In a significant stand for journalistic integrity, the editorial team at the Indiana Daily Student (IDS) has united in support of their former Director of Student Media, Jim Rodenbush. His dismissal by Indiana University has sparked controversy, as it stemmed from his refusal to adhere to an order that would effectively censor the student newspaper’s upcoming print edition.

As detailed in a Letter from the Editor published by IDS, the Media School at Indiana University issued a directive that the Oct. 16 Homecoming issue should exclusively feature content related to homecoming activities, explicitly excluding any other news coverage. This directive prompted significant concern among the IDS staff, who viewed it as a clear act of censorship.

“Dictating what we can and cannot publish is a form of unlawful censorship, a violation explicitly addressed by legal precedents concerning speech on public college campuses,” asserted editors Andrew Miller and Mia Hilkowitz.

Rodenbush, standing firm in his convictions, approached the dean to express his concerns, while IDS editors reached out to Media School administrators seeking a detailed explanation and urging them to retract the directive. Despite their efforts, the administration’s response was swift and severe—Rodenbush was terminated from his position.

This incident underscores ongoing tensions between student journalists and university administrations regarding freedom of the press and editorial independence, raising important questions about the boundaries of institutional authority in student media operations.

“Your lack of leadership and ability to work in alignment with the University’s direction for the Student Media Plan is unacceptable,” wrote Media School Dean David Tolchinsky in a termination letter shared by IDS.

“The Media School decided to fire Jim Rodenbush after he did the right thing by refusing to censor our print edition. What more is there to say?” said Miller in a statement to FOX59/CBS4. “This is a deliberate scare tactic toward student journalists and faculty. We want to make it abundantly clear that our resistance to the Media School’s directive isn’t about print itself. It’s about maintaining our editorial independence. IU has no legal right to dictate what we can and cannot print in our paper. Is this the best use of our or the university’s time? We should be working toward financial stability, not convoluted censorship.”

This indictment of censorship by the IDS editorial staff isn’t the first time in recent months Indiana University leadership has come under fire for their handling of free speech.

In September, Indiana University was named the country’s worst public university for free speech by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. This poor rating stems mostly from the university’s handling of pro-Palestinian protests on Dunn Meadow in spring 2024.

Indiana University said it would not comment on individual personnel matters when asked about the termination of Rodenbush.

The university did provide the following statement:

Indiana University Bloomington is firmly committed to the free expression and editorial independence of student media. The university has not and will not interfere with their editorial judgment.

Informed by feedback from a wide variety of stakeholders, the Action Plan for Student Media envisions a student media ecosystem that is centered on a digital content model and prepares students for digital-first careers. It also aims to address longstanding financial challenges facing the IDS – including a structural deficit that the campus has subsidized to the tune of several hundred thousand dollars each year – while affirming its charter and ensuring it retains complete control of its editorial content.

In support of the Media School and implementation of their Action Plan, the campus is completing the shift from print to digital effective this week. To be clear, the campus’ decision concerns the medium of distribution, not editorial content. All editorial decisions have and will continue to rest solely with the leadership of IDS and all IU student media. We uphold the right of student journalists to pursue stories freely and without interference.

The termination of Rodenbush also prompted worry from Indiana University’s student television department.

“(Rodenbush) has been nothing but an informative teacher to IUSTV and our members in his capacity as our advisor,” said Laynie Pitts, IUSTV executive director. “Additionally, the context of the termination surrounding the censorship of the IDS gives our organization pause about the future of our publishing and broadcasting capabilities. To lose a valued staff member under the reasoning given is illogical and provides cause for concern as to the future of free expression in student media at The Media School.”

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, whose survey cited IU as one of the worst universities for free speech, also spoke out against the “retaliatory” firing of Rodenbush.

“IU’s allegedly retaliatory firing of student media director Jim Rodenbush is patently unconstitutional,” said FIRE Program Officer Dominic Coletti. “The university has become one of the worst offenders when it comes to the First Amendment, and this most recent attack cuts to the heart of both academic freedom and a free press. FIRE stands with the Indiana Daily Student. IU must respect its journalists’ constitutional freedoms.”

IDS says Indiana University cuts print entirely

In the aftermath of the Media School Dean David Tolchinsky firing the director of student media, the Indiana Daily Student said Indiana University has “fully cut print, including our special editions.”

IDS said it was not involved in the decision to have the print version of the student newspaper cut.

Mark Cuban, an Indiana University alum and billionaire, took to social media Tuesday night to express his frustrations with IU’s decision to cut IDS print editions.

“Not happy,” Cuban wrote in a post on X. “Censorship isn’t the way. I gave money to IU general fund for the IDS last year, so they could pay everyone and not run a deficit. I gave more than they asked for. I told them I’m happy to help because the IDS is important to kids at IU.”