Call to boycott tobacco university

Students will campaign on Nottingham's open day

Anti-smoking campaigners have urged students to boycott Nottingham University because it has accepted money from a multi-national tobacco company.

Members of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) made the call as the university prepared to hold its open day on Saturday.

Nottingham has accepted a £3.8m grant from British American Tobacco to set up Britain's first International Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility.

The new centre will study the social and environmental responsibilities of multi-national companies.

Boycott

Amanda Sandford, research manager for ASH, said: "The boycott will show the university that they have been tainted with this money.

"Students will have to weigh up the pros and cons of choosing an institution with these ethics and ask themselves questions about its social responsibility."

The university stands by its decision to take money from BAT.

A spokesman said the university had followed established protocol before making the decision.

And he did not believe prospective students would be put off: "I think students are intelligent enough to make their own minds up and will judge Nottingham on its facilities."

A group of students who support ASH will hand out leaflets at the open day on Saturday.