IU grad named president of Ireland

An Indiana University graduate will become the next president of Ireland. IU President Michael McRobbie extended congratulations to Michael D. Higgins, who won election last week. He is to be inaugurated Nov. 11 as the country’s ceremonial head of state. Higgins received a master’s degree in sociology from IU’s Bloomington campus in 1967. He is a veteran left-wing politician, poet and human-rights activist who has been president of Ireland’s Labour Party, a member of the Irish parliament, and mayor of Galway.