MUNCIE, Ind. - The Cardinal Independent has obtained university records through Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (APRA) regarding the firing of Ball State University official Suzanne Swierc.
Swierc worked as the Director of Health Promotion and Advocacy, where she was later fired over a leaked, friends-only response regarding conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Swierc's firing has been condemned by the Muncie Resists and the Ball State University chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP).
Now, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Indiana, Swierc is suing University President Geoffrey Mearns in his official and individual capacities.
The CI filed its APRA request on September 22 at 2:00 p.m, specifically inquiring for all relevant records regarding Swierc's firing.
The APRA request sought to find Swierc's contract of employment with the university, all administrative and board communications regarding Swierc from September 10, 2025 to present, a rough estimate of complaints regarding Swierc's post and a rough estimate of complaints regarding the university's firing of Swierc.
The university has sent The CI its final response yesterday, October 13.
The university provided a two-page "Position Description" outlining Swierc's role, not her employment contract, to The CI. The description outlined information and qualifications for the position.
The university also provided a page with five sentences, outlining Swierc's employment was at-will, her base salary, her time employed with Ball State, her Ball State title, office, and phone number, her public health degree, and her previous employment outside Ball State.
The description did not include a policy or clause regarding personal conduct. The CI did not receive the employment contract that was requested.
The CI did not receive any administrative or board communications regarding Swierc.
The university also provided The CI a copy of the statements issued on its Facebook page.
While the university stated "a request for a rough estimate of complaints is not a request for a record, and the request for 'complaints' is vague and ambiguous and fails to identify with reasonable particularity the record or records being requested," it was disclosed that "[t]he preliminary estimate of inquiries, comments, and other communications to the University regarding the post is in the hundreds," and that Ball State "does not yet have a preliminary estimate for the number of calls and emails regarding the decision."
The university also stated that it "is still reviewing information and continues to receive inquiries, comments, and other communications."
The CI launched a dedicated email for Ball State students and staff concerned about expressing themselves: bsuexpressionconcerns@cimuncie.org.