Ind. Private College Presidents Add Pressure On Lawmakers To Pass Hate Crime Law

Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at 10:15 AM

By Mike Perleberg @mikedup84

A hate crime law would allow Indiana judges to order harsher punishments for criminals who target victims because of their race, religion, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation.

Indiana Statehouse

(Hanover, Ind.) - The president of Hanover College is joining counterparts from 21 other Indiana private colleges and universities urging Indiana lawmakers to pass a hate crimes law.

Hanover College president Dr. Lake Lambert put his signature on the letter to the Indiana General Assembly. The letter also includes signatures from presidents of the University of Notre Dame, DePauw University, Franklin College, University of Indianapolis, Valparaiso University, Wabash College, and others.

Today, I join the presidents of 21 other private colleges in Indiana to call on the General Assembly to enact a hate crime law for our state: https://t.co/ZB2x1KBq0q

The letter can be accessed here: https://t.co/YDHRnKYxJN
— Dr. Lake Lambert (@hanover_pres) August 21, 2018

The college presidents say they want Indiana to be one of 46 states with hate crimes legislation, not one of five states without it.

“Indiana is home to some of the nation’s most respected colleges and universities and is a state with wonderful assets and a welcoming spirit. This is a powerful opportunity to make certain that our students and citizens are afforded the same protections they are in all but five other states,” the letter reads.

A hate crimes law could allow judges to hand down longer sentences for criminals who target victims because of their race, religion, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation.

The letter comes three weeks after Governor Eric Holcomb issued a statement asking lawmakers to pass a hate crimes law during the 2019 legislative session.

Holcomb’s call followed the vandalism of a Jewish synagogue in Carmel, Indiana on July 28. Cloverdale, Indiana resident Nolan Brewer, 20, and a 17-year-old girl are facing charges in federal court for spray painting Nazi symbols and starting a fire at Congregation Shaarey Tefilla.