Defend Academic Integrity at UC
The University of California is now falling behind other esteemed universities that are protecting their campus and the integrity of their research from manipulation by the tobacco industry. Join us in asking the UC Board of Regents to adopt a policy to neither solicit nor accept any new funding from the tobacco industry whether in the form of grants, contracts, or gifts. By adopting such a policy, the Regents will be taking a stand for the academic integrity of UC.
To: Regents of the University of California
We, the undersigned UC students, staff, faculty, alumni and community members, urge you to complement your existing policy of not investing in the tobacco industry by adopting a similar policy to not accept or solicit any new funding from the tobacco industry, whether in the form of grants, contracts, fellowships, or gifts.
The tobacco industry has a 50-year history of using its funding of academic research to interfere with the University’s fundamental mission of discovering and disseminating knowledge. It has done so by implementing a sophisticated strategy to manipulate the scientific process in a way that has slowed the development of knowledge and promoted public confusion about the effects of smoking and secondhand smoke. The University of California enjoys a prestigious reputation for academic excellence and important, cutting-edge research. This hard-earned reputation is under assault from tobacco companies.
- A recent article in the journal, Pediatrics, exposes how Philip Morris, a division of Altria Group Inc., successfully encouraged an author to change his conclusion in a 2001 scientific review of the risk of secondhand smoke;
- A UCSF study found that tobacco companies shifted their funding from “secondhand smoke” to “other indoor air contaminants” research when the industry found that secondhand smoke research did not support their position.
By funding UC research, the tobacco industry can claim it is a benevolent “partner” of the University of California, acting responsibly and in good faith. In return for this “partnership” the tobacco industry generates positive public opinion aiding in its mission to sway future jury pools. This strong association with one of America’s most prestigious universities will lead directly to increased tobacco sales and profits, which are reinvested to recruit more children and young adults -- increasingly in developing countries -- to become addicted to a product that kills one half of its long-term customers. The association between tobacco companies and academia erodes public trust in the University.
Please adopt a policy and reject all tobacco industry funding for the University of California. Such a policy would, in no way, prevent faculty and students from advocating pro-tobacco positions or speakers appearing on campus to advocate such a position. By adopting a no-tobacco-money policy, the Regents will make it clear that these positions are being presented for intellectual, not financial, reasons.
Please adopt a policy and reject all tobacco industry funding for the University of California. Such a policy would, in no way, prevent faculty and students from advocating pro-tobacco positions or speakers appearing on campus to advocate such a position. By adopting a no-tobacco-money policy, the Regents will make it clear that these positions are being presented for intellectual, not financial, reasons.
See more petitions:
You have JavaScript disabled. Without it, our site might not function properly.
By signing, you accept Care2's Terms of Service.
You can unsub at any time here.
Having problems signing this? Let us know.