Academic Freedom: Wrap-up

By Doug Bremner On July 17, 2009 · 6 Comments

Those who have been following this blog know that last month I was told to remove the name of my university from this blog and then a few days ago my university backtracked and said I could use the name (not the letterhead, which I never disputed). The incident attracted the attention of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) who wrote a followup article on it here after the reversal of the decision as well as abel pharmboy on scienceblogs. There was also a humorous post by Margaret Soltan on University Diaries, who follows university politics, here, where she wrote a limerick (she is an English professor I think, so that makes sense). My friends perform it below. That’s Billy Tauzin in the middle, head of PhRMA, with of course the always lovable lolcat:

6 Responses to Academic Freedom: Wrap-up

Dan says:

July 17, 2009 at 6:44 am

Soon after the medicare prescription drug benefit legislation passed, Billy Tauzin, who was chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees the pharmaceutical industry, left congress to be head of PhRMA. Talk about a suprise…….
margaret soltan says:

July 17, 2009 at 7:17 am

Thanks, Doug, for illustrating my limerick!
Amy Philo says:

July 17, 2009 at 12:06 pm

Um, there’s something very wrong with the location of the lolcat. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmhahahaha
Crawford Harris says:

July 17, 2009 at 12:30 pm

Billy Tauzin received a $2 million salary when he took the job. It’s likely more than that now.

He negotiated a deal with the White House. al-PhARMA “gives up $80 billion over 10 years.” Most of that is letting seniors buy drugs for half price while in the do-nut hole, but not generics.

In return, he got Obama to break his campaign promise. Medicare continues to be barred from being able to negotiate prices.
Doug Bremner says:

July 17, 2009 at 1:07 pm

I hadn’t noticed that about the lolcat! I didn’t know he was a boy! I guess “drug news” will have to come out and declare themselves in favor of same sex marriage! I wonder if David will settle down! Lol!
Evelyn Pringle says:

July 19, 2009 at 7:23 am

I find it interesting that a guy who writes a book titled, “Before You Take That Pill,” highly informative to the public, would not be permitted to reveal his status at Emory University on his website, when a google search of the names, Zachery Stowe and Charles Nemeroff, shows them using their employment status at Emory University, presumably to boost their credibility, on websites all over the internet.

Perhaps, Dr Bremner should start accepting under the table money from drug companies, or better yet, have Emory University funnel tax dollars to him while he conducts nothing put positive studies for drug companies on the Emory time clock.