Columbia University

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Columbia University "was founded in 1754 as King's College by royal charter of King George II of England. It is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York and the fifth oldest in the United States...

"The American Revolution brought the growth of the college to a halt, forcing a suspension of instruction in 1776 that lasted for eight years. However, the institution continued to exert a significant influence on American life through the people associated with it. Among the earliest students and trustees of King's College were John Jay, the first chief justice of the United States; Alexander Hamilton, the first secretary of the treasury; Gouverneur Morris, the author of the final draft of the U.S. Constitution; and Robert R. Livingston, a member of the five-man committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence.
"During the presidency of Nicholas Murray Butler (1902–1945), Columbia emerged as a preeminent national center for educational innovation and scholarly achievement. The School of Journalism was established by bequest of Joseph Pulitzer in 1912. John Erskine taught the first Great Books Honors Seminar at Columbia College in 1919, making the study of original masterworks the foundation of undergraduate education, and in the same year, a course on war and peace studies originated the College's influential Core Curriculum." [1]

Pulitzer Prize

Columbia annually grants the Pulitzer Prizes.

Animal testing

Columbia University does animal testing.

Facility information, progress reports & USDA-APHIS reports

For links to copies of this facility's U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal Plant Health Inspection (APHIS) reports, other information and links, see also Facility Reports and Information: Columbia University, New York, NY. [2]

USDA AWA reports

As of May 26, 2009, the USDA began posting all inspection reports for animal breeders, dealers, exhibitors, handlers, research facilities and animal carriers by state. See also USDA Animal Welfare Inspection Reports.

Animal cruelty & welfare violations

PETA investigation of Columbia University - 2003

In 2003, a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) investigation into Columbia University revealed a lack of basic veterinary care for monkeys and baboons. Sick and dying animals were simply left in their cages without care or painkillers after surgical procedures. The studies involving these animals did not even purport to have any scientific usefulness or validity. Topics under scientific investigation included: effects of stress on menstruation and effects of massive doses of cocaine and nicotine on pregnant monkeys. [3] Columbia psychiatrist Suzette Evans receives $500,000 per year in government grants to study the effects of cocaine and heroin on the menstrual cycles of monkeys. Her "experiments" involve the use of cruel and stressful restraint chairs as well as injections and blood draws. Columbia also uses more than 250 dogs per year for "painful and distressing tests".[4]

In 2004, complaints about Dr. Mehmet Oz’s dog experiments were cited in a report from an internal investigation into allegations of poor animal care made by Dr. Catherine Dell’Orto, a post-doctoral veterinarian. [5], [6] See also individual reports of Dr. Oz's dog experiments. [7] According to the report, "highly invasive and stressful experiments" on dogs were performed without a "humane end point." AWA violations included a litter of whelped puppies killed by painful cardiac injection:

"The screams of these puppies could be heard through closed doors. All of these puppies, lying in a plastic garbage bag, were killed in the presence of their litter mates."[8]

Subsequent applications for grants to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by Dr. Oz have been denied.[9] In 2004, Columbia paid $2,000 in fines to the USDA. [10] See also ten worst laboratories.

Toxic drug trials on foster children

(Columbia University’s Presbyterian Hospital) See also foster child drug trials.

Leadership & board members

Present & former presidents

Trustees

Contact

Web address: http://www.columbia.edu

Articles & sources

Sourcewatch articles

References

  1. History, Columbia University, accessed September 20, 2009
  2. Facility Reports and Information: Columbia University, New York, NY, Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!, accessed January 2011
  3. Columbia Cruelty, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, accessed February 2009
  4. Columbia University, 10 Worst Laboratories, PETA.org, accessed February 2009
  5. Columbia University Fined for Cruel Puppy Killings, PETA.org, accessed March 2009
  6. Mary Beth Sweetland Letter to Elizabeth Goldentyer, DVM, USDA, PETA.org, November 30, 2004, pg 3-7
  7. Columbia University Fined for Cruel Puppy Killings: Features, PETA.org, accessed March 2009
  8. Mary Beth Sweetland Letter to Elizabeth Goldentyer, DVM, USDA, PETA.org, November 30, 2004, pg 1-3
  9. Columbia University Fined for Cruel Puppy Killings, PETA.org, accessed March 2009
  10. Columbia University, 10 Worst Laboratories, PETA.org, accessed February 2009
  11. Trustees, Columbia University, accessed September 20, 2009