The University of Idaho warned employees Friday that they must remain neutral when discussing abortion in the classroom or risk prosecution under a state law — including a felony conviction or loss of employment.
The guidance from the public institution’s lawyers, emailed to employees Friday, angered some faculty and civil liberties supporters while stirring debate about whether the university has appropriately defended academic freedom.
It also follows the national trend of state policymakers, almost all conservative, stepping into higher education matters historically left to institutions — such as tenure and curricula choices.
Last year, Idaho lawmakers passed what’s known as the No Public Funds for Abortion Act, sweeping legislation that banned state money from being channeled to most abortion providers.
The measure, opposed by the state’s branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, also forbade public employees from promoting abortion. It blocked public institutions from using tuition and fee dollars to pay for abortions or counseling in favor of it. And it banned school-based health clinics from performing abortions, referring a student for an abortion, or providing drugs classified as emergency contraception, except in rape cases.
An unsigned email from the University of Idaho’s Office of the General Counsel told employees Friday that in an “evolving legal landscape, how these laws will be enforced remains unclear.”
However, it said classroom debate on abortion...
homevideos BREAKING: Iran Denies Involvement in Fly Dubai Incident, Calls Claims a 'False Flag Operation' | Iran has strongly distanced itself from the Flydubai Flight 1073 incident, officially lab...