Conscientious Objection
Video: PCRM. 1997. Advances in Medical Education. Washington, DC, US: PCRM. 18 minutes. www.PCRM.org.
This extremely inspiring video is particularly relevant to medical students and relates the story of how students at Harvard medical school got a cardiovascular physiology dog vivisection lab replaced with operating room observation of real surgeries.
Booklet: NEAVS. 2000. Viewpoints 2000 Series - Veterinary Medicine. Boston, MA, US: NEAVS. 12 pp. www.NEAVS.org.
Outstanding personal stories of Holly Cheever DVM; Lara Rasmussen DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons; and Anne Ryelstone DVM, Ph.D; and other writings, illustrating the need for and the case for conscientious objection in veterinary education. Totally inspiring. A must read for anyone even partly interested in alternatives in veterinary medical education.
Download English/Spanish: Knight, A. 2002. Learning Without Killing: A Guide to Conscientious Objection. 1.3 Mb, 150 pp.
This guide to conscientious objection provides students with the resources they
need to maximize their chances of success. It includes detailed information
about humane alternatives and the reasons why they should be used – enough to
make any student far more knowledgeable about the topic than their opponents; a
detailed set of steps to follow when conscientiously objecting; a set of 15 very
inspiring stories from students around the world who have been highly successful
in their own campaigns; a list of nine of the world’s best resources on humane
alternatives and conscientious objection that may be found in the libraries of
most Australian and New Zealand campuses that use animals in their teaching, and
in the libraries of numerous animal rights groups worldwide; descriptions and
internet addresses of some of the world’s best alternatives databases;
descriptions and subscription instructions for some excellent humane education
email lists; and a list of animal rights and other groups that may be able to
offer further assistance to students.
Book: Francione, G. and Charlton, A. 1992. Vivisection and Dissection in the Classroom: A Guide to Conscientious Objection. Jenkintown, PA, USA: American Anti-Vivisection Society. 136 pp. www.Animalearn.org, www.animal-law.org
This was the book that taught me (Andrew Knight) that it was possible to beat my university, and taught me how to do it. It includes advice on how to tackle your university, and provides counter arguments to common objections to alternatives. Most of the book is dedicated to describing the legal avenues available to US students. Although US legislation is involved, the general legal principles may also be applicable in other countries.
Book: Hepner, L. 1994. Animals in Education - The Facts, Issues and Implications. Albuquerque, NM, US: Richmond Publishers. 311 pp. [Richmond Publishers has since closed, however this book can be obtained from the author via www.lisahepner.com].
Filled with facts and figures about the sources of animals used in teaching, numbers of animals used, and ways in which they are used, although the information primarily relates to the US. The author’s story as a biology student successful in implementing alternatives on a wide scale at the University of New Mexico is given, along with detailed advice for other students in following in her footsteps.
Download
(13 kb): Curtin University of Technology. 27 Mar. 2009. Conscientious Objection
Policy and Procedures.
http://policies.curtin.edu.au/policies/viewpolicy.cfm?id=e0413779-98f6-11dd-b922-01646ce4de6c.
Download (26 kb): University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science, Australia. 2008. University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science guidelines on ethical concerns on use of animals in teaching. 26 Kb, 2 pp.
A conscientious objection policy. Others are listed in Learning Without Killing: A Guide to Conscientious Objection.
Download (36 kb): University of Wollongong, Australia. 2003. Policy on ethical objection by students to the use of animals and animal products in coursework subjects. 36 Kb, 3 pp.
A conscientious objection policy. Others are listed in Learning Without Killing: A Guide to Conscientious Objection.
Download (142 kb): Knight, A. 1998. Submission to the Murdoch University Working Party on Conscientious Objection in Teaching and Assessment. 142 Kb, 21 pp.
On the 11th of November, 1998, Western Australia’s Murdoch University took the
groundbreaking step of formally allowing conscientious objection by students to
animal experimentation or other areas of their coursework. Murdoch is, to my
knowledge, the first Australian university to formally take this step. Student
representatives on the University’s governing Academic Council had successfully
called for the establishment of a working party into conscientious objection in
teaching and assessment, which in turn called for submissions on the issue. This
is my (Andrew Knight’s) submission. It gives reasons for the adoption of a
conscientious objection policy, a discussion of the definition of
conscientiously held beliefs, advice for assessing student claims of
conscientious objection, and for disseminating information about the policy to
students and staff, along with supporting information about humane educational
methodologies. The only extra feature provided in the paper version is a
photocopied letter providing information about the lack of harmful animal usage
in UK veterinary training.