Medical school 'smuggles' equity ideology, commitments into honor code

Indiana University School of Medicine appears to require faculty to sign a “politicized honor code” despite warnings such an action may be unconstitutional, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression reported Friday.

“The university can advocate for its values, but it cannot punish faculty who dissent,” FIRE said in its report.

“[Agreeing to IUSM’s honor code]. . .would be deeply chilling for faculty who may dissent from university-sanctioned orthodoxy. . .[faculty] should not have to pass an ideological litmus test to proceed with. . .professional development,” FIRE’s report also said.

FIRE is a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending freedom of speech.

“IU School of Medicine expects all in its community to reflect on these values and ensure that their views, beliefs, actions, and inactions do not, intentionally or unintentionally, perpetuate the problem of health care [sic] inequity,” IUSM’s honor code says, in part.

The honor code is part of the institution’s bias mitigation training, FIRE’s report explains. It is not yet clear if signing the honor code is a requirement.