SASH Press release

Embargo: 00.01hrs, 17 March 2001

Studentspicket Nottingham University as Red Face Day follows Red Nose Day….

Student campaigners will stage a demonstration at NottinghamUniversity's open day today (17 March 2001). With faces painted red, students willforce the university to face their embarrassing decision to accept £3.8m fromthe tobacco firm British American Tobacco for an ‘International Centre for CorporateSocial Responsibility'.[1]

Oxford University student, Patrick Mackerras and Chair of Students forAction on Smoking and Health (SASH), said: “It's just incredible that auniversity should take money for a school of corporate ethics from a tobaccofirm. BAT products kill over 500,000 people per year, the firm is being sued byhundreds of people for compensation and the DTI is investigating the company'srole in tobacco smuggling[2].I couldn't think of a more unsuitable association but sadly the universityappears to be unembarrassed by the link. That's why we'll be providing the redfaces for them.”

Mackerras added: “A tobacco firm funding a school of corporate ethicssounds like a joke, but the damage this donation has caused to the university'sreputation is no laughing matter. Students have a right to know about thisaffair before they make a decision on whether to come to the University.”  

Student campaigners have been waging a battle against the University'scontroversial decision since December, when the University accepted £3.8m fromBAT for an International Centre of Corporate Responsibility. Health campaignershave also been writing to local elected representatives and the university'sgoverning body to protest against the decision. Earlier this week a pressrelease was sent to over 100 student newspapers across the UK urging studentsto boycott the University.    

Karl Brookes, a spokesperson for the health charity ASH, said, “As everyonetakes off their red noses this morning, I can't believe that there aren't anyred faces amongst the university leadership over this decision. You have to askabout the ethical and educational standards of the course when you look at thefirm paying for it. It's not so much dumbing down, but selling out its academicreputation.”

Brookes, added, “The decision has attracted world-wide condemnation[3].The donation has damaged staff and student harmony. University leaders appearunable to do the right thing and return the money and now students will bedemonstrating at an open day. It's hardly going to leave a good impression onthe potential student or any relative visiting the campus.”  

Contacts: Karl Brookes, 020 7739 5902 (work) 0589 504040 (mobile)

Patrick Mackerras, 07989888971 (mobile)

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