SFL Campus Coordinator Alex Biles has been working for months to prevent a campus-wide smoking ban at all three University of Michigan campuses, and hard work is finally paying off. It started back in March when SFL Campus Coordinator Alex Biles wrote an op-ed in The Michigan Daily concerning the “Smoke Free Initiative” proposed by University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman:
For the benefit of all students, faculty and staff at the University, your administration must prove its commitment to developing a “culture of health” by going far and above a modest smoking ban. I don’t enjoy seeing people smoking in the Diag anymore than I enjoy seeing obese individuals walking out of the Michigan Union. It’s obvious that competent adults – many of whom pay to attend this school – aren’t responsible enough to make their own decisions. Clearly we need the University to make choices for us through coercion, even when they infringe on our individual rights to engage in a perfectly legal activity.
His use of biting sarcasm and wit got attention, and UM students were right there behind him. Petitions circled the campus garnering over 1000 signatures, yet still no response from Coleman. Soon after, Biles uncovered some interesting information:
Coleman sits on the board of directors for Johnson & Johnson … the producer of a host of nicotine replacement products, including Nicoderm and Nicorette… In other words, under the proposed Smoke-Free Initiative, the University would subsidize products made by Johnson & Johnson. The University would purchase more nicotine replacement products, likely resulting in financial gains for Johnson & Johnson and, consequently, Coleman.
And just yesterday, the New York Times picked up this story of a corrupt university president:
Some Michigan students, said to be libertarian, criticized their “moonlighting” president in April for proposing a campuswide smoking ban. They noted that Johnson & Johnson produces Nicorette and Nicoderm; the gum and patch might be used by students who cannot smoke on campus.
Oh those crazy libertarians and their ability to sniff out corruption!
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