Statement from Board of Regents President Sherry Bates on Investigation of University Employees

Today, the Board of Regents instructed the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa to conduct investigations of all alleged violations of Board policy 4.2, including social media. These investigations will be completed within two weeks, and the presidents of each university may take immediate action, up to and including termination, upon the conclusion of those investigations.

Posts like the ones we saw last week are offensive, inappropriate, and above all, unacceptable. We expect more from those who work at our institutions.

Freedom of speech is a bedrock principle of American society, particularly on university campuses. Violence is never the answer to solving problems, no matter how much people disagree, and supporting a violent act is as bad as the act itself.