University of Michigan students call on President Mary Sue Coleman to quit Johnson & Johnson board

[marmar]

from the Detroit Free Press:



A student group at the University of Michigan is calling on President Mary Sue Coleman to resign from her seat on the Johnson & Johnson board of directors, saying it's a conflict of interest.

But Coleman has no plans to resign, and university officials say her role on the board is not in conflict with university operations. Last year, she earned nearly $230,000 for her board duties. Coleman's U-M salary is about $550,000.

"It's essential that U-M have a voice and interact with the business world," said Rick Fitzgerald, a U-M spokesman. "She thinks it's her duty to understand what the commercial world is doing."

The U-M medical school recently adopted a policy that it would no longer accept funding from drug companies for its continuing medical education program. The policy is designed to address concerns that doctors who take courses there might be influenced to prescribe drugs from companies that fund their classes.

Fitzgerald said Coleman supports the policy. But that has some people questioning whether Coleman's role on the board is a conflict since the company manufactures health and and pharmaceutical products. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.freep.com/article/20100715/NEWS05/7150385/1322/Students-to-U-Ms-Coleman-Quit-firms-board

[Canuckistanian]

1. She can understand the 'commercial world' without being paid for it

There's nothing that prevents her from holding meetings with J&J officers. But taking money from them implies that she's working or will work on their behalf.

And any decent company would realize that and wait until she resigns from the university position.

Besides, the university is paying her a great deal of money. They should expect that 100% of her efforts should be benefiting the university itself.

I'm sure she wasn't hired on a "part-time basis".

[davidinalameda]

2. maybe they'll fire Rich Rod while they're at it

:shrug: