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