Quick Action for Students' Rights at Vassar

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URGENT: HELP VASSAR STUDENTS AND ANIMALS.

SCROLL DOWN FOR ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE IN LESS THAN 2 MINUTES.

Please pass this on if you have a list, newsletters, websites, or even a

couple friends. Try to get it out to at least a few other people please.

Together we will make a change!

 

HISTORY:

For over three years, Vassar students have been working on animal

experimentation issues on campus. In the Fall of 1999 we began a

well organized and precise campaign to guarantee students the choice not

to dissect/vivisect animals in Biology and Psychology classes. We have

increased our pressure over the course of the year, but to no avail.

The Vassar Animal Rescue Coalition has met extensively with the

administration and faculty, provided them with valid alternatives to

animal use, offered to pay for the alternatives, and to train professors

how to use them. Our demand is that the following statement be placed in

the Vassar College Course Catalogue and in all Bio and Psych class

syllabi:

 

" Vassar College will guarantee all students the right to choose non-animal

alternatives in each Biology or Psychology course on campus. Provided that

a student demonstrates genuine moral, ethical, or religious objection to

participation in such courses which use animals or animal products, the

professor and student must work together to provide an alternaitve which

teaches similar content to a traditional laboratory.

Students who choose alternatives will not be academically penalized for

opting to choose a different methodology. Furthermore, Vassar College

will not be held liable in the event that a student later regrets choosing

the non-animal method.

This policy is designed to encourage students to explore the vast body of

knowledge offered at Vassar without compromising personal beliefs.

Students seeking further information should consult the Dean of the

College. "

 

As you can see, it is a very reasonable request; mainly based on issues of

students' rights.

We have collected over 550 student signatures (of 2500 students),

received letters of support from over 50 national and international

groups, including PCRM, ASPCA, PETA, HSUS, and others, and had the

aforementioned Choice Policy endorsed by the student government (Vassar

Student Association). Many of the letters of support have been on behalf

of physicians, veterinarians, and medical professionals, so the school's

claims of training future scientists, doctors, etc through animal use are

simply invalid.

 

To all this pressure the faculty and administration have turned a

defensive and ignorant blind eye.

 

PLEASE TAKE ACTION:

Email or call these people with your own statement or the one provided

below:

 

Dean of Faculty: Norman Fainstein (fainstein) (914-437-5300)

 

Dean of College: Colton Johnson (johnsonc) (914-437-5600)

 

Chair of Biology Department: David Jemiolo (jemiolo)

(914-437-7432)

 

Current Chair of Psychology Department: Janet Gray (grayj)

(914-437-7378)

 

Next Year's Chair of Psychology Department: Jay Bean (bean)

(914-437-7370)

 

Chair of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee: Kathleen Susman

(kasusman) (914-437-7311)

 

Vassar Animal Rescue Coaliton: please send a copy of to us also

(varc)

 

To Whom It May Concern,

 

I am writing to express my outrage over the systematic violation of

students' rights at Vassar College. It is unbelievable that a

self-proclaimed " liberal " institution still requires students to dissect

and vivisect animals in Biology and Psychology classes. Students

are enrolled in college to learn, not to be subject to biased and

offensive methodologies. Students should not be forced to violate their

ethical, moral, or religious beliefs in order to learn material that can

be taught in an alternative manner. There are alternatives available that

are less expensive, more time-efficient, and more humane. Vassar College

should adopt a choice policy for dissection and vivisection now. I look

forward to hearing from you soon.

 

Sincerely,