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Student upset by LU controversy - Chantal Abdel-Nour

I am a student at Laurentian University enrolled as an undergraduate in the behavioural neuroscience program.

I am a student at Laurentian University enrolled as an undergraduate in the behavioural neuroscience program. I am not part of the lawsuit group, as I am not working on my thesis this year, but the recent events regarding the neuroscience program may affect me and many other students in our academic careers. I would like to raise greater public awareness regarding the controversy going on between the animal-care committees and the
students/professors involved in neuroscience research. The students' research and future careers are being jeopardized without justification.

The research for this program had been going on for roughly 20 years without any problems. Now, all of a sudden everything has come to a halt, and
ridiculous demands are being made by these animal committees. The research protocols are now being revised for the 11th time.

The rules being enforced by these animal committees are not promoting security and health of the animals. When a researcher recognizes that an animal is ill, they make all attempts to nurse it back to health. These committees, however, insist that the animal be put down if the animal displays any signs of pain. The ironic twist to this is that since the students have been locked out and can no longer tend to their animals, these animal are dying.

If matters continue to worsen, and nothing gets resolved in the researchers' favour, then I will have absolutely no problem encouraging new students to attend another university.

Chantal Abdel-Nour
Sudbury