gair rhydd Monday October 25 2010 | freeword – Est. 1972 | Issue 933
Quench turns
100
The Birthday Issue
plus fashion//film//music//art
Trick or Treat Henry Burton gets seasonal Inside this week:
Cardiff ’s animal experiments under question Ben Price News Editor Cardiff University has been questioned over its use of kittens for scientific research. Cardiff City Council’s deputy leader, Neil McEvoy, has requested further details from the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Dr David Grant, regarding the use of 19 kittens for scientific experiments. The University has been under attack from anti-vivisection campaigners since the South Wales Echo exposed Cardiff for experimenting on 191,549 animals since 2006. The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV), who campaign to bring an end to animal experiments, contacted Mr McEvoy and asked him to approach the university for more specific information on the kitten experiments. Following the rejection of a Freedom of Information request sent from the BUAV to the university, Mr McEvoy was asked to meet with the university and enquire further into the nature of the experiments on the kittens. Explaining why the University failed to answer the BUAV’s request, a University spokesperson said: “The University has responded openly to the Freedom of Information enquiry about the research.” The University said that it had received a number of enquiries under the Freedom of Information Act relating to the use of animals in experiments and it has provided a response in accordance with the Act. However, in light of the request posted by the BUAV, a University spokesperson commented:“The FoI request it received from BUAV simply requested copies of a
specific document, i.e. the project licenses relating to research (which are held by the Home Office) and this was properly refused on the basis of a number of relevant exemptions that applied in the public interest.” The BUAV have already issued some details on the nature of the experiments on the kittens on their website. The BUAV said that in one instance, the kittens were implanted with electrodes and screws to record their brains’ electric activity. The University stated that the claim in the local press that such experiments ‘could be done in another way’ failed to acknowledged the rigorous controls under which these experiments are performed. A University spokesperson said: “Our research involving animals is rigorously controlled under Home Office authority and supervision, and only work that cannot be done in any other way is permitted under law.” In light of the effect the experiments have on the animals involved, the University added: “In no case did the experiments described cause severe trauma to the animals. All research involving animals is subject to an ethical review.” Deputy leader of Cardiff Council, Mr McEvoy, said that it is important for all institutions to remain honest and transparent when publishing details of activities that are in the public interest. However, Mr McEvoy said that at no point has he called into question the professionalism of the staff involved in the experiments at Cardiff University. Mr McEvoy intends to meet with the University in the near future to further discuss the details of the animal experiments.
Student Assault Police are appealing for witnesses after a student was sexually assaulted in Cathays News, page 2
Medical problem News reveals that Cardiff medical students could suffer from a decline in placements after graduation News, page 2
Social networking Opinion provokes debate over social networking: are we incapable of non-virtual communication or does the internet supplement our friendships? Opinion, page 8
Integration?
Features reveals the difficulties faced by international students at Cardiff University and questions the true meaning of integration Opinion, page 10
Americanisation Politics explores the concept of the Americanisation of British politics and examines the impact that this could have on the UK system Politics, page 15
Bee worried Science considers the plight of the honeybee, whose numbers are falling rapidly due to a deadly fungus spore Science and Environment, page 21
Half marathon The government’s comprehensive spending cuts have been announced. Politics finds out who will be hit hardest. << Full story: page 15
Sport discusses the Cardiff half marathon, which was 193m too short, while some Cardiff students share their experiences of the day Sport, page 29 And more, in Wales’ number one independent student newspaper