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North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live is a daily, five-minute newscast that shines a spotlight on the stories and perspectives of Minnesota’s diverse communities, including Black, Latine, Asian American, East African individuals, people living with disabilities, LGBTQIA2S+ residents, laborers, veterans, and those from Greater Minnesota.
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HOST: You're listening to North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live, a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota.
ANCHOR: In today's broadcast, how you can help residents of Northern Minnesota impacted by the recent storms. Then, why a graduate of Macalester College is suing the school. And a new outdoor concert venue is coming to the Twin Cities. I'm Chantel SinGs.
Residents in and around the Bemidji area are still dealing with the aftermath of a major storm that left a path of destruction behind. The National Weather Service says the storm in late June brought wind gusts between 100 and 120 miles per hour. That's the equivalent of between a category 2 and a category 3 hurricane. Emergency managers want to remind those still repairing the damage to get multiple estimates from reputable contractors and make sure they're insured and licensed with the city of Bemidji. Listeners who want to help storm victims should contact the United Way of Bemidji.
Ahead, an alumnus of Macalester College in St. Paul recently sued the private college for unethical use of rats in their psychology labs. Reporter Kylie Kendall has all the details of the lawsuit
Kylie Kendall: An alumnus of Macalester College is suing the school to try and stop them from using live rats for psychology experiments. Dr Neal Barnard graduated from Macalester in 1975 with a degree in psychology. While planning for his class reunion, he discovered the school was still conducting what he called unnecessary and cruel animal experiments.
Dr. Neal Barnard: Ones that I had been involved in 50 years ago and that had been invented probably 50 years before that they were still ongoing.
Kylie Kendall: But the problem wasn't just that these methods were still being used.
Dr. Neal Barnard: Most disturbingly, that the college was being less than honest about it. And it publicly says that it uses the highest ethical standards.
Kylie Kendall: Those standards prohibit using animals if there's an alternative. Barnard says there are plenty of other options. Barnard accuses the institution of using Skinner boxes. When asked for a response, Macalester said in a written statement that they do use conditioning chambers, but not specifically Skinner boxes, since Skinner boxes imply use of electrical shocks. Barnard said the method is still outdated.
Dr. Neal Barnard: I've heard from psychologists. I've heard from veterinarians. I've heard from people who have said, "I can't believe this is still happening in this day and age."
Kylie Kendall: Barnard spoke to a former classmate and was shocked to find out what was happening 50 years ago was still happening today.
Dr. Neal Barnard: He said, "You guys don't know what goes on here." And he said, "First of all, to make them perform, I have to starve them. They have to be really hungry or really thirsty, because otherwise they're not going to perform for you.
Kylie Kendall: And it doesn't stop there.
Dr. Neal Barnard: I take each one, throw them in a trash can, one on top of the other, alive, on top of the other, and then I pour chloroform over the top, and I close the lid."
Kylie Kendall: After current psychology students confirmed to Barnard these practices are still used, he eventually spoke with the college president about the issue and was hopeful.
Dr. Neal Barnard: And out of the blue I got a message from her saying, "We have no desire for any further contact or any discussion on this issue. If you have any other comments on it, please go to this attorney."
Kylie Kendall: That's when Barnard knew he had to do something more.
Dr. Neal Barnard: I have to say. I thought, all right, let's make sure that you do deal with this. And so I'm bringing them to court.
Kylie Kendall: With the help of Barnard's nonprofit, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, he put up two billboards around the college, along with a mobile billboard at his reunion, which he did not attend.
Dr. Neal Barnard: Saying, basically, "Stanford and Yale and Penn don't do this. Mac when are you going to get with it?"
Kylie Kendall: When asked for a comment on the story, Macalester provided us with a statement that said the college adheres to all ethical standards and that their programs do use a small number of rats and mice, but are overseen by an animal ethics committee. They do not allow external parties to interfere with or dictate their curriculum. But Barnard said he has not heard from them yet.
Dr. Neal Barnard: I have seen nothing from the college on this at all. So a court date will be set, and we'll be heard.
Kylie Kendall: Barnard is requesting the college return his $100 donation, a declaration that the college violated the law and for the school to stop using animals in the labs. Or if they continue to use them, to take down the statement saying they adhere to the highest ethical standards.
Dr. Neal Barnard: I just hope for the animals and for the students, and, frankly, for good science, I hope we win soon.
Kylie Kendall: This is Kylie Kendall for North Star Stories.
ANCHOR: You are listening to North Star Stories.
An outdoor music venue is set to come to north Minneapolis, right along the Mississippi River. That's thanks to a twelve-and-a-half million-dollar grant from the state. It's part of a larger redevelopment plan. That includes a new park, housing, and a performing arts center in the coming years. Some northside residents and advocates have expressed ongoing concerns. They question who the amphitheater will benefit. The city, however, has published a detailed racial equity analysis. The venue's construction timeline has yet to be announced.
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HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at ampers dot org.