Drury adds animal studies minor

Studying animals goes beyond deciding whether or not to have one for dinner. The new minor being offered at Drury intends to address further questions.

According to Dr. McEachern, Drury's Dorothy Jo Barker Endowed Professor of Animal Rights and Director of the University Forum on animal rights, "we delight in (the companionship of animals), dine, ride, watch, hunt, and empathize with them, wear them, entertain ourselves with them, and even eulogize them."

Continued McEachern, "Our lives intersect with the lives of animals every day, yet our relationships with them remain a paradox. Animals are simultaneously ubiquitous and hidden from our view… We (intend to) educate people and allow them to come to their own conclusions on these matters."

Animal studies classes are growing across the country, and according to Dr. McEachern, there is a growing market of students who want to learn about animals and their interactions with humans.

Bob Barker has recently given one-million dollar endowments to eight prominent law schools to teach animal law.

"We want Drury to be a leader in the rising wave of animal studies programs, not a follower," said Dr. McEachern. "The next step would be to create a major in animal studies, and then a graduate degree. But those things take money, of course."

The Bob Barker Endowment for the Study of Animal Rights allowed Dr. McEachern to create and direct Drury's first course on animals, Animal Ethics.

The second endowment, the Dorothy Jo Barker Endowed Professorship, allowed Dr. McEachern to switch from being a French professor to devote herself full-time to animal studies.

An animal studies minor could greatly add to the marketability of any other degree. In addition to more obvious career paths such as veterinary medicine, environmental/wildlife protection and conservation, and animal rights advocacy, there are job markets for careers such as animal-assisted counseling and therapy.

And anyone considering a career in law or politics can add to their resumes and increase their awareness on important issues by learning about the relationship between humans and animals.

For example, take the recent discussion about Proposition B, the legislation concerning improving the conditions of puppy mills.

"It's important for those involved in the law and justice process to be educated on these matters," said Dr. McEachern, "and I was disturbed by the lack of awareness demonstrated by the very legislators who dismantled our vote."

Darcy Allred, senior, believes that animal studies is more than worthy of a minor. "Even if someone doesn't want to get into activism, it's a good option to offer classes like Animal Ethics," said Allred.

"I'm taking the Animal Ethics course specifically because I'm not as knowledgeable about the subject as I would like to be, and it's obviously an important matter today," continued Allred.

Allred also wanted to add that those who don't agree with a subject, such as those who might oppose animal rights, are the ones who most need to educate their selves about the argument.

And finally, Dr. McEachern wants to add: "Please have your pets spayed or neutered, and treat all animals with respect!"