Jump to full article: ASH London (uk), 2001-05-17
Intro: ASH applauded the decision of Richard Smith – editor of the British Medical Journal - to resign from his post as professor of medical journalism at Nottingham University in protest at the University’s decision to accept £3.8 million sponsorship from British American Tobacco.. .
The condemnation of BAT and the university is unambiguous and richly deserved, and backed up by testimony of BMJ readers. But ASH believes that though there are arguments both ways on resignation, the readers were right to support his resignation. ASH Director Clive Bates said:
“We think he has done the right thing by pulling out. The University establishment is not interested in the arguments or in defending its decision, and they made a feeble case for taking BAT’s money. The Vice-Chancellor simply repeats that it’s all a difference of opinion.” . .
“You couldn’t really make it up” said Bates, “BAT is one of the most irresponsible and anti-social companies in the world. A university that is prepared to let them fund a centre in corporate social responsibility must be so blinded by greed that they are unable to recognise the absurdity and emptiness of their arguments.
“Obviously it is hard to regard Nottingham as a seat of learning or centre of academic excellence when the people in running the place are aggressively impervious to the facts, analysis and argument that destroy the credibility of the decision to take money from BAT.”
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