Indiana University (IU) is under fire from state officials and lawmakers who are pushing to defund the university entirely over its ties to the Kinsey Institute, a prominent research center on human sexuality. At the heart of the conflict is ongoing criticism from conservatives, who accuse the institute of promoting liberalized sexual values rooted in the controversial work of its founder, Alfred Kinsey.
In 2023, Indiana lawmakers passed legislation prohibiting state funds from being used to support the institute and requiring IU to cut all financial ties. However, Indiana Comptroller Elise Nieshalla has questioned the university’s compliance, stating that IU has yet to provide sufficient evidence.
Over the past year, Nieshalla and Attorney General Todd Rokita have exchanged multiple letters with IU officials, accusing the university of lacking transparency. A letter sent by the officials in October expressed disagreement with IU’s assertion that it had acted diligently to comply with the law.
IU maintains that it has followed the law and conducted a thorough audit to confirm no public funds are directed to the Kinsey Institute. University representatives also noted that the institute pays rent for its space in a university-owned building using private donations managed by the IU Foundation.
Critics of the defunding push argue it would have broad consequences. Democratic Rep. Matt Pierce, whose district includes IU, labeled the move as political posturing.
“They’re saying ‘Oh, we don’t like the fact that the Kinsey Institute exists so let’s punish all of the students of the state who go to Indiana University to get an education,’” Pierce told Fox 59 News. “If you defund, you take away state money from the university … they have to raise tuition to make up the difference. This is a big rally for a tuition increase so they can fight the culture wars and impose their own moral values on the entire state.”
The conflict highlights growing tensions between conservative lawmakers and higher education institutions over cultural and perceived moral issues, with IU now caught in the crossfire.
