>> A MAJOR NEW LITERACY INVESTMENT.

CURTIS HILL RUNS FOR CONGRESS.

PLUS, IUPUI IS SPLITTING UP AND MORE ON "INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW" FOR THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 19, 2022.- >> INDIANA "INDIAN WEEK IN REVIEW" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF THE INDIANA BROADCASTING STATIONS.

>> THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB ANNOUNCED A $111 MILLION INVESTMENT TO TARGET INDIANA'S SLIDING LITERACY RATE FOR YOUNG READERS.

THE INDIANAPOLIS-BASED LILLY ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION WILL FUND MOST OF THE EFFORT.

THE INVESTMENT WILL INCLUDE MONEY FOR SPECIALIZED TRAINING FOR TEACHERS AND NEW SUPPORTS FOR STUDENTS STRUGGLING TO MASTER READING SKILLS.

HOLCOMB SAID THIS IS A TIMELY RESPONSE TO THE ACADEMIC SETBACKS STUDENTS FACED DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

GOV.

ERIC HOLCOMB: I AM JUST SO EXHILARATED, QUITE FRANKLY, EXCITED, TO SEE FROM KINDERGARTEN TO FOURTH GRADE THE IMPACT THIS IS GOING TO HAVE OVER JUST THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

>> LEADERS FROM COMMUNITIES, BUSINESS AND EDUCATION HAVE VOICED ALARM OVER LITERACY SKILLS.

TEST RESULTS THIS MONTH FOUND NEARLY 1 IN 5 INDIANA THIRD GRADERS LACKED FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS NEEDED TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL READER.

CAN THIS LITERACY INVESTMENT BE TRANSFORMATIVE FOR INDIANA'S YOUTH?

IT'S THE FIRST QUESTION FOR OUR INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW PANEL, DEMOCRAT ELISE SHROCK REPUBLICAN JENNIFER HALLOWELL JON SCHWANTES, HOST OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS AND OSEYE BOYD, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EDITOR FOR THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR.

I'M INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATEHOUSE BUREAU CHIEF BRANDON SMITH.

ELISE SHROCK, ABOUT 82% OF STUDENTS PASSED THE MOST RECENT STATE WIDE LEARNING EXAM.

HOLCOMB SAYS HE WANTS THAT TO BE 95% BY 2027.

IS THAT A REALISTIC GOAL?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE.

I'M HAPPY TO SEE US FUNDING MORE TOWARDS LITERACY RATES FOR YOUTH.

IT DID NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT AND IT IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE OVERNIGHT.

I'M HAPPY TO SEE THE GOVERNOR AND THE STATE ARE GOING TO START REPAIRING SOME OF THE DAMAGE DONE AFTER DISMANTLING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS OVER THE LAST DOZEN OR SO YEAR.

YET TO BE SEEN.

HAPPY TO SEE THE INVESTMENT.

HAPPY TO SEE ELI LILLY WEIGH IN ON THIS.

>> TALKING ABOUT ABOUT ELI LILLY GETTING INVOLVED, WE TALKED ABOUT BSINESSES COMPLAINING ABOUT THE LACK OF READNESS OF THE WORKFORCE IN INDIANA.

IS THIS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE WAY THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY SHOULD BE GETTING MORE INVOLVED IN THINGS LIKE THIS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK IT IS FANTASTIC.

IT IS THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN LITERACY IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY, ESPECIALLY COMING AFTER THE PANDEMIC, IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

I THINK IT CAN BE TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR US, ON TOP OF BACK-TO-BACK BUDGETS WHICH WE SAW RECORD INVESTMENTS IN SCHOOLS, TEACHERS, AND STUDENTS FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND NOW ADD ON, THIS WHERE IT IS GOING TO TARGET A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS, STIPENDS FOR TEACHERRERS,TEACHERS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, I THINK IT IS FANTASTIC AND IT IS GREAT TO SEE THE STATE AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND PHILANTHROPY COME TOGETHER TO MAKE THE INVESTMENT.

>> I WANT TO ASK AGAIN ABOUT THE GOAL.

THAT WHO WOULD WOULD BE AN ENORMOUS JUMP IN FIVE YEARS' TIME.

I GET THE IDEA OF SETTING ASPIRATIONAL GOALS, BUT IS THE GOVERNOR SETTING UP THE STATE FOR FAILURE?

>> IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT GOALS SET ON ANY NUMBER OF FRONTS.

WANE HOOSIERS TO HAVE POST-SECONDARY CERTIFICATION, NOT A COLLEGE DEGREE, THEY ARE ALWAYS LOFTY GOALS.

I HAVE NOT RESEARCHED IT, BUT I'M SURE W'RE NOT GOING TO GET THERE.

I CAN GO BACK TO BOB GORE WITH THE COLLEGE OF FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE LATE 1980'S.

YOUYOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOOT FOR.

MOST HOOSIERS WOULD SAY THE GOAL HAS TO BE 100%, IF YOU CAN'T GET THERE THEN FIGURE OUT WHY NOT.

I UNDERSTAND SETTING THE GOAL.

I'M NOT SURE HOW REALISTIC IT.

AGAIN, THESE ARE SOME ISSUES, CERTAINLY THE PANDEMIC EXACERBATED PROBLEM, BUT MANY OF THE PROBLEMS WERE THERE.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, YES, IT IT IS GREAT THE SEE EVERYBODY COME TOGETHER.

HOW OFTEN DOES THE GOVERNOR GET TO BE THE FRONT MAN AND "TAKE CREDIT" FOR SOMETHING HE IS ONLY PONYING UP A PORTION OF THE MONEY FOR, SO KUDOS TO HIM.

THE EXPRESSION, GIVE HIM A FISH AND FEED HIM FORRAL DAY, TEACH HIM TO FISH AND FEED HIM FOR A LIFETIME.

THIS IS ABOUT SETTING UP RESEARCHERS FOR SETTING UP BEST PRACTICES FOR TEACHING AND READING AND AND WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T.

YOU'RE NOT JUST TEACHING TEACHERS, YOU'RE TEACHING TEACHERS HOW TO BE BETTER.

IT IS A CONTINUUM AND IT MAY NOT DELIVER THE RESULTS IN THE SHORT TERM, I CERTAINLY APPLAUD THE EFFORT AND HOPE IT CAN MEET THE 95% AND EXCEED IT ON ROUTE TO 100% IN THE NOT SO DISTANT FUTURE.

>> WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT, WHETHER IT IS THE GOVERNMENT OR THE NONPROFIT SECTOR OR THE TWO OF THEM SPENDING A BUNCH OF MONEY, OKAY, HOW ARE WE GOING TO KNOW IF WE WERE SPENDING IT THE RIGHT WAY?

THE OBVIOUS TARGET IS ARE LIT ACY RATES GOING TO IMPROVEMENT?

IS ANY IMPROVEMENT IN FIVE YEARS' TIME IS GOING TO BE LIKE, THIS IS GOOD NEWS OR DO WE NEED TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT JUMP FOR PEOPLE TO SAY THIS IS MONEY WELL SPENT?

>> I THINK ANY IMPROVEMENT WILL BE AN IMPROVEMENT.

WE KEEP SETTING THE GOALS, HAVE WE EVER REACHED THESE GOALS?

I DON'T KNOW.

I'M HAPPY TO SEE IT IS A STATEWIDE EFFORT.

I'M HAPPY TO SEE BUSINESSES ARE INVOLVED, BUT AS A FORMER EDUCATION REPORTER, I'VE SEEN WHEN WE FOCUS ON LITERACY, MATH SLIDES OFF.

THEN WE FOCUS ON MATH, LITERACY FALLS OFF.

MY CONCERN ARE WE GOING TO FOCUS ON LITERACY AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE A DROP IN MATH SCORES AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME THING COMING UP IN A COUPLE OF YEARS AND SAY, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE MATH SCORES NOW?

I HAVE NEVER SEEN A FOCUS AT THE SAME TIME TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS ARE READY.

IT WILL BE A NEW COHORT, IF I CAN SAY THE WORD, OF STUDENTS, TOO.

THE STUDENTS TESTING SOON WON'T BE IN THE IN THE SAME GROUP IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, SO WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THOSE STUDENTS.

EACH WEEK, WE POSE A POLL QUESTION.

EACH WEEK WE POSE AN UNSCIENTIFIC, ONLINE POLL QUESTION.

82% OF INDIANA STUDENTS PASSED THE 2022 STATEWIDE READING EXAM.

GOV.

HOLCOMB WANTS THAT TO BE 95% BY 2027.

IS THAT REALISTIC?

A.

YES B.

NO DOES ELI LILLY'S CRITICISM OF INDIANA'S ABORTION BAN HAVE ANY PRACTICAL EFFECT?

49% OF YOU SAY YES, 51% SAID NO.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART IN THE POLL GO TO WFYI.ORG/IWIR AND LOOK FOR THE POLL.

>> FORMER INDIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL CURTIS HILL, WHO CRIMINAL BATTERED FOUR WOMEN WHILE IN OFFICE, IS ONE OF 12 REPUBLICANS VYING TO REPLACE CONGRESSWOMAN JACKIE WALORSKI, WHO DIED IN A CAR CRASH EARLIER THIS MONTH.

A REPUBLICAN PARTY CAUCUS THIS SATURDAY WILL CHOOSE A CANDIDATE FOR THE REMAINDER OF WALORSKI'S TERM, WHICH ENDS THIS JANUARY, AND FOR THE FULL TWO-YEAR TERM THAT DIRECTLY FOLLOWS IT.

THEY WILL RUN IN A SPECIAL ELECTION BEING HELD ON THE SAME DAY AS THIS FALL'S GENERAL ELECTION.

HILL WAS ELECTED ATTORNEY GENERAL IN 2016.

BUT IN 2018, FOUR WOMEN,INCLUDING A STATE LAWMAKER, SAID HE DRUNKENLY GROPED THEM DURING A POST-LEGISLATIVE SESSION PARTY.

HILL REFUSED TO RESIGN - AND DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS - BUT IN 2020, THE SUPREME COURT SUSPENDED HIS LAW LICENSE FOR 30 DAYS, RULING HE HAD CRIMINAL BATTERED THE VICTIMS.

SHORTLY THEREAFTER, HE LOST HIS PARTY'S RENOMINATION TO CURRNT ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD ROKITA.

OTHER REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR THE 2ND DISTRICT SEAT INCLUDE STATE REPRESENTATIVE CURT NISLY, FORMER REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTY STUTZMAN AND RUDY YAKYM, A FORMER WALORSKI STAFFER WHO HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY WALORSKI'S HUSBAND AND MOTHER.

JENNIFER HALLOWELL, DOES CURTIS HILL MAKE A COMEBACK HERE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

CAUCUSES ARE VERY INTERESTING.

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

AND IT'S UP TO THE 500 OR SO PRECINCT COMMITTEE PEOPLE, WHOEVER SHOWS UP OF THAT NUMBER, AND AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE ARE 11 CANDIDATES.

THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE FIELD, AND CURTIS HILL, OBVIOUSLY FORMER PROSECUTOR THERE, WELL KNOWN, BUT HOW MUCH OF A CLOUD IS GOING TO HANG OVER HIS HEAD GIVEN MULTIPLE ALLEGATIONS OF HARASSMENT, AND THEN THE SUPREME COURT -- STATE SUPREME COURT SUSPENDING HIS LICENSE.

IT'S A PRETTY SERIOUS ISSUE.

BUT POLITICS IS INTERESTING, AND SO WE'LL SEE WHAT THE PRECINCT COMMITTEE FOLKS DECIDE.

>> YEAH, THIS IS NOT GOING BEFORE VOTERS AT LARGE, IN WHICH CURTIS HILL'S NAME RECOGNITION HELPS MORE THAN A DOZEN IN A DISTRICT CAUCUS, WHERE THESE ARE, FOR THE MOST PART, POLITICALLY PLUGGED IN PEOPLE, SO PROBABLY KNOW EVERY NAME ON THE LIST.

IN THAT WAY, IN THIS VERY HARD TO READ ENVIRONMENT OF A DISTRICT CAUCUS, IS THAT HIS BEST CHANCE OF MAKING A POLITICAL COMEBACK?

>> IT SHOULDN'T BE.

THIS SHOULD BE A SPACE OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

HE HAS SHOWN NOT ONLY IN HIS POLICIES AND THE WAY HE LEAD, HIS POLICIES ARE DANGEROUS FOR HOOSIERS.

HE IS DANGEROUS FOR THE HOOSIERS IN THE WORKPLACE.

THERE NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABILITY, I SAY THIS A LOT AS POLITICS AS AN ARENA WHEN THIS TYPE OF STUFF OCCURS.

TO SEE SOMEONE LIKE THIS, IF HE IS IN THIS SPOT AND THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ON THIS, THAT IS A FAILURE.

>> GIVEN -- GIVEN THE LARGE POOL, ALTHOUGH I NOTE THAT 12 CANDIDATES, ONE WOMAN TO SUCCEED ONE OF THE ONLY WOMEN IN INDIANA'S DELEGATION, WHAT WILL THIS TELL US ABOUT THE STATE -- DOES THIS TELL US SOMETHING IF CURTIS HILL WINS THIS CAUCUS?

DOES IT TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT THE INDIANA REPUBLICAN PARTY AT LARGE OR SOMETHING ABOUT THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTINCT IN THE 500-SOME PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP?

>> PROBABLY BOTH.

PROBABLY BOTH.

IT WOULD TELL US THAT THEY DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT WOMEN AND HOW WOMEN FEEL IN THE WORKPLACE.

HOLDING HIM ACCOUNTABLE IS WHAT THE PARTY NEEDS TO DO.

IT WOULD SHOW THAT HE HAS A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO BACK HIM AND THAT IS A LITTLE CONCERNING BEING THAT HE WAS CHARGED WITH ACTUALLY HARASSING WOMEN.

>> THERE ARE SOME, OBVIOUSLY LOCAL NOTABLE NAMES, BUT NOTABLE NAMES, CHRISTY STUTZMAN, CURT NISLY AND THEN YOU HAVE RUDY YAKYM, A NAME THAT PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T KNOW, BUT WHO WAS ENDORSED BY JACKIE WALORSKI'S HUSBAND AND MOTHER.

DO YOU THINK SOMETHING LIKE THAT CAN VAULT HIM INTO THE WINNING SEAT?

>> I DO.

I THINK BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF WHICH THIS SEAT CAME OPEN, I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE ON THE DESIRE OF A LOT OF PEOPLE TO DEFER, IF YOU WILL, TO THE WISHES OF THE STAFF, FAMILY, SPOUSE, PRESUME, I DON'T WANT TO SAY EVERYBODY ON THE STAFF WHO HAS ENDORSED RUDY YAKYM.

>> NOT JUST A RANDOM, WE'RE GOING TO PICK HIM, BUT A FORMER WALORSKI STAFF.

>> EXACTLY.

A LOT OF TIME, LOOK AT CONGRESSIONAL SEATS, ANY TIME SEATS OPEN, OFTEN TIME IT IS A RELATIVE, CHIEF OF STAFF, IT IS SOMEBODY WHO CAN -- IT IS ALMOST AS IF IT IS, ALL RIGHT, CONTINUE TO CARRY THE TORCH.

KEEP THE MEMORY ALIVE.

IT IS ALMOST A SENSE OF PROPRIETY, THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

>> CONTINUITY.

>> COUNTY CONTINUITY.

YOU MADE A GOOD POINT, SINCE THIS IS NOT GOING TO VOTERS IN GENERAL, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF POLITICAL IOU'S WILL BE COLLECTED AND WHAT KIND OF ALLIANCES THAT WE WILL NEVER KNOW ABOUT THAT HAVE BEEN FORGED OVER THE DECADES.

BECAUSE OF THE ENDORSEMENT OF JACKIE AWAY LEGISLATOR SKI'S SURVIVING SPOUSE AND THE CONNECTIONS TO WALORSKI PERMANENTLY AND HER STAFF, THAT'S WHERE, I THINK THAT IS THE SMART MONEY BET RIGHT NOW.

THE FUNNY THING, NOT FUNNY, CERTAINLY IT IS A TRAGIC SITUATION.

NORMALLY, YOU HAVE DISTRICT OFFICIALS COMING TOGETHER AND SAYING WHO MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE IN PRESERVING THAT AS A REPUBLICAN SEAT.

IN THIS CASE, THAT IS OFF THE TABLE.

IT CAN BE, I ASSUME, ANY OF THE 1111 OR 12 COULD WIN AND THAT NORMAL CONSIDERATION IS NOT EVEN AROUND.

>> THE OTHER TRICKY PART WITH A DISTRICT CAUCUS ANTERIOR PRECINCT CAUCUS, WHO ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAPPEN TO BE THOSE PRECINCT COMMITTEE PEOPLE?

LIKE WE SAW DIEGO MORALES MAKE A MAJOR MOVE TO OUST THE INCUMBENT, BUT THAT WAS A COORDINATED EFFORT THAT TOOK PLACE ACROSS THE ELECTION TO GET THE PEOPLE IN PLACE WHO COULD DELIVER HIM A VICTORY.

YOU DON'T HAVE THE SAME SITUATION, THIS WAS SUDDEN AND TRAGIC AND HEARTBREAKING.

NOW, IT IS, WHO WAS ALREADY THERE?

WHO ARE THEY INTERESTED IN AND WHO WERE THEY LOYAL TO AND 12 CANDIDATES IS A LOT.

>> THE LIST IS LOCKED.

IN OTHER PROCESS, YOU HAVE TIME TO APPOINT PRECINCT COMMITTEE MEN THAT YOU LIKING.

>> IT IS LOCKED IN.

>> A LOT OF TIME THERE IS A MOTIVATOR OF ANGER, FRUSTRATION, WHEN SOMEONE LIVES UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU SAY, I DIDN'T LIKE THAT, HERE IS WHAT WE CAN DO TO CHANGE IT.

THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THIS TIME.

YOU HAVE TO FALL IN LIVE, ESSENTIALLY, YOU HAVE TO SAY, I'M GOING TO CARRY ON THE TORCH, COME OUT ON ME TO DO SO.

>> INDIANA UNIVERSITY AND PURDUE UNIVERSITY RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A VISION TO SPLIT IUPUI INTO TWO SEPARATE INSTITUTIONS.

THE CAMPUS WILL BE KNOWN AS IU INDIANAPOLIS BY FALL 2024.

IUPUI IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY IU, WITH CERTAIN PROGRAMS THAT GRANT PURDUE DEGREES.

MOVING FORWARD, BOTH UNIVERSITIES WILL GOVERN THEIR OWN PROGRAMS AND STILL COLLABORATE TO FORM A NEW BIOSCIENCE ENGINEERING INSTITUTE, WHICH IU PRESIDENT PAM WHITTEN SAYS WILL COMBINE PURDUE'S BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING WITH THE IU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

PAM WHITTEN: WE VIEW THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY, FRANKLY, TO SEND A STATEMENT TO THE WHOLE COUNTRY THAT INDIANA IS THE PLACE TO COME TO GET TRAINING, TO START A COMPANY, OR TO HIRE PEOPLE IN THE FIELD OF BIO HEALTH ENGINEERING.

IU WILL RETAIN CERTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR BOTH INSTITUTIONS, THE SCHOOL OF SCIENCE, AND ATHLETICS.

PURDUE WILL ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENGINEERING, COMPUTER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

BOTH UNIVERSITIES PLAN TO FORM WORKING GROUPS IN THE COMING MONTHS TO WORK OUT DETAILS ON THE TRANSITION.

OSEYE BOYD, WILL THIS BE POSITIVE FOR INDIANAPOLIS AND INDIANA?

>> I HAVE NO IDEA.

I SURELY HOPE SO.

I ASSUME SO.

I ASSUME THEY CAME TO THIS DECISION BECAUSE IT WILL BE.

THIS JUST SEEMS LIKE IT WAS POOF, OUT OF THIN AIR.

THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION.

WHEN THERE WAS SPLITTING OF IUPUI AND IT WAS DISCUSSION FOR YEARS, STILL SPLIT APART, BUT THERE WAS INPUT.

WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY INPUT.

THIS CAME TOP-DOWN AND THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR FACULTY, EMPLOYEES, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO- BE DIVIDED UP.

WHAT HAPPENS?

ONE THING CAME TO MY MIND IS MADAM WALKER, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MADAM WALKER LEGACY CENTER?

WHAT HAPPENS TO NEIGHBORHOODS?

WHAT HAPPENS TO SO MANY THINGS THAT WE HAVE NO ANSWERS FOR AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE IT DONE WITHIN TWO YEARS.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT IS A LOT TO HAVE DONE IN TWO YEARS.

AND INPUT FROM WHO WILL BE A BIG PART OF THIS.

WILL THE COMMUNITY BE PART OF THIS?

IS IT GOING TO BE THE TRUSTEE, THE PRESIDENTS?

WHO IS DOING THIS?

I THINK IT IS A LOT.

I THINK WE DESERVE SOME ANSWERS FOR SURE.

>> THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN A FEW WEEKS NOW THAT WE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRANSPARENCY GOING ON AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY, WHICH IS MITCH DANIELS ANNOUNCED SUDDENLY, OH, I'M LEAVING AND HERE IS THE GUY GOING TO REPLACE ME WITH NO PUBLIC WARNING THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND NO PUBLIC INPUT WITH WHO THE REPLACEMENT WILL BE.

MITCH DANIELS HAS BEEN INTERESTED IN THIS AND NEVER FOUND AN INTERESTED PARTY MANY McROBBIE AND NOW McROBBIE IS GONE.

HE FOUND A WILLING PARTNER.

THIS SEEMED TO COME OUT OF NOWHERE, SO ARE THERE -- IS THE SPOTLIGHT ON PURDUE GETTING BRIGHTER IN A WAY THAT IS NOT GREAT FOR PURDUE?

>> IT PAINS ME TO SAY THIS AS AN IU GRAD MYSELF AND AND A LOYALIST AND MY THREE KIDS WENT THERE AND MET HIS WIFE THERE AND A FAN OF PURDUE, THAT IS A RARE CROSS, BY THE WAY.

I LOVE OUR RESEARCH CENTERS, BUT NEITHER HAS BEEN IN RECENT YEARS A STANDARD BEARER FOR TRANSPARENCY.

LOOK AT PAM WHITTEN'S ASCENSION TO HER PRESIDENT.

THERE WAS A LOT OF FRICTION WITHIN CERTAIN FACTIONS WITHIN THE FACULTY, FOLKS I KNOW IN THE LAW SCHOOL SAYING THIS IS NOT WAY THINGS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DONE.

SHE WAS A CANDIDATE THAT WAS NOT, TO A LARGE EXTENT, NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE JOB.

THERE IS A LOT OF BEHIND THE SCENES MANEUVERING THAT LEAVES A BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH CERTAINLY, BECAUSE WE SHOULD BE BETTER THAN THAT.

OUR RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, THEY EMBRACE SHARED GOVERNANCE.

>> PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.

>> YEAH, PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, ESPECIALLY OF THIS KIND OF PROFILE.

LET ME JUST SAY THIS AND I DON'T KNOW.

SMART PEOPLE SAY IT IS GOING TO TO BE GREAT.

THE CHAMBER LOVES IT FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT.

TECH COMPANIES LIKE IT.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

YOU MENTIONED THE SCHOOL OF SCIENCE, IU WILL TAKE THAT OVER EXCEPT FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE, WHICH WILL GO TO PURDUE.

MAYBE SAME PARAGRAPH, NEXT SENSE, TO LETY SCHOOL OF INFORMATICS, MY SON IS A TWO-TIME GRADUATE, HAS A MASTERS FROM THAT AND IT IS GOING TO GO TO IU.

TO ME, UNINITIATED GUY SITTING HERE DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.

WE SHOULD THANK THE TREMENDOUS LEADERSHIP THAT IUPUI HAS HAD OVER ITS 50 YEARS.

NASSER WHO WAS THE RECENT CHANCELLOR.

THE WEEK THIS WAS ANNOUNCED, AT LEAST WITHIN SEVEN DAY, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS SAME CALENDAR WEEK, HE WAS CONFIRMED AS SECRETARY OF EDUCATION FOR POST SECRETARY IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

HE DESERVES IT, GREAT GUY.

>> HELPING MAKE INDIANA A DESTINATION FOR THE HIGH TECH JOBS OF THE FUTURE AND HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL DO THIS.

BUT THIS IS ANOTHER REASON.

THERE IS A LOT THAT NEEDS TO BE WORKED OUT IN TERMS OF WHO IS PROVIDING INPUT.

>> INDIANA AVENUE HAS BEEN ENCROACHED ON FOR YEARS AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SEE THAT MAINTAINED, SO THEY NEED TO HAVE A SAY IN THIS.

>> AND ALL OF THAT MATTERS, OBVIOUSLY TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY HERE, BUT IT ALSO MATTERS TO WHAT MESSAGE THIS IS GOING TO SEND TO PERSPECTIVE STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ACROSS THE WORLD.

IF THIS IS NOT A GOOD PROCESS, WHAT IS THIS GOING TO SAY TO PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT COMING TO WHATEVER THIS NEW UNIVERSITY IS GOING TO BE?

>> WELL, THE PROCESS IS JUST STARTIG, SO I'M SURE IT WILL BE ALL WORKED OUT SMOOTHLY.

I'M SURE THEY HAD A LOT OF BEHIND THE SCENES CONVERSATION IN THE PREPLANNING AND NOW WE HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO WORK OUT ALL OF THE DETAILS.

I LOOK AT THIS, FRANKLY AND THINK THIS IS A POSITIVE.

NUMBER ONE, YOU HAVE BOTH OF THESE WONDERFUL UNIVERSITIES REAFFIRMING THEIR THEIR AFFIRMING THEIR COMMITMENT TO INDIANA AND IT ARE ELEVATE THEIR ROLE AND BRAND AND ATTRACT MORE AND NEW STUDENTS TO INDIANAPOLIS FOR, WHETHER IT IS SCIENCE, COMPUTER KINDS, TECHNOLOGY, THEY ARE GOING TO EVALUATE THAT FOR BOTH UNIVERSITIES, WHICH I THINK OVERALL IS GOOD FOR, NOT ONLY EDUCATION OF THE FOLKS HERE, BUT FOR OUR NEED TO KIND OF TRAIN THE WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE PEOPLE AND BETTER THINGS COME OUT OF IT.

>> I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS AT THE FORMER IUPUIW WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THIS WILL GO DOWN.

IS THERE REASON TO BE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD BE FOR THE CAPITAL CITY?

>> I THINK SO.

I AGREE THERE IS SO MUCH POTENTIAL TO HAVE SOMETHING REALLY GROW FROM THIS.

AGAIN, I JUST, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THAT AREA OF OUR CITY AND HOW BLACK CULTURAL DISTRICTS WERE COMPLETELY DISMANTLED TO USE THAT LAND.

SO, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT ONLY REPAIR, THAT BUT MOVING FORWARD IN A WAY THAT EVERYBODY HAS A SEETHE AT THE TABLE AND WE'RE FIXING WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND MOVING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.

SO, WHEN ALL OF THE STUDENTS COME TO THE CAPITAL CITY HAVE A RICH EXPERIENCE TO OUR CITY.

>> TO YOUR POINT, IUPUI MADE COMMITMENTS TO SCHOLARSHIPS TO THOSE STUDENTS WHO WERE DISPLACED, SO WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE?

WHAT HAPPENS TO ATHLETES WHO ARE COMMITTED TO IUPUI, I THINK IT WILL WORK OUT, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

AS A JOURNALIST THAT IS WHAT I'M ABOUT IS FINDING ALL OF THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE.

I HAVE.

>> THERE IS A NEW NUMBER TWO MAN IN THE INDIANA SENATE REPUBLICN CAUCUS.

SENATOR CHRIS GARTEN IS THE NEW MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER, REPLACING MARK MESSMER.

SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM RODRIC BRAY ANNOUNCED THE CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP IN A PRESS RELEASE, WITHOUT EXPLANATION FOR WHY MESSMER WAS REPLACED.

BRAY NOTED THAT MESSMER WILL REMAIN A MEMBER OF THE CAUCUS AND CONTINUE AS CHAIR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

MESSMER RECENTLY SPLIT WITH THE MAJORITY OF HIS CAUCUS DURING THE ABORTION BAN DEBATE.

HE VOTED AGAINST THE BILL IN THE FIRST SENATE VOTE AND THEN DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR THE FINAL VOTE ON THE BAN.

CHRIS GARTEN, A REPUBLICAN FROM SOUTHERN INDIANA, IS FINISHING UP HIS FIRST TERM IN OFFICE.

BRAY SAYS HE ELEVATED GARTEN TO THE NUMBER TWO POSITION IN THE SENATE BECAUSE OF HIS "STRONG LEADERSHIP ABILITIES AND PRINCIPLED, COMMON-SENSE APPROACH."

GARTEN IS A MARINE WHO SERVED IN IRAQ AND OWNS A SMALL BUSINESS.

JON SCHWANTES, CAN YOU READ ANYTHING INTO THIS OTHER THAN FALLOUT FROM THE ABORTION DEBATE?

>> IF THERE IS, ANOTHER FACTOR AT PLAY HERE, IT IS NOT OBVIOUS TO ME.

I MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS DID NOT SEEM ROD BRAY LIKE IN TERMS OF PUNITIVE ACTION.

IT DID NOT SEEM TO ME TO BE HIS STYLE, BUT THERE HAS TO BE CONSEQUENCES, JUST LIKE ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO HERDAL -- HERD A CAUCUS, NOT TO SAY SPLINTERED.

IT IS NOT MONOLITHIC AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN YOUR LEADERSHIP ROLE, YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING AND SEND A SIGNAL TO THOSE WHO DON'T TOW THE LINE.

>> HOW THE THIS IMPACT THE INDIANA SENATE?

>> IT IS NOT GOOD, RIGHT?

IF YOU ARE REPLACING SOMEONE WHO HAS A DECENTING VOICE WHO WAS SPLINTERING YOUR CAUCUS WITHSOME ON WHO IS GOING TO SAY YES TO EVERYTHING YOU DO.

THAT IS NOT THE BREAKDOWN OF THE HOOSIER STATE.

WE CAN'T HAVE THAT ONE MINDSET, GOOD POLICY COMES TOGETHER WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT VOICES WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT RESPECTS AND REFLECTS THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

>> WHEN ROD BRAY WAS BRINGING TOGETHER WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT WERE THE TWO MAIN FACTIONS OF THE INDIANA SENATE CAUCUS TO SAY, HERE IS ME, HERE IS ROD BRAY REPRESENTING THIS FRACTION AND HERE IS MESSMER AS A TEAM.

WHAT WILL THAT DO IN THE FUTURE?

WE WILL FIND OUT.

THAT'S INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ELISE SHROCK, REPUBLICAN JENNIFER HALLOWELL, JON SCHWANTES OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS AND OSEYE BOYD OF THE INDYSTAR.

IF YOU'D LIKE A PODCAST OF THIS PROGRAM YOU CAN FIND IT AT WFYI.ORG/IWIR OR STARTING MONDAY YOU CAN STREAM IT OR GET IT ON DEMAND FROM XFINITY AND ON THE WFYI APP.

I'M BRANDON SMITH OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

JOIN US NEXT TIME BECAUSE A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN AN INDIANA WEEK.

>> THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE PANELISTS.

"INDIAN WEEK IN REVIEW" IS A WFYI PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH INDIANA'S PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS.