VCU, Philip Morris deal strange but ‘usual?’

The New York Times painted a shameful picture of VCU May 2008 by printing a controversial story about the university accepting research grants from Richmond-based tobacco company Philip Morris.

The New York Times stated that “a contract with extremely restrictive terms” was signed with Philip Morris. The story was located in the “U.S.” section of the newspaper and was not necessarily eye-catching. However, to those affi liated with VCU, this was big news-especially as this was the only time many of my peers had heard of VCU accepting funding from a tobacco company.

To be honest, the first I heard of the article was when I received President Eugene P. Trani’s e-mail as he attempted to nullify the situation May 9-the morning after the article ran in The New York Times. Obviously, I did not understand fully the e-mail, which stated The New York Times printed “information taken out of context.” However, even after doing my research, I still am very confused.

Trani’s e-mail also stated “the article revolved around a research-services agreement, but applied the standards of investigator-initiated research.” The typical college student, who has no background in business transaction, could not understand this statement clearly, without knowing something about the issue at hand.

The National Cancer Institute Web site defines “investigator-initiated research” as “research independently conceived and developed by scientists.” The research is developed by Philip Morris and not by individual VCU scientists. This creates a shakier issue, as it makes Trani’s e-mail sound like VCU is doing favors for Philip Morris tobacco research in exchange for money.

Theoretically, I do not see the issue with accepting the funding from Philip Morris. However, the problem I do have is VCU kept the funding from a tobacco company a secret, as if there was something to hide. The e-mail released May 9 seemed like a giant press release, instead of providing the real explanation for why that article ran in The New York Times.

Additionally, the way Trani is not allowed to speak about the funding, because of confidentiality reasons – without first appealing to Philip Morris – is more than a little alarming.

As a public institution, VCU receives most of its money from the Commonwealth of Virginia. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Philip Morris gave VCU $286,000 in funding this year. The RT-D article, which was included in the e-mail students and faculty received with Trani’s response, stated that the funding VCU received was only about 0.1 percent. However, any amount of money given to VCU is significant.

It is general knowledge that smoking is a bad habit that ultimately will lead to death. That fact is emphasized heavily here at VCU. According to the VCU Student Health Web site, “7 out of 10 students do not smoke”-meaning, 30 percent do smoke.

As well as publicizing students’ indifference to “cancer sticks,” VCU Student Health urges anyone who smokes to try and quit. Not to mention, if you go into a bathroom in almost any building on the Monroe Park Campus, there will be anti-smoking signs and other health articles all over the back of the stall door.

Trani claims the titles of president and chair of the VCU Health System. So-it strikes me as hilarious that, for a school doing massive PR to keep students away from dreaded cigarettes, Trani is so cavalier about the situation; he plainly stated that “research service agreements are not that unusual in higher education.” Well, that’s true, but accepting funds from a tobacco conglomerate and having to keep silent about it – unless permission is granted from that company – is very strange, to say the least.

Even though the original article appeared about three months ago, this is still a relevant issue; VCU students deserve to know where school funding comes from and where our money goes. I am grateful I go to a school that does have the money to afford such great resources, but this is a situation where the line between acceptable funding and inappropriate funding is more than a little blurry.

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