Higher Ed NOTES

Students protest vivisections at Colorado U.

Protesters lined up outside the University of Colorado medical school last week in the latest demonstration against the school's use of dogs to teach first-year students about basic physiology. Students vivisect and kill the dogs for study.

While last week's protest brought about 20 people, more than 200 demonstrators gathered for a candlelight vigil in March. Opponents of the "dog labs" claim the procedures are cruel, unnecessary and that alternatives are just as helpful. CU medical officials have countered that the live animal testing provides valuable experience for medical students and alternatives such as computer models are not as effective.

A record high of 30 out of 130 first-year medical students opted out of the procedure last March, citing moral or religious reasons. The medical school has not announced whether it will continue the vivisections this year.

Assault suspect turns self into police for reward

The Washington State University Greek system raised $1,500 in one hour to help find a suspect who allegedly injured a local police officer near campus.

The suspect turned himself in the day after the alleged fight and after the reward was announced. Fraternity and sorority members said they contributed their money so freely because the police officer, Carew Halleck, regularly patrolled the campus area and was part of efforts to improve relations between university administrators, police, and residents of Pullman.

The collected money was returned to the Greek system.

Man enters Duke president's office with loaded gun

An armed man entered the office of the Duke University president last week and threatened to kill himself. Carrying a loaded .32-caliber revolver, the gunman demanded to speak with President Nan Keohane, but she was off campus at the time. The man allegedly held three people hostage.

University police officers arrived and ordered the gunman to drop his weapon. He refused and they sprayed his face with pepper spray and tackled him. No one was injured. The armed intruder worked for Duke Medical Center's hematology lab in 1995 and recently lived in an area homeless center. Officers said the intruder would be charged with three counts of second degree kidnapping, one count of having a weapon on campus and trespassing.

McGill newspaper forced out over debate stalemate

The Students' Society of McGill University said renovations were necessary to the building for student accessibility, including some space usually held by The McGill Daily. The newspaper's offices were recently locked down. Lawyers from both sides have haggled over whether the newspaper's lease has actually ended.

Jaimie Kirzner-Roberts, a McGill Daily news editor claims SSMG was using its power to eliminate free speech because student government members were unhappy with certain coverage. SSMG president Wojtek Baraniak said the newspaper did not need all of the space and denied the organization was exacting revenge against the newspaper.

- Compiled from U-Wire reports by Daily Staff Reporter Robert Gold.