Op-Ed
Reformation without explanation?
For 17 years, the University's
seemingly invisible animal
committee secretly reviewed ex
tensive proposals for live ver
tibrate animal research.
In November 1986. Vice
President for Research John
Moseley wrote a letter to the
president of the local chapter of
People for the Ethical Treatment
of Animals, stating that:
"Although we do not agree that
the 1ACUC (Institutional
Animal Care and Use Commit
tee) is a 'governing body' of a
‘public body,' which would
make the Oregon Public
Meetings Acts applicable, we
do agree to give you notice of
these meetings, and allow you
to attend.” Fourteen months
later, no such notice has yet
reached PET A.
By Nickolas Facaros
Emerald Columnist
Cornball vegetarians with
Bambi complexes do not
perpetuate the animal rights
movement. The members of
Congress, for example, became
activists in enacting the Animal
Welfare Act, requiring lACUCs
to review practices involving
animals so as to "minimize pain
and distress to animals."
Similarly, the Public Health
Service took action by requiring
lACUCs to develop, implement,
and review animal research pro
grams that will "avoid or
minimize discomfort, distress,
and pain to animals."
The University is supposedly
devoted to animal welfare by
way of a policy statement:
"When animals must be used
(in biological research), projects
must be of sound design and of
fer every practical safeguard to
the animals."
At the trial of Roger Troen. a
man convicted of burglary and
theft charges at the University
animal laboratories, witnesses
testified under oath that in
University labs mother cats ate
their kittens and researchers cut
eye muscles of insufficiently
i
anesthetized kittens. This slice
of (laboratory) life does not ex
haust the Edgar Allen Poeticism
at the trial.
The 1ACUC seemingly is sub
ject to Oregon Public Meetings
Act if it has "the authority to
make decisions for or recom
mendations to a public body on
policy or administration."
Public Health Service Policy
requires the 1ACUC to “make
recommendations to the Institu
tional Official regarding any
aspect of the institution’s (PHS
supported) animal program.”
The University is an institution
as well as a public body. An
"institutional official" is an in
dividual who makes "a commit
ment of behalf of the institution
that the requirements of PHS
policy will be met.”
Complacently accept IACUC
secrecy. Don’t give a hoot about
animal welfare on campus. Was
that the University’s implicit
message?
On March St. 1988, President
Paul Olum issued the following
statement: “It seems clear to me
that when the IACUC has a
meeting of its members to
review a research proposal in
volving animal research pro
tocols. or any other activity or
condition over which the com
mittee has action authority, that
meeting is required by Oregon
law to be an open meeting.
"There is a possibility that
during the meeting the commit
tee may be involved in the con
sideration of records that are ex
empt by law from public inspec
tion. and in such a case, the
committee would presumably
go into executive session. Even
when an executive session is
used, certain rules govern the
convening of such an executive
session and the taking of
minutes in such a session, even
though material discussed in
those meetings might necessari
1 y be excluded from
disclosure,” Olum wrote.
Because the IACUC and rele
vant Oregon law have not
changed since November 1988,
it seems clear to me that the
University has some questions
THE FAR SIDE
By GARY LARSON
"Bob and Ruth! Come on in .... Have you
met Russell and Bill, our 1.5 children?"
to answer.
For instance, who does
Moseley mean by "we” in his
letter dated November 18.
1986? Did Moseley consult with
Olum on the open meetings
issue?
Olum said Peter Swan, his
assistant on legal affairs, ad
vised him that the IAGUC is
subject to the Oregon Public
Meetings Act. The Moseley let
ter. however, takes the opposite
position on the issue. The letter
is copied to Swan. Has Swan’s
legal stance changed? If so,
why?
Does any of this have
anything to do with Roger
Troen and his trial?
Make no mistake, the Univer
sity deserves credit for opening
1ACUC meetings to the public.
A step toward reform is better
late than never.
The 1ACIJC will soon
schedule its first public
meeting.
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r
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MARCH 22,1988
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