>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," A FEDERAL PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE IN PRISON TO PURSUE A COLLEGE EDUCATION.

>> THEY'RE INCREDIBLE STUDENTS WHO JUST NEED THE OPPORTUNITY THE WAY THAT STUDENTS ON OUTSIDE WOULD.

>> THE SECOND CHANCE PELL GRANT PROGRAM WENT INTO EFFECT LAST YEAR.

>>> BLOOMINGTON IS PLANNING CHANGES TO INDIANA AVENUE ON THE WEST SIDE OF CAMPUS, HOPING TO LOWER TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, BUT SOME RESIDENTS SAY THE ROAD IS GOOD AS IS.

>> A LOT OF TRAFFIC INDENTS THAT I'M -- INCIDENTS THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH ARE DUE TO PEOPLE NOT PAYING ATTENTION.

>>> AND INDIANA UNIVERSITY TRUSTEES ARE MEETING IN BLOOMINGTON AS PROTESTERS CONTINUE TO CALL FOR PRESIDENT PAMELA WHITTEN'S RESIGNATION.

WE WILL HAVE THESE STORIES PLUS THE LATEST NEWS FROM ACROSS STATE RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

IT'S BEEN A ROUGH PAST COUPLE OF YEARS FOR INDIANA UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT PAMELA WHITTEN, AND THE UNIVERSITY.

ETHAN SANDWEISS HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY.

>> HI, JOE.

I'M OUTSIDE HANKIE HALL OF CHAMPIONS AT THE I.U.

MEMORIAL STADIUM WHERE THE I.U.

TRUSTEES MET TODAY AND THURSDAY TO DISCUSS POLICY WITH BROAD IMPLICATIONS FOR INDIANA UNIVERSITY.

THE TIMES AND LOCATIONS OF TRUSTEE MEETINGS ARE PLANNED THREE YEARS IN ADVANCE BUT THE GATHERING COMES AT A TUMULTUOUS TIME FOR THE FLAGSHIP CAMPUS.

BLOOMINGTON FACULTY AND MANY INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS ON CAMPUS HAVE CALLED ON TRUSTEES TO REPEAL BAN ON STUDENTS AND ARRESTS AND REVERSE THE CAMPUS ASSEMBLY POLICY AND REMOVE PRESIDENT PAMELA WHITTEN WHO THEY SELECTED THREE YEARS AGO.

>> YOU FELT THAT SHE WOULD HELP YOU ACCOMPLISH YOUR VISION.

WE ARE NOT HERE TO DISCUSS YOUR VISION, WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS SOMETHING ELSE.

TODAY WE ARE HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT PAMELA WHITTEN CANNOT ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING FOR YOU OR FOR I.U.

>> FACULTY SAY WHITTEN HAS ERODED ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND UNPOPULAR DECISIONS TARGETING EXPRESSION ON CAMPUS.

THE TRUSTEES HAVE REAFFIRMED THEIR SUPPORT FOR WHITTEN AND CALLED FOR AN INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO CAMPUS CLIMATE.

IT OVERLAPS WITH AN OCCUPATION OF DUNN MEADOW BY PRO PALESTINE STIEN -- PROTESTERS.

THEY SAY THE COUNTRY IS COMMITTING A GENOCIDE IN GAZA.

SOME OF THE PROTESTERS RALLIED OUTSIDE THE TRUSTEE MEDIUM AT MEMORIAL STADIUM JOINED BY GRADUATE STUDENT WORKERS DEMANDING FACULTY RECOGNITION, AND WHITTEN'S RESIGNATION.

THE TRUSTEES WILL HAVE TO HELP I.U.

BECOME COMPLIANT WITH S.E.A.202, A NEW LAW THAT REQUIRES PROFESSORS TO PROMOTE INTELLECTUAL DIVERSITY IN THE CLASSROOM OR LOSE THEIR JOBS.

WHITTEN HOPES IT CAN HAVE MINIMAL IMPACT ON PROFESSORS.

>> WE ARE JOINED AGAIN BY ETHAN FROM OUTSIDE MEMORIAL STADIUM.

HI.

BIG NEW NEWS WHITTEN HAS ANNOUNCED A CREATION OF A CHANCELLOR POSITION IN BLOOMINGTON.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION, JOE.

I THINK WE ARE STILL FIGURING OUT WHAT EXACTLY THAT MEANS.

SO THE WAY THE CHANCELLOR POSITION WAS DESCRIBED, IS IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE PRESIDENT'S CABINET AND ABOVE THE PROVOST WHO IS THE CURRENT HEAD OF THE BLOOMINGTON CAMPUS.

SO WHITTEN SAYS THAT POSITION IS GOING TO HELP FACULTY GET MORE INPUT IN THE WAY THAT THE CAMPUS IS RUN, BUT IT'S STILL NOT EXACTLY CLEAR WHAT THE PARAMETERS OF THAT JOB ARE OR HOW IT WILL AFFECT THE EXISTING ROLE OF PROVOST, WHICH IS BASICALLY RESPONSIBLE NOR THOSE THINGS OFFICIALLY ALREADY.

>> SO ETHAN, TRUSTEES TABLED TWO KEY POLICY ISSUES THIS WEEK.

WHAT WERE THEY, AND WHY DID THEY NOT TAKE ACTION?

>> SO THE FIRST ONE, OF COURSE, WOULD BE A SPEECH AND ASSEMBLY POLICY FOR THE UNIVERSITY.

THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST HOT BUTTON ISSUES ON I.U.

'S CAMPUS BECAUSE AS A LOT OF OUR VOWEERS -- VIEWERS ARE AWARE, DUNN MEADOW HAS BEEN OCCUPIED FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

AND I.U.

HAS TRIED TO USE EXISTING POLICY OR WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS AN EXISTING POLICY TO JUSTIFY A CRACKDOWN ON DUNN MEADOW.

THE TRUSTEES DISCUSSED WANTING TO HAVE A UNIVERSAL SPEECH AND ASSEMBLY POLICY FOR ALL OF THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES THAT MIGHT REPLACE THE DUNN MEADOW ONE, BUT THEY TABLED THAT VOTE.

THEY ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO PUSH IT OFF AND THEY SAY THEY NEED MORE FEEDBACK FROM STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING STUDENTS AND FACULTY.

THE OTHER ONE IS CHANGES TO THE DISCIPLINARY POLICY, A.C.A.33.

THIS IS A POLICY THAT SAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY UNIVERSITY HAS TO DEFER TO FACULTY DISCIPLINARY POLICIES THAT ARE CAMPUS SPECIFIC IF THEY ARE GOING TO DO ANY KIND OF MAJOR DISCIPLINE OF A FACULTY MEMBER.

IT SOUNDS COMPLICATED BUT THE REASON WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE ONE FACULTY MEMBER AT I.U.

BLOOMINGTON WAS SUSPENDED FROM TEACHING WITHOUT A FACULTY MISCONDUCT REVIEW BOARD FIRST.

FACULTY SAY THAT BYPASSED SHARED GOVERNANCE.

>> ETHAN THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR REPORTING.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> OF COURSE.

>>> WELL, INDIANA RANKS IN THE BOTTOM HALF OF ALL 50 STATES FOR CHILD WELL-BEING ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL KID COUNT DATA BOOK.

INDIANA'S 27th OVERALL WELL-BEING RANKING IS BASED ON DATA ACROSS FOUR AREAS, ECONOMIC WELL-BEING, EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.

INDIVIDUALLY THE STATE CAME IN 15th FOR ECONOMIC WELL-BEING, 17th IN EDUCATION, 31st IN FAMILY AND COMMUNITY AND 32nd IN HEALTH.

FOR MORE ON WHAT THESE RANKINGS MEAN, WE'RE JOINED BY ASHLEY HAYNES, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF DATA COMMUNICATIONS FOR INDIANA YOUTH INSTITUTE, THE STATE AFFILIATE FOR THE KIDS COUNT NETWORK.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> SO INDIANA'S OVERALL AVERAGE IS HURT BY ITS RANKINGS IN FAMILY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH CATEGORIES.

HOW DOES THE STATE IMPROVE THOSE NUMBERS?

>> IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT INDIANA'S 2024 RANKINGS IN THE NATIONAL INDIANA KIDS COUNT DATABOOK IN CONTEXT.

SO WE LOOK AT ALL 50 STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND IT GIVES AN IDEA OF HOW CHILDREN ARE DOING IN EVERY SINGLE STATE.

SO INDIANA'S RANKING IS ALSO IN COMPARISON TO OTHER STATES IN THE COUNTRY.

AND IN SOME CASES, LIKE IN INDIANA'S FAMILY AND COMMUNITY RANKING, WHERE WE RANKED 31st, ALL MEASURES FOR THOSE FOUR INDICATORS HAVE ACTUALLY GOTTEN BETTER, BUT OUR OVERALL RANKING OF 31st HASN'T CHANGED IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND THAT COULD MEAN THAT OTHER STATES HAVE IMPROVED AT A HIGHER RATE DURING THE MEASURED TIME PERIOD THAN INDIANA.

AND LOOKING AT THE DATA, CHILDREN LIVING IN HIGH POVERTY AREAS ACTUALLY DECREASES FROM 10% TO 7% BETWEEN THE MEASURED TIME PERIOD.

AND FEWER TEEN BIRTH RATES.

>> SO THE STATE RANKED 17th IN THE NATION IN EDUCATION DESPITE SOME PROFICIENCY NUMBERS STILL BEING DONE.

WHY IS THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, ALSO THINKING IN COMPARISON, INDIANA'S KIDS MAY NOT HAVE IMPROVED AS WELL IN EDUCATION COMPARED TO OTHER STATES IN THE COUNTRY.

OF ALSO, THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE ARE REALLY STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THOSE POST-PANDEMIC 2021, 2022 DATA POINTS SHOWING UP IN OUR DATA REPORT.

AND WE KNOW THAT COVID BROUGHT A LOT OF DAMAGE ON THE PROFICIENCY, AND IMPACT OF OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL.

BUT ALARM BELLS ABOUT STUDENT PERFORMANCE HAVE BEEN RINGING FOR YEARS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, AND WE HAVE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME THAT WE HAVE TO DO BETTER, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SHOWING UP EQUIPPED TO LEARN BECAUSE A KID'S ACADEMIC SUCCESS DEPENDS MORE THAN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM, WHAT IS HAPPENING AT HOME AND ARE THEY GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP?

THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2023, ACTUALLY 88.9% OF THEM GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADUATION RATE IN THE STATE SINCE 2016.

THIRD HIGHEST SINCE THE DATA POINT HAS BEEN TRACKING.

>> SO THE STATE IS DOING BEST, THOUGH, IN THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING CATEGORY.

WHAT DOES THAT MEASURE?

>> SO INDIANA HAS SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES AHEAD IN SUPPORTING THE WELL-BEING OF KIDS ACROSS ALL THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, BUT WE NEED TO CELEBRATE THE PROGRESS WE ARE MAKING AS A STATE AND PARTICULARLY IN THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING AREAS SUCH AS PARENTAL EMPLOYMENT RATES AND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, WHERE BETWEEN 2019 AND 2022, 75% OF INDIANA PARENTS HAD FULL-TIME SECURE EMPLOYMENT WHICH IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AND HIGHER THAN OUR NEIGHBORING STATES LIKE ILLINOIS, KENTUCKY, MICHIGAN, AND OHIO.

AND IN 2022, ONLY 22% OF INDIANA'S KIDS LIVE IN HOUSEHOLDS THAT WERE FACING HIGH HOUSING COSTS BURDENS WHERE THEIR SPENDING WAS 30% MORE ON THEIR INCOME AND HOUSING EXPENSE AND THAT'S COMPARED TO 30% NATIONALLY.

THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVES AROUND THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING.

>> ASHLEY, WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> YOU'RE SO WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

>>> ALL RIGHT, NOW FOR HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE AREA.

THE MAN ROW CONVENTION CENTER -- THE MONROE CONVENTION CENTER IS MOVING EAST.

IT WAS APPROVED FROM THE SITE SELECTION WORKING GROUP ON WEDNESDAY.

THE LOCATION WAS ONE OF THREE REMAINING OPTIONS, THE SOUTH AND WEST OPTIONS HAD MORE UPFRONT COSTS, GRADE CHANGE CHALLENGES AND UTILITY ISSUES.

THE EAST OPTION SITS NEXT TO THE TRANSPORTATION CENTER, IS CLOSER THROUGHOUT AND ALLOWS THE -- CLOSER TO THE UNIVERSITY, AND ALLOWS THEM TO EXPAND WHILE IT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

THE C.I.B.

ALSO APPROVED A RECOMMENDATION TO SELECT WELL BROTHERS AS THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER FOR THE PROJECT.

>>> CITY OF BLOOMINGTON WANTS TO PUT A PROJECT TO ALTER THE INDIANA AVENUE CORRIDOR OUT FOR BID IN 2025.

OFFICIALS HOSTED FIRST OF THREE LISTENING SESSIONS THIS WEEK.

THE CITY'S GOAL IS TO ELIMINATE ALL FATAL AND SEVERE TRAFFIC INJURIES BY 2039.

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT -- MAKE SURE TO PRIVATIZE THE SAFETY OF -- PRIORITIZE THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE, RATHER THAN THE SPEED OF CARS AND TRAFFIC.

>> ONE ATTENDEES TO TUESDAY'S MEETING DRIVES INDIANA AVENUE ON A REGULAR BASIS.

HE WORRIES THE CITY WILL MAKE CHANGES THAT JUST MAKE IT HARDER TO DRIVE.

>> A LOT OF THE TRAFFIC INCIDENTS THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH ARE DUE TO PEOPLE WHO AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION OR PEDESTRIANS OR BICYCLISTS WHO AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION, WHO DON'T OBEY THE RULES.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN NINE FATAL OR SERIOUS INJURY CRASHES ON THE INDIANA AVENUE CORRIDOR SINCE 2018 AND ALL INVOLVED AT LEAST ONE DRIVER.

>>> BLOOMINGTON BIO PHARMA CAMPUS ON WEST SIDE IS EXPANDING.

OFFICIALS BROKE GROUND ON A TWO-STORY 150,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING THAT WILL ALLOW FOR THREE NEW PRODUCTION LINES.

KATIE SPECK HAS THIS STORY.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> SENTRA IS A SPECIALIZED PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOMEDICAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

THEY FOE FOCUS -- FOCUS ON VIALS AND SYRINGES.

IT WILL CREATE HUNDREDS OF NEW JOBS IN BLOOMINGTON.

>> THE CAPACITY WILL ESSENTIALLY DOUBLE AND THEN IT'S NEWER TECHNOLOGY.

SO BETTER TECHNOLOGY, JUST UP TO DATE, WHICH IS BETTER FROM A REGULATORY STANDPOINT, ALSO BETTER FROM A PRODUCTIVITY STANDPOINT.

>> GOVERNOR HOLCOMB ATTENDED THE EVENT AND PRAISED SENTRA.

>> THESE ARE THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PROVIDING THERAPIES, PROVIDING THE CLIENT OR THE CUSTOMER WITH QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DO HERE AT SIM TRA -- SIMTRA.

>> THEY BECAME A STAND ALONE COMPANY FROM BAXTER.

THEY HAVE TWO MANUFACTURING FACILITY AND THE OTHER ONE IS IN GERMANY.

I'M KATIE SPECK.

>>> MONROE COUNTY SPECIALISTS SAY RUBEN MARTE AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL MUST CHOOSE THE SIZE AND THE BED COUNT OF A NEW COUNT I JAIL.

THAT -- COUNTY JAIL.

THAT CAUGHT COUNCIL OFFGUARD.

>> I DON'T THINK I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO WAS SURPRISED THAT THE COUNCIL WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING ON ESTABLISHING A BED COUNT.

>> A COUNTY ATTORNEY SAYS THE COMMISSIONERS ARE TASKED WITH PROVIDING A JAIL BUT ARE NOT STATUTORILY OBLIGATED TO DETERMINE THE SIZE OR THE BED COUNT.

WILKS SAYS SHE QUESTIONS HOW THE COUNCIL WOULD MAKE THIS DECISION.

>> WE HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOWED ACCESS TO DIRECTLY MEET WITH THE CONSULTANTS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE BEEN USING.

SO THAT SEEMS TO BE A DISADVANTAGE.

>> A RECENT FEASIBILITY STUDY SAYS THE JAIL WOULD NEED BETWEEN 450 AND 500 BEDS.

THE COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION LAST YEAR SAYING THE JAIL SHOULD HAVE NO MORE THAN 400 BEDS.

>>> THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WON BUDGETARY APPROVAL TO POUR $256 MILLION INTO WELCOME CENTER REST AREAS AND TRUST PARKING AT SIX HIGHWAY LOCATIONS AROUND THE STATE.

IN-DOT OFFICIALS SAY ABOUT A THIRD OF THE COST WILL GO TOWARDS PAVEMENT NEEDED TO SUSTAIN SEMI PARKING.

TRUCKERS HAVE LONG ARGUED THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PARKING AT REST STOPS, FORCING 18-WHEELERS TO LEAVE THEIR VEHICLES ALONG THE HIGHWAY.

>> AND THERE'S A LOT OF SIDE AMENITIES THAT WE HAVE AS WELL, RIGHT, BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO TURN THESE INTO DESTINATIONS.

>> IT'S ALL PART OF IN-DOT'S 13-YEAR PLAN TO REPLACE 16 OF THE STATE'S EXISTING 27 REST AREAS AND ADD NEARLY 1,000 PARKING SPOTS.

MOST OF THE REST STOPS IN THE STATE DATE BACK TO THE 1960s.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," A FEDERAL PROGRAM IS PROVIDING PELL GRANT MONEY FOR INMATES TO PURSUE A COLLEGE DEGREE WHILE IN PRISON.

>>> AND A FAMILIAR OLD INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCOREBOARD FINDS A NEW HOME AT A DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON BAR.

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

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

THE BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL IS CALLING FOR PROTECTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS SEEKING GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE.

COUNCILMEMBERS PASSED A RESOLUTION WEDNESDAY NIGHT DECLARING THE CITY A SAFE HAVEN FOR INDIVIDUALS SEEKING SUCH CARE.

LUCAS GONZALES REPORTS.

>>> THE BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL IS CALLING FOR PROTECTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS SEEKING GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE.

COUNCILMEMBERS PASSED A RESOLUTION WEDNESDAY DECLARING THE CITY A SAFE HAVEN FOR INDIVIDUALS SEEKING SUCH CARE.

THE RESOLUTION COMES AMID A NEW STATE LAW BANNING GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE FOR HOOSIERS YOUNGER THAN 18.

>> ACCESS TO GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE CAN LITERALLY BE LIFE SAVING.

OUR CHILDREN, ALL CHILDREN, DESERVE A MACE TO FEEL SAFE.

>> THE MEASURE ADOPTS A GENDER AFFIRMING HEALTHCARE POLICY FOR THE CITY, BUT SINCE THE RESOLUTION IS NONBINDING, ANYTHING WITHIN IT CANNOT BE ENFORCED.

THE RESOLUTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY, EVEN THOUGH TWO COUNCILMEMBERS INITIALLY SAID THEY WOULD ABSTAIN FROM VOTING ON IT.

>> WITH RESPECT TO GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE, CHILDREN LACK THE COGNITIVE DEVELOP DEVELOPMENT FOR THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE POTENTIAL STERILITY.

>> BOTH COUNCILMEMBERS WANTED TO HAVE MORE TIME TO CONDUCT RESEARCH BEFORE VOTING.

>> HOPI TASSBERG SAYS SHE DISAGREES WITH ANY ANY INSIN EWATION -- ENSUATION THAT PARENTS CAN'T MAKE A GOOD DECISION FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

>> THE ARE E SOLUTION NOW NEEDS FINAL APPROVAL FROM MAYOR KERRY KERRY THOMSON WHO SAYS SHE APPROVES IT IT.

I'M LUCAS GONZALES.

>> MANY LOW-INCOME STUDENTS CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL WITHOUT FINANCIAL AID.

AND FOR THOSE IN THE INDIANA PRISONS THAT FUNDING IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.

FOR FIRST TIME IN THREE DECADES PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAMS WILL RECEIVE FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID.

AS AUBREY WRIGHT REPORTS, COLLEGE OFFICIALS AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICIALS ARE OPTIMISTIC AS THEY WORK TO GET THEIR PROGRAMS APPROVED.

>>> MAY 2022, MILES FOLSOM BECAME VALEDICTORIAN AT HIS COLLEGE.

>> I DECIDED TO ACCEPT THIS ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE ELSE WHO THOUGHT THE DOOR WAS SHOT AND THERE WAS NOT A WAY OUT.

>> NOW HE'S C.E.O.

OF INVESTED YOUTH, A SPEAKERS BUREAU HE HELPED TO CREATE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED.

HE'S WORKING IN CARPET RENTY AND LOOKING FOR A AN ARCHITECT TO CREATE THE MOST HUMANE PRISON.

>> I THINK BACK ON MY PRISON EXPERIENCE AND ALL THE VOLUNTEER WORK I HAVE DONE.

AND TO BE HONEST, IT'S UNCANNY.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE I'M LIKE I'M TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE.

>> HE WAS INCARCERATED AS A TEENAGER.

HE KEPT HIS FATHER'S WORDS IN MIND.

YOU HAVE TO GO TO COLLEGE.

AND EIGHT YEARS IN, HE DID THAT NOTRE DAME AND HOLY CLASS COLLEGE.

IT WAS THROUGH THE SECOND CHANCE PELL EXPERIMENT, NEW FUNDING GIVEN TO PRISON GRANT PROGRAMS.

>> THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, JUST UPHILL CLIMB.

IT WAS PHENOMENAL.

>> STUDENTS IMPRESSIONED EARNED PELL GRANTS, THE SAME NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID AS UNINCARCERATED STUDENTS.

THAT SECOND CHANCE PELL EXPERIMENT WAS SUCCESSFUL.

IN 2020, CONGRESS VOTED TO RE-INSTATE PELL GRANTS FOR INCARCERATED STUDENTS.

THAT WAS GREAT NEWS FOR JUSTIN McDEVITT.

IT'S PART OF NOTRE DAME'S PART OF SOCIAL CONCERNS.

>> MY FAVORITE DOOR IS ON HERE BECAUSE IT'S ON THE DOOR OF MY OFFICE AT NOTRE DAME.

>> HIS OFFICE IS LINED WITH PHOTOS OF DOORS AND THEY GIVE PERSPECTIVE ON HIS WORK.

SOME PEOPLE SEE DOORS AS OPPORTUNITIES AND OTHERS WHO SPEND THEIR TIME LOCKED BEHIND DOORS SEE THEM AS OBSTACLES.

WITH NOTRE DAME, MARION UNIVERSITY AND INDIANA'S WOMEN PRISON, McDEVITT DIRECTS THE WOMEN'S COLLEGE PARTNERSHIP.

>> THEY ARE INCREDIBLE STUDENTS.

>> THEY WORK WITH MARION UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN'S PROGRAMS.

IT ALSO WORKS WITH HOLY CROSS FOR MEN'S PROGRAMS AT WESTVILLE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

STUDENTS PURSUE LIBERAL ARTS, ASSOCIATE'S AND BACHELOR'S DEGREES FULL-TIME.

McDEVITT AND OTHERS WITH THE PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAMS TRY TO CREATE A COLLEGE CAMPUS WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF A PRISON.

>> IMAGINE HAVING AN ENTIRE COLLEGE BUT WITH 40 STUDENTS IN TWO CLASSROOMS OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEK.

>> IT'S A COCURRICULAR SPACE AND THEY GIVE STUDENTS SIMILAR EXPERIENCES, CHOICES AND RESOURCES TO THOSE AT OTHER COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

THERE ARE FEWER OPTIONS THAN LARGER COLLEGES, BUT STUDENTS CAN MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR FREE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE.

>> THE PROGRAM WAS GIVEN A WHOLE FLOOR OF A BUILDING, AND THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE A SANCTUARY.

>> IN THE MEN'S PROGRAM, FOLSOM SAYS THEY WALKED AROUND AND TALKED WITH FELL LOCAL STUDENTS FREELY.

THERE ARE LIBRARIES, CLASSROOMS, A COMPUTER LAB.

>> I COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR PROBABLY A BETTER SETTING.

>> IN INDIANAPOLIS, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND THE COMMISSION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION COLLABORATE TO REVIEW THESE PROGRAMS FOR PELL FUNDING.

>> AND THAT'S KIND OF OUR ROLE IS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, IS THIS SUSTAINABLE INSIDE OF OUR FACILITIES?

IS IT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STUDENT.

>> AND THEN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION MUST APPROVE THE PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAMS, ESTABLISH PROGRAMS LIKE THOSE AT NOTRE DAME, MARION AND HOLY CROSS ARE PREPARED FOR THE FUNDING APPLICATION, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN PUTTING IN THE WORK FOR YEARS.

>> I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE KIND OF WHAT IT TAKES AND HOW -- HOW THESE THINGS GROW, SO IT WILL BE A SLOW, DELIBERATE CAREFUL PROCESS.

>> AND THIS FUNDING THE SUPPORT MORE THAN JUST STUDENTS.

McDEVITT SAYS IT WILL SUPPORT FACULTY AND STAFF WHO TEACH IN PRISONS.

>> IT REALLY IS THE ONLY WAY THAT PROGRAMS LIKE THIS CAN BE SUSTAINABLE LONG TERM.

>> TO RECEIVE PELL FUNDING, EDUCATION PROGRAMS MUST OFFER CAREER DEVELOP DEVELOPMENT AND REENTRY SUPPORT.

MATHER SAYS THE STATE IS LOOKING TO APPROVE HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMS THAT WILL BENEFIT STUDENTS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> THESE FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE RETURNING CITIZENS.

THEY ARE GOING TO COME BACK IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE YOUR NEIGHBORS.

THEY ARE GOING TO SHOP AT THE SAME PLACES THAT YOU SHOP.

THEIR KIDS ARE GOING TO GO TO SCHOOL WITH YOUR KIDS.

>> ADVOCATES SUCH AS FOLSOM SAYS EDUCATION IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM REOFFENDING.

FOLSOM SAYS FEELING ANGRY AT AND CHASING REVENGE PREVENTS REHABILITATION.

>> IT IS US WHO ARE HOLDING US BACK.

AND I THINK THE WAY FORWARD IS EDUCATION.

WE MUST EDUCATE THESE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN HELP THEMSELVES.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M AUBREY WRIGHT.

>>> AND A SCOREBOARD LONG-TIME INDIANA UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL FANS WILL RECOGNIZE IS GETTING BACK IN THE GAME!

FOR DECADES, THE SCOREBOARD HAS SERVED I.U.

IN DIFFERENT ARENAS, AS PAT BEANE REPORTS, IT WILL NOW HANG IN A BAR ON KIRKWOOD AVENUE.

>> BEFORE THE MASSIVE SCOREBOARD THAT LOOMS OVER CENTER COURT THAT SIMON SKJODT WAS HUNG, TWO EASIER VERSIONS WERE HUNG.

IT ENDED UP HANGING IN MELLENCAMP PAVILION.

AND THEN I.U.

AUCTIONED THE SCOREBOARDS OFF.

STEVE ENGLE KNEW HE WANTED ONE.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD MOVE IT OR WHERE I WOULD PUT IT.

I JUST KNEW WE WOULD HAVE THE SCOREBOARD.

>> ENGLE SAID HE PAID A LITTLE MORE THAN $9,000, IT'S 18 FEET LONG AND WEIGHS 800 POUNDS.

THE RECONSTRUCTION AT THE UPSTAIRS PUB, THEY HAD TO RAISE THE HEIGHT BY 6 FEET TO ACCOMMODATE THE SCOREBOARD.

THEY USED THE CRANE TO HOIST THE SCOREBOARD OVER THE WEST BAR.

THE SCOREBOARD IS NOT THE ONLY I.U.

ARTIFACT.

HE'S HAVING THREE SECTIONS INSTALLED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SCOREBOARD.

>> SO YOU WILL HAVE ABOUT 8 FEET OF BASKETBALL FLOOR, IN 18-FOOT SCOREBOARD AND THEN ANOTHER 8 FEET OF OLD I.U.

BASKETBALL FLOOR ON THE WALL BACK BEHIND THE BAR.

>> ENGLE SAYS THE PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO BE FINISHED SOMETIME IN LATE AUGUST.

>> I THINK THAT THIS IS A NEAT I.U.

ARTIFACT THAT BELONGS ON KIRKWOOD.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," WITH VIDEOGRAPHER, MAX VABOLLETTO, I'M PAT BEANE.

>>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM, BUT OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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