Jim- When someone says that they are "investigating the appropriateness of developing a policy" and wonders whether "such policies lead elsewhere" and "how such a policy might adversely impact academic freedom" and suggests that analogous issues of bodily intake of corporate products might inform the discussion then I think a little out of the box (or soft pack) maundering(?) is not out of place. Charlie At 01:38 PM 10/8/02 -0700, you wrote: >Tom, we have no written policy, but our research foundation has divested itself >of all tobacco company stocks, and I would take that as precedent for a >strenuous resistance to participation in any project whatsoever sponsored by a >tobacco company. My campus receives public agency funds for smoking cessation >projects in our state. That, too, would seem to set up an ethical barrier to >taking tobacco company funds. > >The hard part of this is the secondary question about the nature of >conglomerates. My personal opinion is that the good folks from Kraft Foods had >very little choice in being gobbled up by Philip Morris when it happened. But >that was then, and this is now. Give me some evidence that the whole >corporation will not profit from our research and then maybe we can join forces, >but until that independence is shown, the answer has to be no. > >Ruth and others, the money that the tobacco companies lost in court is now the >people's money. Yes, it came from the sale of tobacco, but it is penalty money >for doing so. Yes, if you must see it that way, it is a laundry, but it is a >public laundry and specifically designed to remove the incentive for companies >that abuse the public trust. > >Chuck, we all appreciate your good comments here, and we also understand that >the Commonwealth is still a tobacco state and beset with enormous financial >difficulties. The point is that the question was about tobacco, not religion or >any other kind of affiliation or association. Tobacco is a known and serious >health hazard, tobacco companies seem not to care, and suggestions or >implications to the contrary would be more appropriate on the astrology >listserv. > >Finally, I am really surprised at the ethical naivete of most of the respondants >to Tom's question. The question was fairly put, discrete, and amenable to a >straighforward answer. Tom did not ask for your theology or your maundering >estimates of the implications for the law. These are matters of practice and, >in this case, the practice of suborning the activities of tobacco companies. > >Jim Brett > > >"Herbert B. Chermside" wrote: > >> No such policy >> >> My personal opinion only: It is not appropriate for an institution to >> restrict the areas of research NOR the nature of sponsors, beyond >> restrictions externally imposed. I think it proper to forego funding from >> some sponsors who attempt to impose their social agendas through their >> compliance restrictions. >> >> Suppose some sponsors refused to support those who received support from >> Muslims, or Jews, or Christians.... >> >> University MUST take all steps possible to remain objective and impartial. >> >> Chuck >> >> At 12:26 PM 10/8/2002 -0400, you wrote: >> >Good Afternoon, >> > >> >At Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, we are in the very >> >early stages of investigating the appropriateness of developing a policy >> >which would prohibit investigators from obtaining support from tobacco >> >companies or tobacco-related organizations. I'm interested in hearing what >> >other institutions have done or are contemplating. Until recently, none of >> >our investigators have ever expressed an interest in tobacco funding. Now >> >we've become aware that some funding agencies (non-tobacco sponsors) are >> >beginning to restrict applicant eligibility to those institutions that HAVE >> >NOT accepted funding from the tobacco industry. Please note, BGSU does not >> >include a medical school, but we have a number of life science/social >> >behavioral units that conduct research in biomedical areas. >> > >> >I'd be interested in knowing: >> > >> >1. Does your institution have a policy prohibiting the acceptance of >> >tobacco industry funding? If so, can you direct me to a copy? Is there a >> >formal review process/review board? >> > >> >2. If you are a state institution, was the implementation or decision to >> >draft such a policy driven by state initiatives and/or tobacco settlement >> >funds allocated for research (or other funds to higher education)? >> > >> >3. Do such policies fall under your compliance office, office of >> >development, sponsored research office, or elsewhere? >> > >> >4. Companies such as Philip Morris are huge multi-national entities. Does >> >an institutional policy prohibit funding from ALL subsidiaries and brands >> >of such a company--Kraft, Maxwell House, Post, etc.--or just the Philip >> >Morris External Research Program, for example? >> > >> >5. Research in one area can often lead to scientific breakthroughs in >> >others. Was there any discussion about how such a policy might adversely >> >impact academic freedom? If so, how was this issue addressed? >> > >> >6. The tobacco industry would appear to present a fairly clear and direct >> >scenario wherein in the continued use of the product can result in ill >> >health or even death; and there seems to be a perception that research >> >support from such an industry would only support that industry's best >> >interests. From the perspective of your own institutions, do such policies >> >lead elsewhere? For example, while alcohol abuse is not the inevitable >> >result of moderate drinking, binge drinking is a concern across many >> >campuses; yet academic researchers receive funding from sources such as the >> >Alcoholic Beverage Medical Research Foundation, established by the malt >> >beverage industries of the US and Canada. Do any of your institutions have >> >policies governing funding from other industry sectors which could involve >> >thorny moral issues? >> > >> >...any other insights would be most appreciated. >> > >> >Thanks in advance. >> > >> >Tom >> > >> >Tom Kornacki >> >Associate Director >> >Office of Sponsored Programs and Research >> >Bowling Green State University >> >106 University Hall >> >Bowling Green, Ohio 43403 >> >419-372-2481; 419-372-0304 (fax) >> >xxxxxx@bgnet.bgsu.edu >> >http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/spar >> > >> > >> >====================================================================== >> >Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including >> >subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available >> >via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") >> >====================================================================== >> > >> >> Herbert B. Chermside, CRA >> Director, Sponsored Programs Administration >> Virginia Commonwealth University >> PO BOX 980568 >> Richmond, VA 23298-0568 >> Express Delivery Only: >> Sanger Hall, Rm. 1-032A >> 11th & Marshall Streets >> Richmond, VA 23219 >> Voice: 804-828-6772 >> Fax 804-828-2521 >> OFFICE e-mail xxxxxx@VCU.EDU >> Personal e-mail xxxxxx@vcu.edu >> http://views.vcu.edu/ospa/ >> VCU will close its faculty and staff offices, including this one, from >> December 21, 2002 through January 5, 2003. >> >> ====================================================================== >> Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including >> subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available >> via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") >> ====================================================================== > >-- >James R. Brett, Ph.D., Director, >Office of University Research >California State University, Long Beach >562-985-5314 562-985-8665 fax >http://www.csulb.edu/~research/ > > >====================================================================== > Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including > subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available > via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") >====================================================================== > > ====================================================================== Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") ======================================================================
