Indiana
Purdue and DePauw top Indiana schools for free speech; Notre Dame and IU lag
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) — The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression ranked 257 schools across the country, interviewing 68,000 students between January and June to learn the best colleges for free speech.
Four Indiana schools made the cut. Two schools are in the top 20 and two in the bottom 20. It’s a mixed bag and there are many reasons why.
In the top ranking: DePauw University at No. 18 and Purdue University at No. 2 for the best colleges for free speech.
Angela Erickson, vice president of research at the Philadelphia-based foundation, told News 8 on Tuesday, “They have policies that protect their speech on campus. They promote an environment in which they talk about free speech being important for learning and important for the student experience.”
While Purdue received a high rating, the foundation noted, the survey was conducted before the university decided to no longer help to circulate its independent student paper, the Exponent. Fire said that change will be included in Purdue’s score in 2026.
Notre Dame, ranked No. 238, and Indiana University, ranked No. 255, both scored an F.
Erickson said, “Even one egregious event that strikes down free speech can really have a lasting impact on students’ trust.”
In 2024, Indiana State Police confirmed snipers on rooftops overlooking Indiana University’s Dunn Meadow during a protest. “Students remember,” Erickson said. “A lot of the student comments we got from the survey this year reflected the sniper on the roof of the building during a protest they had.”
More than half of the schools surveyed got an F ranking.
In the survey, students also mentioned that the Israeli and Palestinian conflict was the hardest to discuss. “Not only are they (students) having a hard time speaking on campus, but they’re also having a hard time listening and letting others speak on campus,” Erickson said.
Erickson said students surveyed across political lines think violence is an acceptable alternative to peaceful protests and that these findings raise alarms across campuses.
Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner told News 8 on Tuesday that she hadn’t read the report yet, but thinks schools can always improve.
She said, “Across all of our college campuses, we should look at what we’re doing. We should reflect on what we’re doing and continue to improve.”
On this episode of “Week in Review,” we cover the Indiana gambling case, the Bears’ 2026 schedule release and the Bulls landing the No. 4 draft pick. We also look at Jim’s Original moving after 85 years and Chicago Fire FC’s new McDonald’s Park stadium name. Plus, Cole Kmet joins Cop on a Rooftop, a White Sox phenom goes one on one and more top stories from around Chicago.
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — More than 50 Indiana law enforcement agencies are taking to the roof to help local athletes.
Police and safety officers will be stationed around various Dunkin’ Donuts, taking up donations for the Special Olympics. People who monetarily donate will receive a coupon for a free donut. Those who donate $10 or more will receive a coupon for a free medium hot coffee.
“Supporting the Special Olympics isn’t just an event for us — it’s a commitment to people who inspire us every day,” Sergeant Wes Rowlader said. “These athletes show what determination, courage, and community truly look like. Every dollar we raise helps transform that spirit into training, competition, and lifelong confidence.”
More than 20,000 Hoosier athletes train and compete for free within the Special Olympics. To date, Cop on a Rooftop has raised more than $125,000 for Special Olympics Indiana.
The Indiana State Police will be at the Dunkin’ Donuts at 9821 Lima Road in Fort Wayne from 5 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday.
A man’s family is demanding answers after he was shot by a security guard inside a hospital emergency room waiting area on Tuesday night in Gary, Indiana.
Methodist Northlake Hospital officials said, around midnight Tuesday night, its security staff responded quickly after a patient took out a gun. The hospital said he’d threatened to shoot himself or others.
The hospital commended the security guard who shot the man for “neutralizing the threat and helping ensure the safety of our patients and employees.”
Family members identified the man who was shot as Otis Brown. They said he is a kind father to a 12-year-old boy.
“Just a great person, a happy-go-lucky, always out there trying to do the right thing,” said his fiancée, Stacey Taylor.
Taylor said she was on a business trip when she got a call that Brown had been shot multiple times.
“Scared, uncertainty; you know, what story is right? You know, what happened?” she said.
After he was shot, Brown was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center for treatment.
Taylor said she had no idea why Brown went to Methodist Northlake Hospital in the first place. His family said he was trying to leave the hospital when the shooting happened, claiming that the hospital gave him his gun back after he was cleared to leave.
“We just want to get answers, just want to know what happened, particularly when people are defaming his name,” Taylor said.
She and Brown’s family hope the hospital has surveillance video footage that can help provide answers.
Gary police have not provided any details on the shooting. The Lake County Sheriff’s Department said it is investigating the shooting at the request of Gary police, but did not provide any further information.
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