Coverage of UConn Board of Trustees Meeting

We apologize for having to cancel the 3/2 demo at UCHC, but
the weather would have interfered with our success. It is going
to be rescheduled for the third week of the month.

Below are two news stories covering our presentation at the 3/1
UConn Board of Trustees meeting:

"Students Air Ethics Complaints" by Grace Merritt (Hartford Courant)

The Chronicle 3/2/06

"UC criticized for monkey business"
By SEAN O’LEARY Chronicle Staff Writer

 STORRS — The controversy regarding research on
rhesus monkeys at the University of Connecticut Health
Center continued Wednesday during UConn’s board of
trustees meeting.
  Justin Goodman, a graduate student and
president of the university’s Animal Rights
Collective, told trustees it was time for UConn to end
the research.
  “ We are looking for the dissolution of the
nonhuman research,” said Goodman, who added nearly
4,000 signatures and “ dozens” of letters from animal
rights group had been collected.
  In particular, Goodman spoke about one monkey
— “ Cornelius” — who died during the brain research
conducted by Dr. David Waitzman.
  Goodman said he reviewed the data collected
from the research and shared what he termed “
disturbing” evidence to the trustees.
  According to Goodman, Cornelius was in “
perfect health” before arriving at the UConn Health
Center, where he was subjected to stainless steel
being drilled into his head while in a straitjacket.
  Cornelius, said Goodman, also suffered from
vomiting and seizures until he died after cardiac
arrest — a fate the other three monkeys in the
research have avoided. “ He lived a miserable life at
UConn,” said Goodman. “ It’s inconceivable that he went
through life like this.”
  Goodman, who previously had protested during
the opening of UConn’s 125th anniversary celebration
by chaining himself to a fence, said a home has been
secured if the monkeys are released.
  “ One monkey was murdered as part of this
study,” he said.
  In response, Connecticut United for Research
Excellence, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer
Paul Pescatello read a letter to the board urging the
continued support of animal research.
  “ Dr. Waitzman’s brain research will
contribute to a better understanding of both the
brain’s mechanism and its connection to the body’s
visual systems,” he said. “ As science progresses, it
may be possible to reduce the numbers of animals used
in some research work and we look forward to that
day.”
  Trustees were also given a response to the
protest from the UConn Health Center, located in
Farmington, that stated it is “ committed” to
compliance with animal welfare laws and that “ all
research” is regulated and monitored by several
government agencies.
“ We are keenly aware of the controversy surrounding
the use of non- human primates in medical research,”
read the statement, “ and recognize the protestors’
right to express their views, provided it is done in a
lawful manner that does not disrupt our campus.”