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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 5, 1985)
Editorial New animal rules should end protest “Torture,” and “slaughter” are among the battle cries of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. “Necessary" and "understanding” are the weapons of the University’s researchers who use animals in experiments. The current battle between animal rights activists and University researchers began last spring when PETA pro tested outside University research laboratories. The campus has since seen another PETA protest and a volley of accusa tions and denials on the editorial oases of the Emerald. But in light of new rules regarding animal research, PETA has little reason to continue the controversy. Regula tions for animal research at the University were im plemented Friday by the University’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, and they appear to strike the delicate balance between humane treatment ot animals and continuation of animal experimentation. PETA members insist they will oe satisned with nothing less than a total ban on animal research. But this is an unrealistic, narrow-minded demand. It undermines PETA’s credibility as a group. Animal research will and should continue. It has con tributed tremendously to the understanding of the human body and has led to successful treatment of several devastating diseases. Without it, humans would still be helpless against polio, diabetes, even bubonic plague. Vir tually every vaccine and antibiotic is based on animal research. Veterinary science and treatments such as rabies and distemper vaccinations for pets and other animals are based on animal research. In addition, a promising new cancer treatment reported Wednesday is based on experimentation with animals. PETA can be credited with expanding public awareness of animal research abuses. The practice as a whole has suf fered from needless repetition of experiments, unnecessary experiments, experiments that could have been conducted without animals and inhumane use of animals. The rules take both sides into account. Researchers will be able to continue animal research, and if though animal research will not end, animal rights activists can at least be confident the animals will be used as humanely as possible and only when necessarv. Under the guidelines, the health, comfort and well being of the animals are the top priorities. Cost and conve nience to the researcher are secondary in all cases Resear chers are to use animals only when no other method is feasi ble, and they are to use the fewest animals possible. Needless repetition of experiments is prohibited The committee also set up a system to mandate adherence to the rules. To receive funds, a researcher must complete a detailed form explaining why the research is necessary and why animals are specifically needed. The reports are ultimately accepted or rejected by Greg Stickrod. University director of animal laboratory services, or Richard Marrocco, the committee chairman. The commit tee also can be asked to convene to review applications. In addition, animal research may be conducted only in approved areas of campus, all of which are inspected once a month by a veterinarian and routinely by Stickrod to ensure the animals are being treated according to approved specifications. Failure to treat animals according to approv ed specifications is grounds for immediate suspension of the project. Researchers assert they have always been dedicated to humane treatment of animals. But the rules should increase awareness of exactly what humane treatment entails and should ensure research at the University is free of abuse. ATHENS INTERNATIONAL I -^TTTT f H0, YOU CANT BOARD THIS FLIGHT LIKE THAT!! UKETHATH OTJDElNNOfBtoWNQ. ^JOUfiElNNQN Lettei’S Nuke letters Do you know what I’m sick of? I'm sick of letters to the editor. Each day I glance at the letters, trying to find a letter with something new and infor mative to say. But No! The majority of these letters are responses to letters written God knows how long ago; usually regarding the judgmen tal topic of sex. Don't you peo ple have anything better to do with your time? I know the valuable Emerald space could be used for a more educational purpose. I vote to NUKE THE LETTERS TO THE EMERALD Dean Sidwell Pre-major PPPM Little help While commending the state Health Division's school policy on AIDS (ODE. Nov. 27). the Emerald editorial staff ac complished precisely what the Health Division was trying to avoid. Policy decisions were based upon current factual knowledge and are being im plemented to avoid unnecessary public panic. According to what is presently known, there is no reason to deny public school access to most healthy Oregon Daily Emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co., at the University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 97403. The Emerald operates independently of the University with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and Is a member of the Associated Press The Emerald is private property The unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable by law. General Staff Advertising Sales David Wood - Sales Manager, John Boiler, Michael Gray. Robin Joannides, Carlos Lamadrld, Marcia Leonard, Shawn Leuthold, Julie Lewis, Catherine Lilja, Anne-Marie Vranizan, Laura Willoughby Production: Vince Adams, Kelly Alexandre, Shu-Shlng Chen, Ellen Cross, Monica Dwyer, Stormi Dykes. Manuel Flores, Steve Gibbons, Rob Hare, Jim Marks, Ross Mar tin, Mary May, Mary McGonigal, Rob Miles, Angie Muniz, Kara Oberst, Charia Parker, Ken Parrott, Jennifer Peter son, Geoff Rainville, Michele Ross, Alyson Simmons, Peg Solonika, Gregory Tipps, Colleen Tremaine, Steven Waif Advertising Director Susan Thelen Russell Steele Vince Adams Jean Ownbey Editor Managing Editor News Editor Editorial Page Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Friday Edition Editor Sidelines Editor Night Editor Associate Editors Higher Education Community General Assignment Administration Student Government Student Activities Julie Shipper) Diane Elliott Jolayne Houtz Michelle Brence Robert Collies Karen Stallwood Sheila Landry Allan Lazo Jolayne Houtz Gary Jimenez Scott McFetrldge Linda Hahn Kirsten Bolin Mary Llchtenwalner Julie Freeman Rtporltri Sean Axmaker, Dan Coran, Ron Gullberg, Deborah Janes, Kim Kaady, Andrew Lamar, Capi Lynn, Chuck Thompson. Photographers Kamila Al Najjar, Shu Shlna Chen. Steve Gibbons, Rob Hare, Derrel Hewitt, Jim Mams, Ross Mar tin, Steven Wall Nows and Editorial Display Advertising and Buainesa Claaalllad Advertising Production Circulation 688 5511 688 3712 688-4343 688-4381 688-5511 children carrying the AIDS virus. In applauding the policy guidelines, the Emerald inac curately stated that AIDS is con tracted through saliva when there is no evidence to suggest that it is transmitted in this way. If AIDS was known to be contracted through saliva, it is likely that this would have lawn reflected in the guidelines for school policy (kids share saliva through chewed pencils, spit balls, etc.) Any hysteria attributed to AIDS is more often a conse quence of media attention than knowledge of scientific facts, in terms of public health educa tion, the Emerald can assist in defusing public hysteria by reporting factual information. The school policy guidelines exemplify that AIDS is not an easily transmitted disease and this is what people need to know. Careless journalism does little to help those working to educate the public. Ernie Rendolfl Graduate student Dept, of School and Community Health Lacks evidence Jack Straton's penchant for trashing logic never ceases to amaze me. I^ast summer in our exchange of views about the meaning of the First Amend ment's “establishment of religion'' clause (see ODE, July 18. 30, Aug. 1, 6), Straton asserted it was ‘‘absurd'' to believe “one person could 'prove' what another intended or thought..." Now along comes Straton with his latest commentary. "Dorm 'rape sign' perpetuates cruel myths... "(ODE i)ec. 3), in which it appears he has somehow divined the sub conscious thoughts and inten tions of an anonymous graffiti nut. Employing his obviously pro digious psychic powers — and a little pop psychology — Straton treats us to an extended graffito analysis in which he purports to reveal the subliminal messages hidden in some vulgar w~rds scrawled across Tingle dor mitory: "Wendy is a tease Wendy needs an enema at hour ly Intervals.” This graffito, declares Straton, is a "rape sign." It teaches us this. It teaches us that. It teaches us a lesson, writes Straton. of which neither the author nor reader are consciously aware. (But which Straton apparently had the in side scoop on.) While I can sympathize with Straton's desire to expose what, in his opinion, are rape at titudes. that still does not ab solve him from the burden of providing hard evidence for the assertions he makes. 1*11 concede that this graffito may mean everything Straton says it means. But then again, it may not. In any case, there is net enough evidence available to either convict or absolve the anonymous author. Case dismissed. Tom Viaoky journalism Apology My use of the subject’s first name and my identification of the dorm on which the author chalked a statement that 1 quoted in my commentary (ODE, Dec. 3) has allowed some abusive people to identify these two people. 1 am sorry for the pain this has caused. In support of these two, I would like to reinforce two main elements of my letter. A woman has the ab solute right to stop being sexual at any time, for any reason of her choosing. Labeling a woman with the mythical word "toase” is purely an attempt to subvert the will of a human be ing. Also, one primary reason for rape supporting attitudes be ing so widespread is that they are unconsciously passed on by men who are not rapists. jack Straton Graduate student. Physics Men Against Rape
