Oberlin Animal Rights (OAR) activists are on the prowl once again to convince Neuroscience students and faculty to end vivisection as a practice of lab experimentation. Neuroscience students, on the other hand, have started to assert their views, defending their right of choice in performing vivisections in class. Both sides of this seemingly endless battle have valid and honorable points to their arguments, yet a solution to the problem is distant and the problem will continue to plague the two groups.
The Neuroscience Department has provided alternatives to students who choose not to perform vivisections. They are still performed, however, in labs by most students in the Neuroscience 211 class. Conversly, OAR strongly believes that all vivisections should end on campus and see no justification in any vivisection performed on this campus. As long as vivisections are offered, the possibilities of every student choosing the alternative is improbable and unrealistic. The Neuroscience Department knows it, and so do members of OAR.
There are numerous issues intertwined with the vivisection debate. For example, the debate continues as to whether we should perform vivisections at the undergraduate level that students pursuing medicine or science will learn later in their educational careers. Each small branch of the vivisection controversy stems from a much broader ideological question: Should science advance at the expense of our morals and ethics?
Oberlin students enjoy practicing activisim on campus, and the strong beliefs and stands we take should continue to be expressed in our community. Compromise is difficult, and at many times, unreasonable to the parties in disagreement. OAR and the Neuroscience Department are far from reaching any compromise that would please either party. Open dialogue between the parties should continue in large forums, like the ones planned for next fall. OAR members have every right to continue their protests as long as they don't interfere with classes. Neuroscience students as well have every right to voice their opinions concerning vivisection provided that they respect OAR members' beliefs.
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