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Research papers: D Hammond, I Tremblay, M Chaiton, E Lessard, C Callard the Tobacco on Campus Workgroup Tobacco on campus: industry marketing and tobacco control policy among post-secondary institutions in Canada Tob Control 2005; 14: 136-140 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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Ethical leadership for a smokefree generation

Stephen L. Hamann   (28 March 2005)

Ethical leadership for a smokefree generation 28 March 2005
Stephen L. Hamann, educator, consultant Thai Health Promotion Foundation Send letter to journal: Re: Ethical leadership for a smokefree generation slhamann{at}hotmail.com Stephen L. Hamann	I believe that colleges and universities must provide ethical leadership in research development, implementation, reporting and funding (not accept tobacco industry research money or researchers that do). They should not support tobacco industry investment or funding for institutions, seminars or fiduciary requirements. Any and all tobacco industry cooperation or collaboration is irresponsible because of the underlying business motives and practices of the industry, past and present. While there is a long way to go, I have advocated the following for educational institutions in the Asia-Pacific region: 1. Advocate and institutionalize a policy barring researchers and research units from accepting funding from the tobacco industry or organizations funded by the tobacco industry. 2. Advocate and institutionalize a tobacco free campus including a universal ban on tobacco product sales and use both indoors and out on the campus or at any event with institution sponsorship or co-sponsorship. 3. Advocate and institutionalize divestment of financial resources from the tobacco industry, including investments for academic foundations, scholarship funds, retirement/pension funds and credit unions. 4. Advocate and institutionalize certificate level training on ethical research including requirements/prohibitions on tobacco industry research. 5. Advocate and institutionalize strong penalties for violation of ethical research standards including conducting tobacco industry research. A March 18th article in the Chronicle of Higher Education in the US pointed out that tobacco companies are promoting smoking to college students and "show no sign of stopping" this practice. Young people deserve better than their institutions of higher learning aiding and abetting tobacco industry promotions, addictions and deaths. It is about time that accountability mean something more than how much money can be made in the short run, at the expense of the wellbeing of the next generation. But are colleges and universities willing to really address the known fraud of the tobacco industry or only pretend they are doing so with opportunistic leadership moves?