IU professor investigated for alleged violation of ‘intellectual diversity’ law

An Indiana University professor is under investigation for an alleged violation of Indiana’s “intellectual diversity” law.

Ben Robinson, professor of Germanic Studies, said the investigation on him involves SEA 202, a law that requires instructors to foster “free inquiry, free expression and intellectual diversity” in the classroom.

The law also sets up a complaint process, so faculty can be reported for alleged violations. 

Robinson said an anonymous person filed a complaint on IU’s Bias Incident Reporting web page, which is separate from how IU tracks alleged SEA 202 violations.

That system is called EthicsPoint. The distinction is important. IU’s Bias Response Team doesn’t “take disciplinary action, conduct formal investigations, or impinge on free speech rights and academic freedom,” according to the university.

Robinson said someone in the administration intervened and elevated the complaint as an SEA 202 violation, which has serious implications. A professor’s tenure can be in jeopardy.

IU spokespeople didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. The College of Arts and Sciences’ 2024 policy states an investigation will determine if the complaint has standing and sufficient evidence. 

Robinson said he discussed being jailed for civil disobedience while protesting at an Israeli Consulate. He said it was a lesson on the master-slave dialectic, the prisoner’s dilemma and what it’s like being in prison.

Robinson has been involved in activism and support for Palestine, among several other causes on campus. He said he is “extremely disappointed and extremely indignant.”

“I don’t believe the case has standing,” Robinson said. 

Robinson is concerned about the precedent his case could set, meaning someone within the university could see any complaint and refile it as an SEA 202 violation. 

“If my case has standing, we can just take any random anonymous complaint and redirect” it as. an SEA 202 complaint, Robinson said. “And have a professor investigated for making us uncomfortable.”

Aubrey is WFIU's higher education reporter and a Report For America corps member. Contact her at aubmwrig@iu.edu or follow her on X @aubreymwright.