Ball State to pay former employee $225K to settle case over Charlie Kirk comments
University President Geoffrey Mearns said he authorized the payout because it was “substantially less” than the expected cost to defend the case.
Ball State University
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How one post on Facebook could clarify free speech rights
Suzanne Swierc was fired as Ball State University’s director of health promotion and advocacy over a Facebook post she made about the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk. Now she’s suing in what is becoming a closely watched case.
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Ex-Ball State employee settles with university president over First Amendment case
A former Ball State University employee who was fired for her comments following political activist Charlie Kirk’s death has settled a lawsuit against the university’s president.
ACLU of Indiana sues Ball State leaders over school’s expressive activity policy, student discipline
The two lawsuits stem from an incident in November 2025 in which students gathered in the university’s administration building to leave notes for President Geoffrey Mearns expressing their concerns regarding Ball State’s financial ties to Israel.
Former Ball State employee files federal lawsuit over termination for Charlie Kirk comments
A former Ball State University employee who was fired last week for comments made on a private Facebook post regarding the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has filed a federal lawsuit against university President Geoffrey Mearns.
Ball State fires employee over Charlie Kirk comments
The university said Wednesday evening that Suzanne Swierc, who had served as director of health promotion and advocacy, was terminated following a review of the incident.
Hoosier Survey says safety, health care are top policy concerns for 2025
Notably, the study found the priorities are shared across political affiliations, according to Dr. Kevin Smith, interim director of the Bowen Center and associate dean of Ball State’s College of Sciences and Humanities.
IN Supreme Court affirms for Ball State in student’s COVID breach case
The Indiana Supreme Court has unanimously ruled in favor of Ball State University in case in which a student sued for breach of contract and unjust enrichment when classes switched to only-online instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Justices headed to UIndy next month for oral arguments in Ball State COVID class action
The Indiana Supreme Court will visit the University of Indianapolis on April 11 to hold oral arguments in a case involving a student who filed a class action lawsuit against Ball State University for COVID-related closures.
AG asks Indiana Supreme Court to hear COVID case against Ball State
The Indiana attorney general wants the Indiana Supreme Court to weigh in on a lawsuit that seeks punitive damages for COVID-related college campus closures.
Ball State student may proceed in COVID breach-of-contract class action against university
A student’s class-action lawsuit filed against Ball State University for COVID-related closures can proceed, the Court of Appeals of Indiana has ruled.
Ball State legal studies director’s book on Ryan White nominated for award
A book penned by an Indianapolis-area lawyer has been selected for the shortlist of honorees for the 2022 Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Awards.
New crime units to tackle backlog of digital evidence
Through 10 new High Tech Crime Units being established around the state, Indiana’s prosecutors say they will be getting much-needed help with the processing of digital evidence.
Judge upholds ex-Ball State prof’s child porn conviction
A judge has ruled that a former Ball State University professor who accessed child pornography on his campus computer for at least three years will remain a convicted felon.
Ball State University student killed in off campus shooting
Police in Muncie were investigating after a Ball State University student was killed in an off campus shooting.
SCOTUS denies juvenile LWOP sentence appeal in 1994 Ball State murder
The United States Supreme Court waited exactly three years to reject the appeal petition of a defendant sentenced to life without parole for a murder he committed near Ball State University 27 years ago when he was 17.
Biden order could change how colleges handle sex misconduct
In a first step toward reversing a contentious Trump administration policy, President Joe Biden on Monday ordered his administration to review federal rules guiding colleges in their handling of campus sexual assaults.
Woman denied higher starting salary ‘because’ husband had a job wins reversal in pay discrimination case
A Muncie teacher who sued her employer after being told that her starting salary didn’t need to be higher because her husband had a job has secured a reversal in her favor on her pay discrimination claims.
Allen County magistrate judge named to superior court bench
An Allen County magistrate judge has been appointed to an open seat on the Allen Superior Court bench. Gov. Eric Holcomb made the appointment Friday.
Infection rates soar in college towns as students return
Just two weeks after students started returning to Ball State University last month, the surrounding county had become Indiana’s coronavirus epicenter. The Muncie infection rate at the Muncie school has since declined, but university towns nationwide, particularly Bloomington, are seeing much higher rates of cases than their states overall.
Indiana lawmakers send surplus-spending bill to Holcomb
Just three weeks into the legislative session, Indiana lawmakers have spent a spending bill to Gov. Eric Holcomb for his signature.