To the Editor:
The following is an official statement of protest regarding the series of demonstrations we are staging against vivisection at Oberlin College. We urge all sympathizers to join us in our protests, to defend the rights of innocent sentient beings.
Statement of Protest
We are here today to protest the use of animals as scientific tools at Oberlin College. In protesting this lab, we recognize that some students, with majors in Neuroscience, Biophysiology, and Psychology, are required to attend this lab. We therefore do not wish to be critical of these students' position, their attendance of this lab, since these students don't exactly have the freedom to refuse or boycott the lab by not showing up. Our focus of protest is primarily against the institution of animal experimentation at Oberlin College, and we are seeking avenues through which we may effect institutional changes. In addition, we would like to remind students that they are explicitly not required to actively participate in this lab. We encourage students to refuse to vivisect, and we protest any proceeding to actively experiment on the rats in this lab.
We believe there is absolutely no moral justification for the exploitation, involuntary suffering, and killing of any animal at the hands of human beings, including for goals of science. Scientific progress must not be made through the sacrifice of any sentient creature's life or freedom, whether that individual be human or nonhuman. We understand the importance of scientific research and endeavors. Further, we understand the significance of this rat lab today in teaching technique and procedure for future neuroscientists and other medical students. However, we strongly hold that no end can ever justify the abuse and nonconsensual termination of a living being.
We understand the importance placed on human life, as something of great emotional and societal complexity. However, it does not therefore become justifiable to expend nonhuman lives for our own sake. Such an act is inherently violent. Despite lower forms of consciousness or intelligence that members of other animal species may possess, their lives do not lose their fundamental moral value, they do not become expendable. In the 1940's and '50s, our government sponsored nonconsensual radiation experiments on mentally retarded children and other groups of humans who were seen in some way as less important. Just as we surely all morally condemn these actions, we must equally extend our moral respect to include all animals, whatever their intelligence or species.
Although some of us would like to, we do not plan to stop or disrupt this lab, due to threats of suspension from the college authorities. However, we will proceed to firmly protest outside of this lab room, against this lab and all further vivisection labs. We are more than willing to talk with anyone, and we plan to help set up forums next semester dealing with vivisection at Oberlin. Lastly, we would like to remind the students and faculty of this class that in this lab the freedom and well-being of living sentient creatures will be violated, with their precious lives ultimately being taken away from them.
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