University took $200,000 from tobacco firm

Britain’s Durham University is under fire for taking nearly $200,000 from British American Tobacco, a cigarette manufacturer, reports the BBC. The donation, which the school says was made “under careful consideration” will help fund five spots for women from Afghanistan who will undertake postgraduate studies in England. Martin Dockrell, director of policy and research with Action on Smoking and Health, a British anti-smoking group, told the BBC that the school should not have accepted the cash. He accused the company of trying to make smoking look more sophisticated to Asian women. BAT denied that claim, saying that “corporate social investment is an end in itself.”