Establish
Alternative for Rats
To
the Editors:
I
wanted to urge people who are in neuroscience, biology, or any class
which does experiments, such as the vivisection rat-lab that is
taking place Wednesday November 20, to re-evaluate their participation
and the college’s participation in such experiments. I participated
in dissections when I was younger, but have come to realize that
this was not the course I should have taken. It seems to me that
we should reconsider doing labs which seem somewhat redundant (they
have been done so many times before) and which we can learn about
in other ways that do not harm living animals.
We should also urge the departments to establish alternative, models
or videos or simulations. It would be another good beginning to
urge the departments to really take care of any animals it feels
it must still experiment on. This would mean giving them as much
personal attention as possible, as much space as possible, etc.
Finally, we should all consider carefully such choices and what
the animals are giving up for our experimentation and, if we, having
been informed of alternatives, their success, and the usefulness
of the lab, decide to do such labs, treat them and think of them
with respect. I think that trying to have respect, listening, and
thankfulness — though these are difficult to always have —
for each other, all as “beings” would be something special
— the word escapes me, perhaps a wonder.
–Kathryn
Hessler
College sophomore
|