University Briefs

In their campaign against the use of animals in research, animal rights activists have been trying to gain access to universities' animal care and use committees. The activists, whose methods range from direct pressure to lawsuits, have been successful in a number of states, including Washington and Florida. But on August 18, animal rightists suffered defeat when a lawsuit against the University of California system was dismissed. An Alameda County Superior Court judge ruled that the 10 animal care and use committees in the university system are not subject to the state open meeting law, and thus need not be opened to members of the public. John Costo, the Seattle-based attorney representing seven animal rights groups in the case, said a decision on whether to appeal would be made in early September.

Federal, state, and local intervention in U.S. science "has moved from reasonable control to something...