<p>This is one of those “compromising” situations that every school in the land has eventually. Some more obvious than others. WFU would still be in WakeForest were it not for those tobacco kings and queens. So while we all know the deal about smoking and its down sides, this is one that WFU simply must compromise on and seriously soft peddle. There are still hundreds of tobacco-born millionaires there in W-S who are sorely loved and sought by the WFU president and his development officers. They can not and will not likely takie too tough a stand on the hand that’s fed them, clothed them, housed them, and put them on the nation’s higher ed map. Same with U. of Richmond. Or Furman and its Pepsi and Lay’s chips. Emory and its Coca-Cola. Penn State and whichever caffeine laden product is currently on the Bryce Jordan Center Scoreboard because they bought and paid for it and the right to addict Nittany Lions. Or how about the milllions given by the Waltons and their heirs from all the $$ made on the backs of their elderly and illegal band of employees. </p>
<p>This is life … even, maybe especially, in the lofty air of the ivory/ivy tower. They have their “ideals” but don’t allow them to get in the way of growing the endowment, even with tainted $$$.</p>
<p>Anyone who loves WFU can be mighty thankful that a whole lot more love(d) Winstons and Salems. Can’t have it both ways.</p>