INDIANAPOLIS — On Tuesday, November 12, Lieutenant Governor-elect Republican Micah Beckwith took to Facebook and X to attack the Indiana Daily Student (IDS), a student-led publication from Indiana University (IU), and threaten its existence for reporting a story he didn’t like.

Following last week’s election, the IDS published an image of Trump on its cover accompanied by quotes from his former supporters and those who have worked for him. Beckwith slammed the illustration, saying “This is WOKE propaganda at its finest and why most of America looks at higher education indoctrination centers like IU as a complete joke and waste of money.” 

According to U.S. News and World Report, IU ranks #34 in top public schools in the nation and #73 in national universities. As a longtime, respected institution, the school has graduated over 790,000 individuals. 

Beckwith also falsely claimed that the IDS was run using taxpayer dollars. In fact, the paper is editorially independent from the university and is funded via advertisements and the events it holds. Beckwith concluded his tirade against the publication by stating, “This type of elitist leftist propaganda needs to stop or we will be happy to stop it for them.”

“I am proud to see that students at Indiana’s centers for higher education are unafraid to continue practicing their freedom of speech, as they have every right to do,” said Indiana Democratic Chair Mike Schmuhl. 

“Now that he is an elected leader, Beckwith’s attempts at intimidation have no place in Indiana. Journalists — including student journalists — should have the ability to publish what they see fit without concern that state officials will attack them and spread disinformation. Beckwith’s threats are inappropriate and should be a major point of concern for Hoosiers as we enter the Braun-Beckwith administration.”