SFSU Student Choice Policy Petition

Support Alternatives to Dissection and Students' Right to Choose at San Francisco State University!

We, the undersigned, support a Student Choice Policy at San Francisco State University and encourage the replacement of dissection with cruelty-free alternatives or allow students to choose not to dissect without being penalized in any manner.

Today, there are plenty of cheaper, more hygienic and more humane alternatives to dissection and the use of animal "specimens" available. Switching to these new methods and abandoning dissection will allow the students to focus more on the scientific subject matter at hand, and will also save San Francisco State University money.

If, however, dissection cannot be fully eliminated, we ask that the following policy be strictly enforced in all classes that use animals:

- Students may not be penalized in any manner for requesting an alternative.

- The instructor must verbally inform all students of their right to do an alternative at the beginning of each semester or advisory.

- The instructor, not the student, should be responsible for proposing an alternative.

- The alternative assignment should require the same amount of time and effort as the dissection exercise, and should be limited to the same material.

- Alternatives are not to include watching another student dissect or dropping the class.

- The Policy must be presented to students in a non-judgmental and non-coercive manner.

- An alternative testing procedure must be provided when the testing procedure uses dissected specimens or preserved animals.

- The school administration will monitor and ensure implementation of the Student Choice Policy.

- The Policy will be incorporated into existing curriculum guidelines, Lab Manuals and the Biology Department's website.

- The Policy also allows for alternatives to live animal experiments, insect collections, or any classroom activity that involves animals or their body parts. The student who requests an alternative should have the option of leaving the room while dissection is taking place.

We fully support SFSU students in their appeal to provide alternatives to dissection, and ask that the signatures of SFSU students, faculty and administrators, as well as their supporters outside of the school, be given full consideration.