инициативная группа студентов «За гуманное образование»

Dear Chancellor and Honorable Officials,

I am writing in response to concerns of students at Moscow State University regarding vivisection. The students feel that the University unfairly discriminates against people who wish to avoid animal experimentation during their course of studies despite their legal right to do so, and, more ominously, refuses to consider implementing the many valid alternatives to animal usage that are available today. I stand with the students in their desire to discourage the use of animals in the life sciences.

You may be aware that universities in the West are making great strides in the use of alternatives to animals in classroom instruction.

The large majority in the US, where I live, for example, have done away with live animals labs in favor of the use of computer imaging, simulators, observation of practicing surgeons, etc. The UK has disallowed the use of live animals for training purposes since the 1870's, relying on observation and practice with surgeons instead. Vivisection is not only extremely cruel (especially if anesthesia is not used!!) but also completely unnecessary.

I don't understand the extreme reluctance of many university faculty to embrace modern, humane methods of instruction. As practitioners of the life sciences, they should be anxious to throw off methods that are tantamount to torture.

With the students, I request that the University initiate student choice policies whereby they may opt out of live animal labs in favor of alternatives; that the faculty that insist on working with animals be required to follow the rules governing their care, most especially including the use of anesthesia; return the course in biological ethics to the 3rd course; and, lastly, reinstate Belousoff Roman as a student. I understand that he was expelled for his refusal to vivisect.

Thank you,
Yours truly,
Patricia Panitz*