Think of the animals
This week is the beginning of term. Arriving, unpacking, revision, collections: the issue of animal testing and animals rights is unlikely to be foremost on your mind. Indeed, in the international
climate of global terrorism and media hype, in the sphere of student politics and the battle against top-up fees, and in the parochial world of Oxford life that can so often obscure both of these, there is probably only a handful of people who would see the building of a new animal research centre in the city as a particular cause for concern. However, it may only take this small handful to ensure that the issue becomes one that is of the utmost importance and relevance to students across the University, because it is one that will affect us all. Whilst the group SPEAK promises that they will not target students nor use intimidatory tactics, their presence in Oxford is already most visible and - if their persistent performance in Cambridge is anything to go by - one that will not be easy to shake off. Those who are campaigning against the construction of this new centre are obviously fighting for a cause; we as students also have a cause to protect, and we too can be audible in defending this. The feeling amongst the student body appears to be one of ignorance and apathy, but the question in hand may not be one simply of animal welfare: it is a question of our education and a campaign against a project which has the potential to jeopardise this. University authorities have been quick to promise that no threats to student welfare or teaching will be tolerated, but students have already been affected by protests outside colleges, with Keble staff fearing for their safety at the end of last term for instance. Regardless of your stance on the centre itself - perhaps you have thought little or nothing about it - The Oxford Student encourages you to think again about an issue which looks set to involve far more than just a narrow circle of animal rights activists.
Clarification: In a news report on page five of the 26th February issue of The Oxford Student, an article by Alexandra Howe headlined 'Age-old University' included quotations from Ron Heal.
Whilst the comments cited did come from Mr Heal, they were sourced not from him directly, but from the Times Higher Education Supplement.
This was not acknowledged in the report, and should have been, in line with editorial policy. We apologise to the parties concerned for our error.
22nd Apr 2004