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Newsjock

(11,733 posts)
Mon Mar 30, 2015, 12:36 AM Mar 2015

Indiana University president: 'Reconsider this unnecessary legislation'

Statement issued Sunday night from Michael A. McRobbie, president of Indiana University:
http://lesc.iu.edu/emails/iu/office-of-the-president/religious-freedom/web.html

Dear faculty, staff and students:

The recent passage of the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act has brought significant negative attention to the state of Indiana throughout the nation and indeed the world, because the law is widely viewed as signaling an unwelcoming and discriminatory atmosphere in our state.

While Indiana University hopes that the controversy of the past few days will move the state government to reconsider this unnecessary legislation, the damage already done to Indiana's reputation is such that all public officials and public institutions in our state need to reaffirm our absolute commitment to the Hoosier values of fair treatment and non-discrimination.

For its part, Indiana University remains steadfast in our longstanding commitment to value and respect the benefits of a diverse society. It is a fundamental core value of our culture at Indiana University and one that we cherish. Indeed, in 2014 the trustees of Indiana University reaffirmed our commitment to the achievement of equal opportunity within the university.

To that end, Indiana University will recruit, hire, promote, educate and provide services to persons without regard to their age, race, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, marital status, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or veteran status. Equally importantly, we will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of any of these same factors.

These are not merely words written in a policy and soon forgotten. These are core values by which every member of the Indiana University community is expected to treat his or her fellow colleagues, students and visitors.

I want to reassure the entire Indiana University community, including our students, faculty, staff and alumni, that each and every one of you is welcome and appreciated for the unique qualities that you bring to our community. We are all better as a result of our shared experiences, as different as those experiences in life may have been.

Sincerely,

Michael A. McRobbie
President, Indiana University

23 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Indiana University president: 'Reconsider this unnecessary legislation' (Original Post) Newsjock Mar 2015 OP
Thank GOODNESS! elleng Mar 2015 #1
+1 pinto Mar 2015 #2
K&R Zorra Mar 2015 #3
Now we see if the President of Indiana University carries Downwinder Mar 2015 #4
Good BrotherIvan Mar 2015 #5
Well Said DallasNE Mar 2015 #12
And he could write with fire BrotherIvan Mar 2015 #14
very well said, Michael A. McRobbie !! Tuesday Afternoon Mar 2015 #6
K&R... nt AnotherDreamWeaver Mar 2015 #7
I'd much rather have SCOTUS overturn it. Initech Mar 2015 #8
Bravo President McRobbie- 'We are all better as a result of our shared experiences' appalachiablue Mar 2015 #9
Mahalo Pres Michael McRobbie of Indiana U! Thank you, Nj Cha Mar 2015 #10
Don't Care angrychair Mar 2015 #11
I care that this bullshit is prompting decent folk to speak out Skittles Mar 2015 #13
+1 BrotherIvan Mar 2015 #15
I repeat angrychair Mar 2015 #16
That is great they did that davidpdx Mar 2015 #17
Well well rjsquirrel Mar 2015 #18
Highly recommend. n/t Jefferson23 Mar 2015 #19
hmm, did this person say anything when this hateful piece of bigotry was being debated and niyad Mar 2015 #20
just more elitist intellectual college liberals Takket Mar 2015 #21
I imagine the president of Purdue will follow along any minute now KamaAina Mar 2015 #22
Well done, Michael A. McRobbie! Enthusiast Mar 2015 #23

elleng

(130,146 posts)
1. Thank GOODNESS!
Mon Mar 30, 2015, 12:41 AM
Mar 2015

IU is an EXCELLENT school (Was sorry my daughter choose not to attend,) its former President was Myles Brand, a FINE man, a true gentleman and scholar, who left for the NCAA (much to my disappointment.)

Myles Brand (1942-2009)
Term of Office: 1994-2002
Education: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (B.S. 1964), University of Rochester (Ph.D. 1967)
Professional Background: Provost and vice president for academic affairs at Ohio State University (1986-1989), president of the University of Oregon (1989-1994)

Myles Brand became Indiana University’s sixteenth president on August 1, 1994. He presided over a period of remarkable growth at IU, including record student enrollments and national leadership in information technology and the life sciences, while maintaining the university’s traditional strengths in the arts and humanities. TIME Magazine named IU Bloomington “College of the Year” among research universities in September 2001, based on the quality of its programs to help incoming students adjust to college life. Under Brand’s leadership, research grants and contracts more than doubled, and IU received the largest single private gift in its history, a $105 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to fund the Indiana Genomics Initiative. In 2001, IU was the leading public university in private-sector support. Dr. Brand served as president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

DallasNE

(7,392 posts)
12. Well Said
Mon Mar 30, 2015, 02:26 AM
Mar 2015

"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." - Sinclair Lewis

That is as true today as when Sinclair Lewis first said it.


%23Religion%2520is%2520moratliy%2520meme%2520720x540

BrotherIvan

(9,126 posts)
14. And he could write with fire
Mon Mar 30, 2015, 02:47 AM
Mar 2015

I am not anti-religion as some people. I think it is because I live in a rather secular state. But seeing all these fundie whackos makes my head explode.

Initech

(99,914 posts)
8. I'd much rather have SCOTUS overturn it.
Mon Mar 30, 2015, 01:12 AM
Mar 2015

Because it very clearly goes against the first amendment, overturning this law in Indiana by SCOTUS would overturn all the laws in every other state that are similar.

angrychair

(8,593 posts)
11. Don't Care
Mon Mar 30, 2015, 02:04 AM
Mar 2015

No mercy No one should get anything until the law is removed from the books. That is the trap that Dems fall into sometimes, "some are against it so lets give them a break" and we have a hard time staying committed to the end. Don't do any business with ANY Indiana business or organization unril the law is REPEALED.

BrotherIvan

(9,126 posts)
15. +1
Mon Mar 30, 2015, 02:49 AM
Mar 2015

Maybe this will galvanize the movement to stop religion in politics altogether. One can only hope.

angrychair

(8,593 posts)
16. I repeat
Mon Mar 30, 2015, 04:08 AM
Mar 2015

I'm great with people in Indiana speaking out but we should hold our ground, no paying for goods or services in Indiana with ANY business or organization until the law is REPEALED. Words are great but we need action not words.

davidpdx

(22,000 posts)
17. That is great they did that
Mon Mar 30, 2015, 05:10 AM
Mar 2015

Still one has to wonder whether the law will hurt them indirectly. I'm sure the idiots that passed it didn't think about the consequences of the law to their state.

 

rjsquirrel

(4,762 posts)
18. Well well
Mon Mar 30, 2015, 06:33 AM
Mar 2015

Considering McRobbie is a right wing asshole who is already gutting IU diversity efforts, that's quite a "what do you mean 'we', white man?" statement.

Even Pence's allies are running scared.

niyad

(112,434 posts)
20. hmm, did this person say anything when this hateful piece of bigotry was being debated and
Mon Mar 30, 2015, 12:26 PM
Mar 2015

voted on?

Takket

(21,424 posts)
21. just more elitist intellectual college liberals
Mon Mar 30, 2015, 12:29 PM
Mar 2015

ramming their beliefs down the throats of our kids!

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