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Ball State cancels staff training for LGBTQ 101, citing possible new Indiana law

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Muncie, Indiana – Due to possible new Indiana regulations, Ball State University has canceled a planned LGBTQ+ staff training session.

On April 16, Ball State employees were to attend an employee development session called LGBTQ 101. It was a component of the university’s yearly “employee professional growth” Learning and Development sessions.

Ball State representatives, however, informed on Friday that the session would no longer be held. The session has been “paused,” according to BSU Associate Vice President Greg Fallon, because bills and possible laws are presently being considered by the Indiana Statehouse.

Fallon said in an email that the session was set for April 16—nearly three months in advance. “The leadership of Ball State’s Office of Inclusive Excellence felt it was wise to halt this session until more clarity is obtained in light of the bills that have been introduced in Indiana’s current legislative session.”

Ball State’s inclusion office may be alluding to Senate Bill 235, even if the school’s leadership did not specify what they were particularly worried about.

A proposed law called SB-235 would restrict efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion across the state. Schools and colleges are particularly mentioned in the measure, which would give the attorney general the authority “to bring an action concerning noncompliance against a state educational institution.”

Whether the law would have a direct impact on the University or its Office of Inclusive Excellence is currently unknown.

You may read Fallon’s complete justification for calling off the session below:
Every year, Ball State provides a range of learning and development opportunities to foster the professional development of its staff. Among them was a workshop called LGBTQ 101. The April 16 session was planned over three months in advance. The leadership of Ball State’s Office of Inclusive Excellence decided it was wise to halt the current legislative session in Indiana until more clarity was obtained in light of the proposals that have been submitted.

Greg Fallon, Associate Vice President of Digital Strategy and Communications at the University
Ball State did not immediately disclose any other details, such as if the session would resume or be put on indefinite hold.

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