Hunter
08/20/26
An investigation by KCRG TV shows that the Iowa Board of Regents tried to suppress a report on the University of Iowa’s Center for Intellectual Freedom.
The report, produced by the Common Sense Institute, determined that the Center, created by Republican lawmakers to push back against what they called liberal indoctrination on Iowa college campuses wouldn’t survive unless students were mandated to take its classes.
Soon after the report was finalized, Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill requiring students to take classes at the center in order to graduate. That law goes into effect in July 2028.
TV9’s investigation determined that when the report was ready to be released, the Board of Regents attempted to delay its release until after the end of the state legislative session. More than a week before the report was released, interim director Luciano de Castro wrote to a Board of Regents member confirming the board’s request to suppress the findings. He said the Common Sense Institute agreed to postpone the release by a week.
Ben Murray of the Common Sense Institute told KCRG back in April that demand for classes offered by the Center was nearly nonexistent, and for it to survive demand would have to be created.
DeCastro said in a separate letter to a Regent that the U of I objected to the market assessment demand report, and communicated the objection to Regents Executive Director Mark Braun, who then twice tried to block its release. He said the University had no standing to interfere, but nearly were successful in suppressing the report.
Regents spokesperson Josh Lehman told TV9 the board simply wanted more time to review the report’s findings before publication.
The Center for Intellectual Freedom has paused courses this fall as it continues its search for a permanent director.