From Rachel Lalgie, The College Fix, April 26, 2024
Seton Hall University should fire its researchers found complicit in
animal abuse, according to an advocacy organization.
Stop Animal Exploitation Now filed an administrative complaint with the
Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey. The April complaint demands
the termination of the “employment of these animal abusers who are
masquerading as researchers.”
A research project ended early with euthanizing animals used in testing
because of their mistreatment, a federal report, filed by Seton Hall, found.
One primary investigator remains suspended until 2025, after violating
research protocol. However, others involved in the abuses have not been
fired or punished, the complaint states.
The investigator did not even euthanize the mice as directed, due to the
filthy conditions, but instead outsiders were brought in to clean up the
mess.
Michael Budkie, executive director of SAEN, told The College Fix on April 25
he has not received a response from Interim President Katia Passerini since
the complaint was filed.
On February 24 and May 23 of 2023, “cages housing the animals in the
investigator managed rooms were extremely dirty with noticeable excess fecal
matter and urine,” the university’s report stated. During both inspections,
“the animal bedding was black” and “the water bottles were empty” in all but
one or two cages.
“Universities see project termination as a last resort, to be avoided at all
costs,” Budkie told The Fix.
“This investigator, and the associated staff, deserve no more chances. They
are clearly incapable of performing anything that even roughly resembles
scientific research, because they refuse to record data,” SAEN stated in the
complaint.
Budkie also wrote:
In the over thirty-five years that I have been working to end animal
exploitation in laboratories, I have seldom, if ever, seen a group of lab
workers who are more deserving of termination. Denying animals water;
allowing bedding to become blacked with feces and urine. Performing unproved
procedures and failing to follow approved protocols. Nothing which has been
done by these lab workers even roughly resembles science. Their actions have
much more to do with animal abuse. They must not be given the opportunity to
continue their violations.
The university told The Fix it has addressed the problem.
Seton Hall laid out a corrective plan to prevent similar incidents in the
future.
“Our own rigorous reviews and assessments identified these issues, leading
us to immediately issue corrective directives to the Principal Investigator
(PI) to align with our strict protocols and animal welfare standards,”
Director of Media Relations at SHU, Laurie Pine, told The Fix via email.
“Seton Hall University takes the integrity and ethical conduct of research
seriously,” Pine also said. “Seton Hall University is committed to ensuring
all research conducted under its auspices adheres to the highest ethical
standards and complies with all regulatory requirements.”
After the suspension, the investigator may continue his duties with live
animals in research. During this time, the university has new protocols to
prevent this incident from happening again.
Budkie believes this corrective plan will not prevent animal abuse in the
future.
“The Principal Investigator has shown nothing but disdain for both
regulations and those university employees charged with supervising the
research program,” Budkie told The Fix.
“There is no reason to assume that this new set of protocols will change
anything, because the PI’s past behavior ignores things like protocol.”