Students at Virginia Tech now have two official alternatives to dissection. Alternative A has no cap on it, as it puts no burden on the Biology Department. Alternative B has only ten slots available. Everyone else will be put on a waiting list for next year. If enough people apply for the alternative, the department will be forced to plan for allowing more people next year.
Please contact NRV-CARE if you apply for the alternative so that we can keep track of student response.
Everything below this line is the old site. It should have everything you
need to know about dissection.
March 23rd, 1999
BREAKING NEWS: At 5:00pm the hunger strike was ended when the Biology Department and the hunger strikers agreed on a policy for next year’s biology labs that would allow students with sincere objections to dissection to be allowed an alternative.
The new policy will allow any student, regardless of major, to apply for an alternative exercise. If the student makes a logical argument as to why he cannot dissect, he will be granted an alternative. There will probably be several alternatives to choose from, including one for sure that is completely animal-free. Many of the details have yet to be worked out, but the hunger strikers agreed that the new policy is good and they believe that the finishing touches will be satisfactory to everyone. The new policy for next year, as agreed upon by both parties is:
"During the spring semester, dissection of a fetal pig is a major exercise in all freshman biology laboratories. If dissection is a problem for you and biology is not a required course, then we recommend that you choose another science course to fulfill the University's Area 4 core requirement. However, if biology is your first choice, you may apply for an alternative, non-dissection exercise. If there are overwhelming reasons (i.e., strong religious, moral, ethical, or medical conditions) which would prevent you from participating in the dissection of a fetal pig in the spring semester, this must be made known by October 1, 1999 with a completed written application. We will accommodate exceptions based on the content of the application and the availability of space. The application forms, with further explanation, are available from Mary Schaeffer in Room 1003 Derring."
NRV-CARE will be putting together a report on their experiences with this issue to be used as a resource by other activists. This will be up as soon as possible. If you have any questions until then about any of this please email Pierre Grzybowski.
"Students have a right to have their religious, philosophical, and moral beliefs respected. A respect for life and a moral perspective which rejects the dissection of animals are not grounds for penalty. Students should be graded on their knowledge, ability, and effort, not on whether or not they are willing to compromise their ethical principles. Educators have a responsibility to provide students with an academic environment which encourages learning and free thought, not one in which students are forced to violate their deeply held beliefs. It is only when students are treated with this basic respect and consideration that true learning will take place." -American Anti-Vivisection Society
The information contained in these links has not been changed since the hunger strike was ended and a new policy was enacted. The links have been left intact for the time being as a resource, and will be updated and reformatted in the near future.
The
Problem and Solution
History
Frequently asked questions
Hunger Strike
Teaching
Philosophy of a VT Biology Professor --Exactly the kind of passion
and open-mindedness we need for this issue.
Links
What You Can Do