“Passing SB 12 as it stands today — without explicitly listing specific classes — will bring more harm to our state and further perpetuate the negative perception of Indiana,” the letter stated. “It will push out more of our students and detract more talent from coming in.”
Dr. Rebecca Stoltzfus
The 15 Indiana leaders who also signed the letter include Butler University, DePauw University, Earlham College, Franklin College, Goshen College, Hanover College, Indiana Tech, Manchester University, Marian University, Martin University, Rose-Hulman, Saint Mary’s College, Trine University, University of Indianapolis, University of Notre Dame and Wabash College.
This isn’t the first time that Stoltzfus and other Indiana college and university leaders have urged Indiana legislatures to enact a hate crimes law. In August 2018, Sotoltzfus co-signed a letter with 23 presidents of other Indiana private colleges and universities requesting a hate crimes law be enacted.
Indiana is one of five states that does not have a law of that type, and Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has previously announced his support for state legislatures to pass hate crimes legislation, according to a Goshen release.
“The years a student spends in college are vitally important,” Stoltzfus said. “Young people from this community, the state, the nation and the world come to our campus to live and learn, and to understand more about how to live in an increasingly complex and diverse world. It is my responsibility to make certain that each student feels welcomed, wanted and able to do their best work. Our very future depends upon this effort.”
