Response Time

In an earlier post, we noted a campaign by animal rights activists to discourage student research, as reported in the Daily Bruin.*  Now a faculty member, David Jentsch,** writes an op ed response. [excerpt]

...A recent Daily Bruin article, “Animal rights activist groups target student vivisectionists,” which was published on Oct. 23, indicates that animal rights groups are trying to target students who participate in life science and medical research at universities in the U.S. and the U.K. that involves experimentation on animals. They are opposed to this research, despite the fact that it is crucial to medical progress, well regulated and ethically justifiable. Having failed to use reason and civil debate to adequately advance their ideas with the broader public, they now quite cynically opt to offer rewards to those who expose student researchers, thereby enabling the intimidation and harassment of those identified. Their obvious goal is to harass you out of your studies and research and to prevent the future that will lead to new therapies and cures of tomorrow. I know their tactics well, because for more than five years, animal rights activists have worked day and night to suppress my voice and my research that deals with the causes and treatments for addictions. They firebombed my car. They sent me razor blades in the mail. They have harassed me and my loved ones with endless home demonstrations, where they scream their threats and obscenities. They want to ensure that I am unable to express my humanity, my ideas and my work. They believe their right to speak stands above those of others. All Bruins should unanimously reject such hateful behavior...

Full op ed at http://dailybruin.com/2014/10/28/submission-researchers-should-be-proud-despite-hateful-activism/
----------------
*http://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2014/10/caution-animal-rights-campaign.html
**https://www.psych.ucla.edu/faculty/page/djentsch