>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I.U.

PRESIDENT PAMELA WHITTEN HAS BEEN IN OFFICE FOR JUST OVER A YEAR, BUT IT'S BEEN NO HONEYMOON PERIOD FOR THE UNIVERSITY'S FIRST WOMAN LEADER.

>> MY SENSE IS THAT WE ARE HEADING TOWARDS A NO CONFIDENCE VOTE IN THE FALL.

>> BUT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR SAYS WHITTEN IS EVERYTHING THEY ASKED FOR.

AS RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE DRAGS ON INTO A FIFTH MONTH, ONE UKRAINIAN FAMILY HAS RELOCATED TO WEST LaFAYETTE, BUT FATHER REMAINED HOME.

>> I FEEL VERY WORRIED FOR HIM AND I HOPE WE MEET AGAIN.

>> THE FAMILY TRYING TO ATTAIN STATUS TO TAKE IN THE U.S. LONGER THAN THEIR VISAS ALLOW.

>> AND WE TALK WITH AN OB-GYN ON THE NEW ABORTION LAW.

WE WILL HAVE ALL THESE STORIES AND MORE, RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK"!

♪ >> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

AUTHORITIES ARE STILL TRYING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF A HOUSE EXPLOSION IN EVANSVILLE THAT KILLED THREE PEOPLE, AND HOSPITALIZED ONE.

THE BLAST LEVELED ONE HOUSE AND DAMAGED A TOTAL OF 39 OTHER BUILDINGS.

>> CENTER POINT RESPONDED AND IMMEDIATELY SURVEYED THE SCENE FOR NATURAL GAS.

THERE WERE NO READINGS OUTSIDE THE HOME.

>> THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IS ASSISTING RESIDENTS WHO WERE DISPLACED.

TWO THE VICTIMS WERE IN THE HOUSE THAT EXPLODED, THE OTHER WAS IN A NEIGHBORING HOME.

>>> WELL, FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES REMEMBERED INDIANA U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JACKIE WLARSKI FOR HER FAITH AND SERVICE ON THURSDAY.

MITCH LEGAN REPORTS.

>> THE REPUBLICAN WLARSKI HAD REPRESENTED INDIANA'S SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SINCE 2013.

SHE AND THREE OTHERS DIED IN A CAR CRASH IN ELKHART COUNTY LAST WEEK.

A FUNERAL SERVICE WAS HELD IN GRANGIER.

THERE, SPEAKERS MOURNED THE SUDDENNESS OF HER DEBT, INCLUDING U.S. HOUSE MINORITY LEADER, KEVIN McCARTHY.

>> LIKE YOU, I WAS NOT READY, NOR WAS I PREPARED FOR THAT PHONE CALL.

SHOCKED.

ANGERED BEWILDERNESS.

>> OTHERS REMEMBERED HER HIGH SPIRITS AND STRONG CONVICTIONS.

>> WHEN PEOPLE FROM AFAR THINK ABOUT WHAT INDIANA SO STRONG, THEY MIGHT REFLEXIVELY GO TO OUR STEEL OR OUR LIMESTONE.

I THINK ABOUT JACKIE AND I THINK ABOUT JACKIE'S STEEL SPINE.

>> [ GUNFIRE ] >> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M MITCH LEGAN.

>>> A SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL HER CONGRESSIONAL SEAT WILL BE HELD NOVEMBER 8th.

THE SAME DAY AS THE GENERAL ELECTION.

>> INDIANA'S BAN ON ABORTION TAKES EFFECT SEPTEMBER 15th.

GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB QUICKLY SIGNED THE BILL INTO LAW LAST WEEKEND AT THE END OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S SPECIAL SESSION.

PAT BEANE HAS THIS REPORT.

>> INDIANA BECAME THE FIRST STATE IN THE U.S. TO ENACT NEW LEGISLATION AFTER THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE IN JUNE.

ABORTIONS WILL SOON ONLY BE ALLOWED IN THE PREGNANT PERSON'S LIFE IS AT RISK, IF THERE'S A LETHAL FETAL ANOMINALLY, AND RAPE CASES.

THE BAN WAS CULMINATION OF YEARS BY THE ANTIABORTION RIGHTS AND THE GOP.

>> WE ALWAYS HAVE MORE WORK TO DO BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE IT UNI MANAGEUNIMAGINABLE A TO END A BABY'S LIFE.

>> IT'S CONSISTENT WITH OUR OVERALL GOAL TO CARE FOR MOTHER AND BABY.

>> DEMOCRATS SAY WOMEN SHOULD NOT ASK FOR CONTROL OVER THEIR OWN BODY.

>> IT'S PRO PUNISHMENT.

PUNISHMENT OF WOMEN WHO DARE TO LIVE AS FREELY AS MEN.

>> THE BILL PASSED SHORTLY AFTER KANSAS VOTERS REJECTED A BALLOT REFERENDUM THAT WOULD HAVE BANNED ABORTION IN THE STATE.

THAT LEFT SOME WONDERING WHETHER THE QUESTION ABOUT ABORTION IS NOT ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER.

BUT HOUSE AND SENATE REPUBLICANS REJECTED EFFORTS TO DO SO.

>> THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR FROM HOOSIERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE OF INDIANA THAT KNOW THAT BODILY AUTONOMY IS JUST FIRST STEP AND TAKING AWAY SOME OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

>> DEMOCRATS ALSO POINTED TO DATA FROM A GOP POLL PRIOR TO THE VOTE THAT'S SAYS 63% OF HOOSIERS WANTED TO KEEP THE ABORTION LAW AS IT IS.

I'M PAT BEANE.

>> WE ARE JOINED BY DR. KATIE McHUGH, WITH I.U.

HEALTH IN INDIANAPOLIS FOR MORE ON WHAT THE BAN MEANS IN THE STATE.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW, DOCTOR.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN A WOMAN'S HEALTH CLINIC IN SOUTH BEND ANNOUNCE IT'S CLOSING ONE THE BAN TAKES EFFECT.

WHAT KIND OF IMPACT WILL THE BAN HAVE ON WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE IN THE STATE?

>> BANNING ABORTION ACCESS IS NOT JUST ABOUT ABORTION.

BANNING ABORTION ACCESS TAKES AWAY THE CHOICES THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE ABOUT THEIR OWN BODIES AND THEIR OWN FUTURES.

THIS WILL IMPACT THE HEALTH OF LOTS OF OUR FELLOW HOOSIERS, OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS, IN WAYS THAT MORE THAN JUST ABOUT PREGNANCY.

INSTEAD, THIS WILL IMPACT THEIR LONG-TERM HEALTH.

THIS IMPACTS THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO STAY IN INDIANA, AND IT AFFECTS THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO RAISE THEIR FAMILIES HERE IN OUR STATE.

>> SO WITH SO FEW EXEMPTIONS, THREATS OF PROSECUTION, WILL DOCTORS JUST STOP DOING ABORTIONS ALL TOGETHER?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE ILLEGAL TO DO ELECTIVE ABORTIONS HERE IN INDIANA, AND THE RESTRICTIONS WILL PREVENT MOST ABORTIONS FROM BEING PERFORMED AT ALL, EVEN IN A HOSPITAL SETTING AND FOR MEDICAL REASONS.

PATIENTS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN LIFE AND HEALTH ABOVE THEIR PREGNANCY.

THEY'LL HAVE TO LEAVE THE STATE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR BODIES AND TO BE ABLE TO CHOOSE WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR FUTURES.

>> NOW, PEOPLE WITH THE MEANS WILL BE ABLE TO TRAVEL OUT OF STATE FOR AN ABORTION, BUT HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU FOR THOSE THAT JUST DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION?

>> THERE ARE ABORTION FUNDS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP PROVIDE FUNDING AND RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO LEAVE THE STATE OR DON'T HAVE CHILD CARE OR COVERAGE AT WORK, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE WILL BE ONLINE ACCESSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT, BUT FOR MANY, MANY PEOPLE, ABORTION IS SIMPLY GOING TO BE OUT OF REACH THIS IS GOING TO HAVE AN INCREDIBLE TAX ON OUR STATE'S ECONOMIC SITUATION, ON OUR WELFARE SYSTEM, ON OUR SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS.

THE IMPACT IS OVERWHELMING TO CONSIDER AND CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING THAT THE INDIANA STATE LEGISLATURE CONSIDERED BEFORE PASSING THIS BILL.

>>> HOW ABOUT THE CONCERN ABOUT BEING ABLE TO ATTRACT MEDICAL STAFF TO THE STATE NOW GOING FORWARD.

>> THERE'S ALREADY RESEARCH BEING DONE, SAYING THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN INDIANA WANT TO LEAVE INDIANA BECAUSE OF THIS BAN, BECAUSE OF OUR INABILITY TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE-BASED CARE AND THE CARE THAT IS RECOMMENDED BY OUR NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

IT IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE MORE DIFFICULT TO ATTRACT PHYSICIANS TO INDIANA TO PRACTICE, WHEN WE HAVE A STATE THAT RESTRICTS US SO MUCH, AND PATIENTS THEMSELVES ARE NOT GOING TO WANT TO LIVE IN INDIANA.

WE'VE SEEN BUSINESSES COMING OUT WITH SUPPORT FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES WHO LEAVE THE STATE TO GET HEALTHCARE IN THE FORM OF ABORTION AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE END OF IT.

>> NOW, INDIANA ALREADY HAS A PRETTY HIGH MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE.

DO YOU EXPECT THE BAN TO AFFECT THAT AS WELL?

>> THAT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC.

MATERNAL MORTALITY IS SO MISUNDERSTOOD, AND IT IS THE WORST IN STATES WITHOUT REPRODUCTIVE ACCESS AND WITHOUT HEALTHCARE THAT TREATS BOTH THE MOTHER AND THE CHILD.

INDIANA RANKS VERY HIGHLY IN OUR MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE.

THIS IS NOT A RACE WE WANT TO WIN.

THE UNITED STATES IS THE WORST AMONG INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES, AND THEN INDIANA IS 46th IN THE STATE -- IN OUR COUNTRY AS FAR AS MATERNAL MORTALITY.

IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS TIME TO BE A PREGNANT PERSON IN INDIANA.

>> DOCTOR, WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> IT'S A PLEASURE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> AS STUDENTS RETURN TO BLOOMINGTON FOR THE START OF THE FALL SEMESTER, I. U.

OFFICIALS ARE PREPARING FOR ANOTHER YEAR OF NAVIGATING COVID.

AND THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC IT WILL BE AS CLOSE TO NORMAL AS POSSIBLE.

CONSIDERING THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

MANY PRECAUTIONS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS WILL STICK AROUND, SUCH AS ISOLATION HOUSING FOR STUDENTS WHO TEST POSITIVE, BUT MASKS WON'T BE REQUIRED, AND I.U.

WILL NO LONGER TEST WEEKLY.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE VERY USED TO THIS.

WE'VE GOTTEN VERY GOOD AT IT.

IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE SIDE EFFECT OF THE PANDEMIC.

NO ONE IS GOING TO BE NEW TO THIS.

>> CLASSES AT I.U.

BLOOMINGTON BEGIN AUGUST 22nd.

>>> THE FEDERAL INFLATION REDUCTION ACT COULD HELP INDIANA UTILITIES AND OTHER BUSINESSES TO ADOPT RENEWABLE ENERGY LIKE SOLAR AND WIND.

INDIANA UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR DAVID PONISKY RESEARCHED ENERGY POLICY.

>> FOR UTILITIES THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY ON THE TABLE TO NUDGE THEM IN INVESTING IN CLEAN AIR ACTTIVITY.

WE DON'T HAVE A STATE POLICY THAT'S BEEN PUSHING VERY HARD IN THAT DIRECTION.

>> BECAUSE OF THE STATE LAW, HOOSIERS WHO INSTALL SOLAR PANELS WILL GET FEWER CREDITS FOR THE EXCESS ENERGY THEY DELIVER BACK TO THE GRID, MAKING SOLAR LESS AFFORDABLE, BUT THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT WOULD EXTEND LAW BREAK -- TAX BREAKS FOR RESIDENTIAL SOLAR AND ADD NEW ONES FOR BATTERY STORAGE.

>>> NUTRIENT POLLUTION FROM LARGE FARMS IN INDIANA, MICHIGAN, AND OHIO, CONTRIBUTES TO HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS IN LAKE ERIE, THREATENING THE DRINKING WATER FOR 11 MILLION PEOPLE.

BUT AS REBECCA THIELE EXPLAINS, THE MAJORITY OF THAT POLLUTION COMES WITH FARMS WITH FEWER LIVESTOCK THAT DON'T HAVE TO GET A PERMIT.

>> ABOUT 78% OF LARGE FARMS IN INDIANA'S PORTION OF THE LAKE ERIE BASIN DON'T HAVE ENOUGH LIVESTOCK TO NEED A PERMIT.

THAT MEANS NO ONE IS KEEPING TRACK OF WHERE ALL THAT MATURE GOES.

THE REPORT BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP SHOWS PLACES WHERE MULTIPLE LARGE ANIMAL FARMS LIKELY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CROP LAND NEARBY TO HOLD ALL THAT MATURE LEADING TO MORE RUNOFF THAT POLLUTES THE LAKE ERIE BASIN.

>> BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT ON CONSERVATION PROCESSES.

SO THE NEW RESEARCH CAN HELP PINPOINT THE FARM FIELDS, THE FARMERS WE TALK TO IN THE BASIN WHERE THIS FUNDING COULD HAVE THE BIGGEST BANG FOR ITS BUCK.

>> SHE SAYS FARMERS THAT USE MANURE FROM ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS CAN DO PRACTICES LIKE NO TILL TO KEEP THAT MATURE FROM GETTING INTO THE LOCAL WATERWAYS.

FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING BEING I'M REBECCA THIELE.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I.U.

'S FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT HAS COMPLETED HER FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN A SMOOTH RIDE.

AND WE VISIT WITH THE UKRAINIAN FAMILY THAT HAS TAKEN REFUGE IN WEST LaFAYETTE AFTER THEIR COUNTRY WAS INVADED BY RUSSIA.

THESE STORIES AND MORE, RIGHT HERE ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

PAMELA WHITTEN FINISHED HER FIRST YEAR AS PRESIDENT OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY.

WHITTEN TOOK OVER THE HELM OVER THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM ON JULY 1st, 2021.

LONG-TIME EDUCATION JOURNALIST STEVE HENNYFELD ASKED STAKEHOLDERS TO EVALUATE HER FIRST YEAR PERFORMANCE.

BY MANY ACCOUNTS, IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGING FIRST YEAR.

SARAH WHIT MYERSARA WITTMEYER REPORTS.

>> FOLLOWING LONG-TIME LEADER, MICHAEL McROBBIE, PAMELA WHIT WON'T BE I.U.

'S FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT.

IT HAS RAISED HIGH HOPES FOR MANY.

>> I ALWAYS CONSIDERED I.U.

TO BE AMONG THE BEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN THE COUNTRY, AND SO I AM HUMBLED AND I AM HONORED AND I'M EXCITED TO BE JOINING I.U.

-- THE I.U.

FAMILY AS YOUR PRESIDENT.

>> THAT WAS WHITTEN AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE WHEN SHE WAS INTRODUCED.

SHE'S IMPRESSED SOME PEOPLE WITH HER ENERGY AND FOCUS ON STUDENTS.

THERE'S BEEN NO HONEYMOON.

A LAW PROFESSOR SAID THE TRUSTEES DID AN END RUN AROUND THE SEARCH COMMITTEE.

THEN GRADUATE STUDENTS STEPPED UP A ONION CAMPAIGN UNION CAMPAIGN AND WENT ON STRIKE.

AND FINALLY IT PROMPTED NEW QUESTIONS FOR I.U.

'S LEADERSHIP.

GERMANIC STUDIES PROFESSOR BEN ROBINSON HEADS THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS AT I.U.

HE BELIEVES MANY FACULTY HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN WHITTEN.

CAN SHE WIN IT BACK?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, THAT'S A HUGE QUESTION, BECAUSE, I MEAN, MY SENSE IS THAT WE ARE HEADING TOWARDS A IN CONFIDENCE VOTE IN THE FALL.

>> IN AN INTERVIEW WHITTEN SAYS SHE'S HAPPY TO BE AT I.U.

SHE'S FOCUSED ON THREE PRYERYY THREE PRIORITIES, RESEARCH AND ELEVATING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE.

>> PROBABLY THE ISSUE THAT KEEPS ME UP THE MOST AT NIGHT THE LONG-TERM CONCERN ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO KEEP COLLEGE AFFORDABLE FOR OUR STUDENTS.

YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO IN THE LONG TERM TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL HOOSIERS AND, OF COURSE, PEOPLE BEYOND THE STATE AS WELL, HAVE ACCESS TO, YOU KNOW, AN INDIANA UNIVERSITY DEGREE?

MOVING FORWARD?

>> WHITTEN WAS PREVIOUSLY PRESIDENT OF KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY AND PROVOST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA.

SHE SAYS THIS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTMENTS LIKE GETTING A HANDLE ON I.U.

'S STATEWIDE SCOPE AND COMPLEXITY, AND SOME SURPRISES.

>> I WAS AYOU LITTLE SURPRISED TO REALIZE THAT -- I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED TO REALIZE THAT THE UNIVERSITY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAD TO YOKE RIGHT IN IN MY FIRST YEAR.

>> AND QUINN BUCKNER SAYS THE BOARD IS HAPPY WITH WHITTEN AND IS EXCITED ABOUT HER FIRST YEAR PERFORMANCE.

HE SAYS THEY ESPECIALLY LIKE HER LISTENING AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS.

HER FOCUS ON STUDENTS, SHE CREATED A NEW POSITION OF VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT SUCCESS.

AND HER EMPHASIS ON DIVERSITY.

SHE'S LAUNCHED A $30 MILLION PLAN TO RECRUIT DIVERSE FACULTY.

>> I THINK SHE'S DONE A VERY GOOD JOB.

SHE'S DONE WHAT THE PRESTIGE EXPECTED TO DO.

>> WHITTEN ENGAGEMENT WITH CHILDREN SEEMS JEB SEEMS GENUINE, ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT PRESIDENT, KAI.

>> EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS THE PRESIDENT FOR ALL NINE CAMPUSES, WE MET MONTHLY TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS GOING ON, SPECIFICALLY TO THE BLOOMINGTON CAMPUS, BUT ALSO SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE FACING ACROSS ALL NINE OF THE CAMPUSES.

>> GREATER BLOOMINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT ERIC SPOONMORE LIKES WHITTEN'S PRIORITIES.

>> INDIANA UNIVERSITY IS A HUGE ECONOMIC ENGINE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND SO IT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT TO SEE PRESIDENT WHITTEN BEING SO ENGAGED WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

>> WHITTEN ALSO WELCOMES BEING I.U.

'S NUMBER ONE SPORTS FAN.

SOME THOUGHT HER PREDECESSOR MICHAEL McROBBIE WAS HAPPIER AT THE OPERA THAN AT A FOOTBALL GAME.

>> I WAS A SPORTS FAN, SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, HIDING BEHIND MY DADDY'S CHAIR WHEN I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN BED.

>> HER UNDERSTANDING OF ATHLETICS IS REALLY, REALLY GOOD, PARTICULARY IN FROM THE CONTEXT OF THE UNIVERSITY.

WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HER, WHAT HAS BEEN IMPORTANT TO HER AND IT CONTINUES TO BE, IS THAT I.U.

ATHLETICS PLAYS BY THE RULES.

>> PEP RALLIES HAVE BEEN A POSITIVE.

LABOR RALLIES NOT SO MUCH.

LAST YEAR A MAJORITY OF I.U.

GRADUATE STUDENT EMPLOYEES SIGNED CARDS CALLING FOR UNION REPRESENTATION.

THEY HELD A FOUR-WEEK TEACHING STRIKE IN THE SPRING.

WHAT DO THEY WANT FROM WHITTEN?

DOCTORAL STUDENT NORA WEBER IS A SPOKESPERSON.

>> TO COME INTO A MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION.

SAYING, YES, I ACTUALLY WANT PART OF MY LEGACY AT I.U.

TO BE ADDRESSING AND IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF GRADUATE WORKERS ON CAMPUS.

AND ADDRESSING IT THROUGH THE UNION.

>> I.U.

HAS REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE THE UNION, HOWEVER.

THE IMPASSE LED TO A MASS MEETING ATTENDED BY ABOUT 700 FACULTY.

IN AN EMAIL VOTE, NEARLY THREE HITTHREE-QUARTERS OF THE FACULTY SAID THEY THINK THE GRADUATE WORKERS SHOULD DECIDE ON A UNION.

>> THAT IS -- IT'S SIM MY UNPRECEDENTED IN THE -- SIMPLY UNPRECEDENTED IN THE HISTORY OF I.U.

THAT THEY TOOK THIS STANCE.

>> HE FAULTS HOW WHITTEN HAS RESPONDED.

>> THIS IS THE BIGGEST CRISIS THE CAMPUS FACED THIS PAST YEAR, MAYBE IN A NUMBER OF YEARS, CERTAINLY THE BIGGEST DISRUPTION AND THE BIGGEST CONTROVERSY.

AND SHE WAS JUST LITERALLY NOWHERE TO BE SEEN OR NOWHERE TO BE HEARD ON THAT ISSUE.

>> THIS MONTH, I.U.

LEADERS SAID THEY WILL RAISE PAY SIGNIFICANTLY AND ELIMINATE FEES FOR GRADUATE WORKERS.

AFFAIRS TASK FORCE HEADED BY THE I.U.

PROVOST RECOMMENDED THE MOVES.

IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THEIR PRESSURE, BUT WHITEN SAYS I.U.

IS STICKING TO ITS GUNS ON THE UNION.

>> I THINK THE TRUSTEES HAVE SPOKEN VERY CLEARLY IN EXPRESSING THAT THAT'S NOT THE AVENUE FOR THIS UNIVERSITY TO GO DOWN.

>> THEN, THIS SUMMER THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE vs. WADE.

INDIANA BANNED NEARLY ALL ABORTIONS.

THE 500,000I.U.

STUDENTS WHO ARE WOMEN LOST A RIGHT THAT WHITTEN'S GENERATION TOOK FOR GRANTED.

I.U.

AND ITS LEADERS HAVE BEEN LARGELY SILENT.

>> WELL, AS THE PRESIDENT OF A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY, IT'S -- IT'S NOT MY ROLE TO TAKE MY OWN PERSONAL OPINIONS AND REPRESENT THEM AS EVERYONE'S.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE A VERY LARGE INSTITUTION, WITH MANY OPINIONS ACROSS, LIKE, A CONTINUUM.

>> WHITTEN ADDS THAT I.U.

RESPECTS FIRST AMENDMENT AND ENCOURAGES FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS.

ALSO WHITTEN WAS CRITICIZED FOR NOT SPEAKING UP WHEN POLITICIANS VILIFIED AN I.U.

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE FACULTY MEMBER WHO PERFORMED AN ABORTION ON A 10-YEAR-OLD RAPE VICTIM.

>> WELL, THE DEAN OF THE MEDICAL SCHOOL AND I HAVE ACTUALLY BOTH SPOKEN OUT.

WE MADE A STATEMENT THAT I THINK EXPRESSED OUR APPRECIATION FOR HER REPUTATION, NOT ONLY AS A FACULTY MEMBER OF GOOD STANDING BUT AS SOMEONE WHO ENJOYED THE REPUTATION FOR A SINCERE, DEEP CARING APPROACH TO HER PATIENT SERVICES AS WELL.

>> BUCKNER, THE TRUSTEE'S CHAIRMAN, SAYS THE BOARD BACKS WHITTEN, BOTH OVERALL AND IN HER HANDLING OF CONTROVERSIES.

HOW MUCH DO THEY BACK HER, BASED ON HER EVALUATION OF HER FIRST YEAR, THEY VOTED TO AWARD HER A BONUS OF ONE-QUARTER OF HER SALARY.

$162,500.

WITH PRODUCER STEVE HENNIFELD, I'M SARA WITTMEYER.

>> A BEST WEST LaFAYETTE RESIDENT HAS TAKEN IN HER FAMILY MEMBERS.

WE HEAR THEIR STORY OF SURVIVAL.

>> IN A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD IN WEST LaFAYETTE, NATALYA LOOKS AFTER HER DAUGHTER AND GRANDCHILDREN.

THE SIBLINGS GO TO SCHOOL, RIDE THEIR BIKES AND PLAY WITH THEIR DOG TOUGHY, BUT UNLIKE OTHER KIDS, THEY ARE 5,000 MILES AWAY FROM THEIR HOME IN UKRAINE.

>> I MISS MY FRIENDS, MY SCHOOL, MY DAD, MY CATS, EVERYTHING.

>> THAT'S 8-YEAR-OLD SOLAMIA, OR SOLO AS SHE LIKES TO BE CALLED.

SHE WILL BE STARTING IN LaFAYETTE AS A THIRD GRADER THIS FALL.

SHE AND HER FAMILY LIVED NORMAL LIVES IN KAILIVES IN KYIV.

HER FATHER WAS A PROFESSOR, AND HER MOTHER OWNS AND OPERATES A MONTESSORI SCHOOL.

BUT THEY FELT THE EXPLOSIONS OF THE RUSSIAN SHELLINGS.

THEIR FATHER TOOK THEM TO THEIR SUMMER COTTAGE SOME MILES AWAY FROM THE CITY TO WAIT OUT THE CONFLICT, BUT THE SHELLING INTENSIFIED.

HE KNEW HE HAD TO EVACUATE HIS FAMILY.

>> I'M SO GLAD HE THIS SENSE OF WHAT IS SAFE AND WHAT IS NOT SAFE.

THERE WERE SO MANY CIVILIAN CARS SHOT BY THOSE TANKS.

>> IT TOOK TEN DAYS TO GET OUT.

EVENTUALLY THEY MADE IT TO A TRAIN DEPOT, PACKED SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH OTHER FAMILIES TRYING TO ESCAPE.

>> IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF FEELING THIS GRIEF AND UNFAIRNESS, MANY PEOPLE WERE MAYBE ANGRY, AND THEY JUST STARTED GOING AROUND AND KIND OF COMING DOWN THOSE PEOPLE.

AND SOLO PLAYED WITH SOME BABIES AND THEY FOUND A CAT THAT SOMEBODY WAS BRINGING THEIR CAT WITH THEM.

>> THAT'S THE KITTY!

THAT'S KITTY!

>> SHE LEFT BEHIND HER OWN FOUR CATS.

AFTER WHAT FELT LIKE COUNTLESS AREAS THEY GOT OFF THE TRAIN AND STARTED WALKING SEVERAL MILES.

EVENTUALLY, THEY MADE IT TO THE POLISH BORDER.

IT WAS HERE THAT THEY SAID GOOD-BYE TO THEIR FATHER WHO WAS STAYING BEHIND TO FIGHT.

HE'S NOW AN OFFICER IN THE UKRAINIAN MILITARY.

>> EVERY TIME I THINK ABOUT, IT I FEEL REALLY DREADFUL, AND BECAUSE, LIKE, MY MOM, LIKES TO SAY A LOT, IT'S LIKE A LOTTERY.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I FEEL VERY WORRIED FOR HIM.

AND I HOPE WE DO MEET AGAIN.

>> SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS FOR THE FAMILY.

THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET WITH ALISHA, BUT SHE WAS STRUGGLING WITH BAD NEWS FROM HOME.

NOW, THE FAMILY IS WORKING TO ACQUIRE TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS, WHICH WILL ALLOW THEM TO STAY LONGER THAN THEIR SIX-MONTH VISAS.

>> RIGHT NOW, I'M MORE ON THE LEVEL JUST GET NORMALCY, GO TO SCHOOL, JUST GET EDUCATION, BECAUSE THERE MAY BE A MOMENT WHEN YOU GUYS GO BACK AND YOU HAVE TO RAISE THIS COUNTRY UP.

>> FOR NOW, SOLO LOOKS FORWARD TO PHONE CALLS WITH HER DAD, AND SHARING STORIES OF DREAMS OVER THE PHONE WITH HIM.

HERE HE'S TELLING HER A STORY ABOUT PINK ELEPHANTS, PROTECTING SMALLER CREATURES FROM THE RAIN WITH HER EARS.

NATALYA CALLS IT SWEET NONSENSE.

THE PHONE CALLS HELP THE KIDS WHEN THEY ARE FELLING ESPECIALLY HOME SICK.

BUT HE CAN ONLY CALL WHEN IT'S SAFE TO DO SO.

>> SHE'S SAYING OVER THERE IS THE BORDER.

THERE ARE CARS AND HERE WE ARE.

>> THEY ARE HOPING THE WAR COMES TO AN END SOON, SO THEY CAN RETURN HOME AND LIVE AGAIN AS A FAMILY.

>> SINCE PEOPLE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT THIS AS MUCH, AS THEY HAVE WHEN IT ALL STARTED, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE WAR HAS ENDED.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M DOM HEYOB.

>> THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM, BUT OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AS WE COVER THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

♪ >> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: