Group protests firm's link to research lab
By Shannon Owens (Daily Texan Staff)
February 05, 2002

Students Against Cruelty to Animals organized a rally and march Monday to pressure Stephens Inc., an investment banking firm, to halt their funding of the Huntingdon Life Sciences lab, an animal testing facility.

The rally was in response to a pending decision at Stephens Inc. on whether to continue or cease funding of HLS.

HLS fell into financial trouble in 1995 leading Stephens Inc. to rescue the failing company by financing it with $33 million in 1997, said Frank Thomas, spokesman for Stephens Inc.

Will Potter, a representative for SACA and a journalism senior, said HLS needs to be shut down, alleging that the company is abusing animals.

Potter said undercover investigations have revealed abuses ranging from dogs being hit in the face to animals undergoing painful operations while still alive.

According to ABC news, a 1997 investigation by British television showed animals at the lab being abused and operated on in painful ways. Thomas denied the charges of animal abuse and said Stephens Inc. has been a passive investor in HLS since 1997.

"The problem with these animal activists groups is that they are protesting a company that has already been cleaned up," Thomas said. "We became an investor after the events of 1995 and got rid of the management that committed animal abuse and replaced them with sound, fair management."

Michael Lieberman, a communication studies senior, said it was important for students to be involved in the rally. "It's really crucial to expand student awareness to horrific occurrences, that we not only allow to go onto our campus, but fund as well," Lieberman said.

Christina Herencia, a Latin American studies graduate student, said she stopped by the protest to hear the group's arguments. "I was passing by, and usually, I don't stop, but this is very important," Herencia said. "I think it's important to change attitudes about animal testing. It's indicative of our compassion towards humanities. We are to protect animals, not to harm them."

Richard McLellan, a former certified physician, Steve Best, a UT--El Paso associate philosophy professor, and Donald J. Barnes, a Southern Field representative with the Animal Protection Institute, were other speakers at the rally opposing the use of animals in medical research.

Terry McMahan, assistant police chief, said five UT Police Department officers were on the West Mall "just monitoring" the event.