Tobacco whistleblower to speak as part of Ethics Center series
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—The former tobacco company researcher who went public with accusations that his company intentionally manipulated the blend of its products to make them more addictive will speak next month at Western Michigan University
Dr. Jeffrey Wigand will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, in Fetzer Center's Kirsch Auditorium. His presentation, free and open to the public, is titled "Inside the Tobacco Industry."
Five days earlier, the film "The Insider" will be screened at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 2, in 1028 Brown Hall. Starring Russell Crowe as Wigand and co-starring Al Pacino, "The Insider" retells the chain of events that pitted an ordinary man against the tobacco industry and dragged two people into the fight of their lives after Wigand's admission on the CBS news program 60 Minutes that Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. intentionally increased the amount of nicotine in its cigarettes.
Jeffrey Wigand
After serving as a the former chief scientist at Brown & Williamson, Wigand went public with what he knew about the tobacco industry to the FDA, the Department of Justice and to the American public through "60 Minutes." After being sued by his former company, Wigand formed the foundation Smoke-Free Kids.
Today Wigand conducts interactive educational seminars through Smoke-Free Kids on all student levels; in elementary, middle or high schools, as well as colleges and postgraduate institutions of law, medicine, business management and education. In addition to educational seminars, Smoke-Free Kids provides scientific and technical input to governmental organizations developing policy or regulating tobacco products and creating smoke-free environments.
About the series
Wigand's presentation is part of the spring 2015 Center for the Study of Ethics in Society Lecture Series and is co-sponsored by the Lee Honors College, Bronson School of Nursing, University Center for the Humanities, School of Communication and the Haworth College of Business.
For more information, contact Dr. Sandra Borden at sandra.borden@wmich.edu or visit wmich.edu/ethics.
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