PRESS RELEASE
RELEASE DATE: Immediately (May 13, 2005)
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Gene Baierschmidt
(801) 261-2919 ex. 202 - office
HUMANE SOCIETY OUTRAGED BY REPORTED OKAY
FOR FURTHER INVASIVE LIVE-ANIMAL BIOLOGY PROJECTS
Following a firestorm of criticism against a Gunnison Valley High School biology class project in which the digestive organs of an anesthetized but living pound dog were exposed for the students'
edification, the Humane Society of reacted with shock and dismay to reports that the school's principal, Kirk Anderson, claims that he supports the action and says it will be allowed to continue "because
the students are learning." Says HSU Executive Director Gene Baierschmidt, "We, and evidently a great many other people, have to wonder exactly WHAT it is that these kids are learning. It would seem
that they've certainly already had a very graphic lesson in insensitivity and bad judgment."
"We are totally opposed on moral and ethical grounds to what happened in that classroom," he continues, "and are calling on all officials of the school and Board of Education to put a stop to invasive experimental procedures on living animals at the high school level. Kids at that age are highly susceptible to emotionally upsetting experiences, and several of those who had to witness the incident in question have expressed great distress over it."
The Humane Society has been inundated with messages from all over the country expressing outrage over the school's actions, says HSU Executive Director Gene Baierschmidt. "These protests represent the most e-mail we've ever received on a single subject since the Internet was invented," he said, holding up a thick stack of letters, some from as far away as Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Florida, and New York. "In light of such response, the apparently indifferent reaction of Gunnison officials is mind-boggling."
The Humane Society suggests that concerned citizens contact the Superintendent James R. Petersen and all four Board members of the South Sanpete Board of Education, as well as Principal Kirk Anderson, to urge against any repetition of this or similar activities.