Iowa lawmakers move to mandate students take Center for Intellectual Freedom classes amid low enrollment

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Brandt Brickell
‪@brickb.bsky.social‬

So the same people who have shouted and cried about colleges indoctrinating students for the past decade are now going to pass a law that requires students to take right wing indoctrination courses.

‪Kevin M. Kruse‬
‪@kevinmkruse.bsky.social‬
· 2h

The ABC affiliate in Cedar Rapids can write a headline better than the New York Times

Iowa lawmakers move to mandate students take Center for Intellectual Freedom classes amid low enrollment
A last minute Republican legislative push could force University of Iowa college students to take classes at the newly-created Center for Intellectual Freedom. It's exactly what a report highlighted w...
www.kcrg.com
9:20 AM · May 21, 2026

So the same people who have shouted and cried about colleges indoctrinating students for the past decade are now going to pass a law that requires students to take right wing indoctrination courses.

— Brandt Brickell (@brickb.bsky.social) 2026-05-21T13:20:14.904Z

Kevin M. Kruse
‪@kevinmkruse.bsky.social‬

The ABC affiliate in Cedar Rapids can write a headline better than the New York Times

Iowa lawmakers move to mandate students take Center for Intellectual Freedom classes amid low enrollment
A last minute Republican legislative push could force University of Iowa college students to take classes at the newly-created Center for Intellectual Freedom. It's exactly what a report highlighted w...
www.kcrg.com
9:14 AM · May 21, 2026

The ABC affiliate in Cedar Rapids can write a headline better than the New York Times

— Kevin M. Kruse (@kevinmkruse.bsky.social) 2026-05-21T13:14:27.661Z

Iowa lawmakers move to mandate students take Center for Intellectual Freedom classes amid low enrollment

It comes after a report found the center must require courses to boost student participation

A last minute Republican legislative push could force University of Iowa college students to take classes at the newly-created Center for Intellectual Freedom.

By Grace Vance
Published: May 20, 2026 at 6:23 PM EDT | Updated: 17 hours ago

IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) - University of Iowa students could soon be required to take classes at the Center for Intellectual Freedom — or they won’t be able to graduate. ... Republican lawmakers added a provision to a massive budget bill during a 35-hour legislative session requiring University of Iowa students to complete at least six credit hours from the center to earn an undergraduate degree. The bill now heads to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ desk. ... Democrats are urging Reynolds to line-item veto the provision.

Why was the center created?
Iowa Republicans created the Center for Intellectual Freedom to counter what they described as liberal indoctrination on college campuses. ... Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks even suggested naming it after Charlie Kirk, the assassinated conservative leader. ... The center opened this spring. The Iowa Board of Regents has allocated $1 million in funding to start the center.

Low enrollment
The nonprofit Common Sense Institute reported student interest and enrollment was low — with just eight students in one class. ... The report said enrollment is unlikely to grow unless the state mandated students take the classes, which is exactly what Republican lawmakers passed.

{snip}

[VMA131Marine]

1. Oh, the irony

Taking away students freedom to force them to attend a class on “intellectual freedom.”

Students should sign up and then not attend en masse and just take the F. It will be a small hit on GPA but it would be worth it on principle.

[Biophilic]

2. Seems exactly what a fascist regime would do.

Indoctrination is a must.

[LakeVermilion]

3. My granddaughter is a junior

at the University of Iowa. She would be a handful for the instructors with her outspoken liberal views.

Beware of unintended consequences.