Indiana University Indianapolis has removed banners reading “Black Lives Matter” and “Discrimination has no place here” from a walkway above Michigan Street, as the university continues a broad reorganization of its diversity, equity and inclusion infrastructure.
The banners, once visible at the intersection of Michigan and Blake streets, were taken down sometime in recent weeks. While IU did not publicly announce their removal, the action comes as part of a larger shift in university policy aimed at aligning with changing state and federal guidance on DEI practices.
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Earlier this week, IU announced the dissolution of its Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, citing efforts to comply with laws and executive directives while prioritizing “universal access” to student resources. The Office of Institutional Equity has also been renamed the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, a change university officials said better reflects its legal oversight responsibilities.
According to IU’s announcement, DEI-related programming and student centers across all campuses have been folded into broader student-facing offices focused on academic advising, student well-being and engagement.
At IU Indianapolis, the effects of these changes have been swift. The university’s DEI website, diversity.indianapolis.iu.edu, was last accessible via web archive on May 13. Several bias reporting forms have been removed or redirected, leaving only a limited number of complaint channels on the university-wide website and the newly renamed Office of Civil Rights Compliance.
The restructuring follows recent legislative action by Indiana lawmakers. In April, the Republican supermajority passed legislation restricting the implementation of DEI policies at public colleges and universities, although the law stops short of banning DEI departments outright. The move reflects a growing national trend, with similar actions taking place in states such as Ohio, Texas and North Carolina.
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Federal agencies have also increased scrutiny of campus DEI efforts. The National Institutes of Health now requires grant recipients to certify that programs do not promote what it calls “discriminatory equity ideology.” Earlier this year, IU abruptly closed an equity-focused research center at IU Indianapolis after the U.S. Department of Education withdrew funding.
A 2024 investigation by The Indiana Commons found that IU Indianapolis allocated approximately $1.4 million in administrative salaries tied to DEI programming. That figure included $670,922 for the campus Multicultural Center and $774,774 for the Division of Diversity. An additional $107,840 was directed toward the Social Justice Scholars program.
A new banner promoting STEM education now hangs in the same location as the former ‘Black Lives Matter’ banner.
IU Indianapolis Chancellor Latha Ramchand did not respond to a request for comment about the future of campus diversity efforts.