[Arkinsaw]

I am NO fan of PETA but I would NOT feel comfortable dissecting a cat, being a life-time cat lover. Just wouldn't happen. It's personal preference, not politics, and she is entitled to opt out.

From what I read in the article she is NOT entitled to opt out. If she were entitled to opt out then this would not be a problem. It appears from the article that it is a class requirement.

If you would feel bad about dissecting a cat I would suggest that you check any biology classes you might take to see if its a required element. If it is, don't expect your squeamishness to exempt you from the class requirements and give you a free pass.

[KneelBeforeZod]

And how long have you thought you were a gorilla Mr. Smith?

[agrace]

I stand corrected (I did before I got to your response to me) - I posted knee-jerk. Blame it on the cat thing. Mine right now is sitting next to me on the desk. :)

Anyway, you're absolutely right - it's an elective, it involves advanced dissection (we only got as far as fetal pigs in regular HS bio and the stink of formaldehyde stuck for weeks!) and if she is taking it, she must be headed somewhere besides Votech. So she should suck it up or opt out of the class altogether and give her future plans a second thought.

That said though, I personally still wouldn't dissect a cat. But then again, I couldn't cut into a human being either so wouldn't need the elective for med school I'd never attend.