University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School: Policy Bars Faculty From Providing Information on Capital Punishment

In July 2021, administrators at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School issued a statement apologizing for “failing to actively oppose the current state of US capital punishment” and announcing that teaching faculty would be required to “acknowledge and abide by” the administration’s “position” on capital punishment moving forward. The policy required faculty to avoid any “activity,” including “even lawful activities,” that “could . . . contribute to the ability of another” to carry out an execution, including providing “information” to government officials. FIRE wrote to the university’s administration on September 9, explaining that the First Amendment does not permit administrators to limit publications and speech as a means to frustrate actions they view as immoral.