Smoke signals

A visiting professor at one of China’s top universities has apologized for smoking during his lectures and for encouraging students to take up the habit, which, he said, was “inspirational,” according to a story in the South China Morning Post.
Wang Meng, a media lecturer at the Communication University of China, Beijing, apologized for his behaviour on the microblogging site Weibo.
‘It is wrong to smoke in public places, and it is even worse that I was smoking in a classroom,’ he reportedly wrote. ‘I did not care about students’ feelings and did not consider the possible impact of second-hand smoke on my students.’
Smoking is banned in indoor and certain outdoor public spaces in several major Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Xian.
Wang, who also works at the state broadcaster CCTV, pledged to quit smoking as part of his Weibo statement, which drew many sympathetic comments from his students.
The Communication University of China released an official statement condemning Wang’s actions, adding that he had offered to resign as a part-time professor. ‘The classroom is a sacred place,’ the university wrote on Weibo. ‘Wang’s conduct violates Beijing’s smoking control laws and a teacher’s code of ethics.’