Welcome to the PAMA Home Page
PAMA stands for People Against the Mistreatment of Animals. We are a registered student organization (RSO) of Illinois State University. PAMA promotes animal rights (equal consideration) on the ISU campus. We do this by hosting informational tables, inviting speakers to campus, and volunteering with the local animal welfare groups (Sterile Feral Foundation, and the Humane Society of Central Illinois). Everyone is welcome to join the group, if you are interested, come to a meeting. You might like it.
On the website you will find a schedule of events (It's constantly changing so check often), A section explaining in more detail what the group is, pictures, links to other sites, and a bit more. So look around, if you have any suggestions please don't be shy, drop us a line.
What's Going Down
Illinois State University is currently on Summer break now, so there is nothing going on PAMA-wise until Fall semester begins. If you are interested there are many groups that are active during the summer just check the links page. Have a great Summer, and hope to see you all in the Fall.
Everyone is welcome to any PAMA event, if you have any questions or concerns please drop us a line.
HPAC E-Alert
The following is a message from Don Rollo executive director of HumanePAC
A Victory At The U. of I.!!!
Congratulations to Danielle Marino and the other hard-working & dedicated members of Students Improving The Lives Of Animals [SILA] at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. After a long and difficult fight, they have won their battle for an undergraduate student's right to choose non-animal alternative to dissection. Humane PAC is pleased that we could play a small part in helping achieve this important victory. Enjoy reading the SILA press release and as Danielle suggests, spread the word far and wide so that this victory at the U. of I. is only the first of many such victories at colleges and universities around the country!!
For The Animals -
Don Rolla, Exec. Dir.
Here's the SILA E-Mail Press Release:
It passed everyone!!!! 2 years of incredible work thanks to all who helped...we hope we set a precedent other students/schools can follow! (please help us to distribute this far and wide to empower other students!)
danielle marino
News Release
UIUC PASSES DISSECTION ALTERNATIVES POLICY
Contacts: Matt Berry, www.DissectionChoice.org (630) 772-7238 Vilas Dhar, Senate (217) 721-1036
May 5, 2003: The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Senate voted today to adopt a dissection alternatives policy, the first of its kind at a major US university. The policy marks the climax of a two-year student campaign and represents a compromise between student and faculty interests.
Among the policy's provisions, general education courses that require students to engage in animal dissection must make alternatives available to all students who request them. For other courses, instructors are required to notify students of the availability of alternatives at the time of registration. Students who believe they have been unfairly denied an alternative may appeal under UIUC's "Grievance Procedures in Matters of Religious Beliefs, Observances, and Practices."
The policy was championed by a coalition of religious, political and animal protection groups. They argued that conscientious objectors to classroom dissection are protected under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment from being forced to harm or kill animals in their public university education.
Some faculty opposed the measure, claiming that animal methods are necessary and that any attempt to constrain classroom practices constitutes a violation of academic freedom. Proponents countered by citing over 60 peer-reviewed studies demonstrating the efficacy of dissection alternatives and arguing that traditionally, "academic freedom'" is the freedom instructors have in discussing whatever material they feel appropriate, not in requiring students to take whatever actions the instructor feels appropriate.
Interesting Items
Here are news items and links that I think people may find interesting. Some are PAMA specific, while others are items in the news that might be of interest to the animal rights activist or progressive student. If you have a site that you would like to add, please drop us a line.
Illinois Animal Legislation - Animal legislation for Illinois provided by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Want to make an impact on state laws write your reps, remember they work for us. [added 11 - 25]
Animals and Ethics - Here is a really good summary of the philosophy regarding ethics and animals. It is worth the read. [added 3 - 5]
The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by Illinois State University.
