[Intl-tobacco] UK: Nottingham University dons furious over tobacco cash

[Robert Weissman]

Nottingham University dons furious over tobacco cash
by Kevin Maguire
Source: The Guardian, Wednesday, 12/6/00

Nottingham University last night faced an internal revolt over the
decision to accept £3.8m from British American Tobacco to open a school of
business ethics.

Staff in the medical school, including academics involved in cancer
research, oppose the acceptance of cash from a multinational accused of
exploiting smuggling.

John Britton, a consultant chest physician and professor of epidemiology
at Nottingham, said: "I think this is an error. If BAT had any social
responsibility in their corporate body, they would stop making and selling
cigarettes."

Professor Britton, who is also chairman of the Royal College of
Physicians' tobacco advisory group, added: "It seems something of a
contradiction for what is widely perceived to be a not terribly socially
responsible organisation to be funding a centre for corporate social
responsibility."

University authorities are understood to have decided the creation of the
international centre for corporate social responsibility outweighed what
they hope will be a short-term "PR hit".

An academic who declined to be named, however, predicted the relationship
with BAT could undermine the university's reputation. "We have sold our
good name for £3.8m. The business school gets a new centre, BAT gets a
veneer of respectability and we could all end up paying for this."

Nottingham's students were said to be split. Union president Alain de
Sales said some thought it would improve the university's prestige while
others feared it would undermine the institution's reputation.

Nottingham showed no sign of backing down and talks were continuing with
BAT over whether the posts should carry BAT's name to acknowledge the
financial support.