ 2000

Julie Staresnick Class of 1972/1973

William Amith Class of 1992

Shannon Romanowski Class of 1995

David Chih Class of 1990/2001

Melissa Lindberg Class of 1993

Michael Jonelis Class of 2021

Matthew Richardson Class of 1995

James Williams Class of 2014

Austin Toombs Class of 2012/ 2016

Amy Starzynski Coddens Class of 2003/2006 /2009 /2021

Barry Willits Class of 1989

David Boyer Class of 2005

Aidan Dusek Class of 2023

Kellie Donoghue Class 2010/2012/ 2015

Maximilian Scott Class of 2021

Wesley Vermillion Class of 2016

John Snethen Class of 2001

Carolynn ni Lochlainn Class of 1997/2002

Poonam A. Giri Class of 2011

Melissa Brown Class of 1990

Izzy Cross-Najafi Class of 2013

Rocael A. Cardona Class of 2022

Melissa Thornley Class of 1993

Gabrielle Thomas Class of 2016

Sara Miller Class of 2018

Robert Cook Class of 1990

Amanda Louden Class of 1992

Andrew M Spicer Class of 2011/2015/2022

Anna Gillette Class of 1994

Darren Bedwell Class of 1987

Jillian Lewis Class of 2023

Rachel Walker Class of 2005

Pamela Shafer Wycliff Class of 1984

Nick Willits Class of 2021

Philip Powell Class of 1988/ 1995

Ellen FitzGerald Class of 2011/2015

Jaicey Bledsoe Class of 2022

Daniel Bogaard Class of 1992

Greg Newton Class of 2001

Kathleen Stine Class of 1983

Sean Kerrigan Class of 1990

Randolph Peters Class of 1987

Steven Miller Class of 2005

Sean Seger Class of 2010

Andrew Midkiff Class of 1988

Joan Rodden Class of 1976/1996

Sean Hirschten Class of 2010

David Carter Class of 2009

Barbara McCarthy Green Class of 1985

Cameron Dante Kincaid Class of 2021

Valerie N Williams Class of 1993/2010

Steven Low Class of 1996

Jane Bentkowski Class of 2007

Dina Pintal Class of 1992

Patrick Wiltshire Class of 1974/1980

Elizabeth Elliott Class of 2022

Susan Polakoff Shaw Class of 1981

Ellen Moodie Class of 1985

Jake Cozza Class of 2022

Laura McFarland Class of 1997

Laura Fuhrmann Class of 2009

Stephanie Miller Class of 1990/2003

Jeremiah J. Sult Class of 2022

Geri Sult Class of 2017

Rafael Khachaturian Class of 2017

Michele Russo Class of 1982

Giovanna Urdangarain Class of 2008

Megan MacDonald Class of 2007

Tyler Simnick Class of 2013/2014

Alyssa Seward (Gibson) Class of 2017

Taylor Pieper Class of 2015

Madlean Koehler Class of 2023

Eva Timm Class of 2015

Andrea Wright Parmenter Class of 1994

Laura McFarland (Schaible) Class of 1997

Kimberly Teska Class of 1985

Olivia Matthews Class of 2002

Elizabeth Nord Class of 1994

Richard Solomon Class of 2019

Ann Lewandowski Class of 2020

Catherine Page-Vanore Class of 2007/2010

Teddy Bailey Class of 2019

Addison Martens (Dance) Class of 2016

Wendy Myres Class of 1975

Megan Pintal Class of 2019

Marva Ping Moore Class of 1976

Allison Hutt Class of 2017

Katie Stewart Class of 2017

Rachael Wehrle Class of 2017

Ly Nguyen Class of 2013

Simon Luo Class of 2022

Tracey Hutchings-Goetz Class of 2020

Laura Bucci Class of 2017

Samantha Wituszynski Class of 2016