IU AAUP Press Conference on SEA 202, Academic Freedom, and the Case of Jessica Adams (Nov. 7, 2025)

Faculty, students, and community members at Indiana University hold a press conference to call on IU leadership to reject the Trump Compact for Academic Excellence and to stop what speakers describe as “over-compliance” with political pressure—citing DEI rollbacks, threats to shared governance, and the use of SEA 202 against faculty. The event highlights the case of Lecturer Jessica Adams (School of Social Work), who says she was removed from a master’s course after a complaint about a class session on structural racism and white supremacy. Adams and supporters allege IU’s handling denied due process and academic freedom. Graduate students and campus groups describe broader impacts on programs, free speech, and student learning. Date/Location: Nov. 7, 2025 — Indiana University Bloomington Wylie Hall Key speakers/voices (in order of appearance): IU AAUP representatives Bryce Green on student organizing and divestment Ann Campbell (Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition) on labor and governance Undergraduate representative on student concerns Prof. Joseph Varga on due process and SEA 202 procedures Jessica Adams on the complaint and removal from class Students on classroom impacts Chapters: 0:00 AAUP context & vote opposing compact 3:07 Over-compliance & campus impacts 9:50 Student/ally statements begin 14:19 Graduate workers’ perspective 21:00 Undergraduate concerns & call to reject compact 26:10 Case overview: Jessica Adams introduced 29:37 Due-process concerns outlined 30:04 Jessica Adams statement 36:59 Student speakers: course disruptions 50:16 Q&A (status, policy questions, complaint path) Note: Allegations and opinions in this video are those of the speakers. IU administration had not provided detailed answers to several policy questions raised during the event at the time of recording. Video by The Bloomingtonian #IndianaUniversity #AAUP #AcademicFreedom #SEA202 #HigherEd #FreeSpeech #DEI #Bloomington #IUAAUP