You’re listening to the WFHB Local News for Monday, December 22nd, 2025.

In today’s newscast, we look back at our reporting this year on press censorship of the Indiana Daily Student. We revisit several interviews with IDS leadership, students at the media school and an interview with FIRE – the group that ranked IU the worst public college in the nation for free speech.

You’ll also hear Kristen Lucas from the Crimson Cupboard campus food pantries. She’s looking for pantry volunteers and food donations, especially fresh produce. Find out how you can feed students in need later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

Featured Segments:

In early October, Indiana University terminated Student Media Director Jim Rodenbush after he refused to censor the Indiana Daily Student. Hours later, the university ordered the IDS to cease printing of the paper indefinitely. In today’s feature report, we look back at our conversation with Mia Hilkowitz, co-editor-in-chief for the IDS, about what this means for freedom of the press at the university.

One freedom of speech organization in particular, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, condemned the actions of the university and wrote a letter to IU President Pamela Whitten urging her to reverse course. Up next – we listen back to an interview WFHB Correspondent Catherine Terwilliger conducted with Dominic Coletti, student press program officer for FIRE, about what this decision means for freedom of speech at IU.

Later that month, Indiana University reversed course on the decision to cancel the print edition of the Indiana Daily Student. This followed backlash from faculty members, students, free speech groups and the national media. The print edition since the cancellation hit newsstands on November 20th. In today’s feature report, WFHB News Correspondents Camdyn Glover and Zoe Moczek speak with Mia Hilkowitz, co-editor-in-chief of the IDS, about the future of press freedom at IU.

Food insecurity can be a problem for anyone, including college students. On the Indiana University Bloomington campus there are two food pantries known as Crimson Cupboard – one at Campus View Apartments and another in the basement of the Indiana Memorial Union. Both are part of the Student Care and Resource Center, where Kristen Lucas is Associate Director of Basic Needs. Kristen grew up in a blue-collar family where access to food was never taken for granted, and she actually ran a food pantry before coming to IU. Kristen needs volunteers to run Crimson Cupboard, and she’s always looking for food donations, especially fresh produce. Find out how you can feed students in need on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.

Credits:

Today’s feature was produced by Kade Young, Camdyn Glover, Zoe Moczek and Catherine Terwilliger.