Mission Statement:
- RAW has two main priorities:
- Our first priority is simple: to adore animals and encourage others to do so!
- RAW aims to promote healthy, happy lives for all animals (including humans!) in Bloomington and beyond. Of course, we want to stop cruelty and torture whenever and wherever we see it! One of our major goals is to work with IU students and the Bloomington community in developing achievable methods of making a difference in the lives of animals. By advocating for public policies and laws that protect animal well-being, we believe we can honor the profound connections humans have always shared with animals. RAW is an inclusive organization, not an exclusive one; we welcome all students and faculty who are interested in serving as advocates for animals, no matter what their lifestyle or experience. To that end, we plan and sponsor events that enable all animal lovers to enact and celebrate positive changes.
- Our second priority is to reshape outdated approaches to animal advocacy.
- At RAW, we want to give "activism" - as an approach to change and as a means of education - an entirely new, entirely sexy make-over. Too often, animal rights groups resort to retrograde methods of dissent like picketing or staining fur coats with red paint. Because of their implicit violence, these tactics are, quite frankly, passe and very unappealing - and hence alienate a lot of animal lovers who might otherwise participate in organized movements for animal well-being. Believe us, we are quite serious about stopping animal torture and will be utterly outspoken about our intense opposition to animal fighting, puppy mills, the fur trade, factory farming, and inhumane sport hunting. But we want to find innovative ways to make these senseless activities disappear. It is NOT HOT to hurt animals. Compassion RAWks!
- Here's a link to our constitution.
History:
Officer Bios:
- Beth is a senior at Indiana University getting an Individualized Major in Zoology, a certificate in Animal Behavior, and minors in Anthropology, Biology, and Zulu. During the summer, she conducts field research in Wisconsin assessing the effects of cultural eutrophication on freshwater turtles. She hopes to attend graduate school next year to continue doing conservation biology research. As RAW co-president, she hopes to increase animal education and awareness in the student population and Bloomington community, as well as provide fun activities that assist local animal organizations for any who are interested. She is looking forward to this year and thinks that RAW members can make a huge difference as animal advocates.
- Laura is a senior at Indiana University majoring in biology with a minor in anthropology. She plans to graduate in August. She then plans on attending nursing school next spring and obtaining her BSN. Her rich uncle recently died and she is using the money to help abandoned seal pups. She has recently been working on a cure for cancer and loves to help orphaned puppies. She loves animals and hopes to make a difference in their lives through RAW.
Laura's profile may or may not contain information that is not true
- Kristen is a senior at Indiana University majoring in Marketing. During her time at IU, Kristen spent a semester abroad. She studied at the Danish Institute for Study Abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark. During the summer, Kristen plans to enjoy her last summer break before starting her full-time job. Kristen has been a member of RAW for the last 4 years and is proud to be a member since the beginning of the organization. She has enjoyed seeing the club grow and help more animal organizations throughout the Bloomington community. As the Treasurer, Kristen hopes to increase animal education and awareness among students. She is looking forward to this year and can’t wait to see RAW develop.
- William is a senior at Indiana University currently working on an Individualized Major in Animal Ethics, and a second major in Philosophy, with minors in Psychology, Classical Greek, and Religious Studies. He plans to attend graduate school for a Master's in Environmental Policy and Management, with the possibility of going on to a dual-degree program for a JD/PhD in Law and Philosophy. As the Outreach Coordinator for RAW, William hopes to continue the established relationships RAW has, as well as establishing new relationships with other student groups, organizations in Bloomington, and beyond. He is looking forward to the new things RAW will be doing, as well as continuing with the old. He believes that RAW and RAW members can make a significant impact in the lives of animals through positive advocacy.
- Rachel is a junior at Indiana University currently working on a major in English, a second major in Anthropology and a minor in Psychology. This summer, she will be embarking upon her first field school: a month long course in Costa Rica on Primatology and Rainforest Conservation. After graduating next December, she hopes to attend graduate school to continue studying Anthropology or to be certified as a Mental Health Counselor. As an officer for RAW, Rachel hopes to help spread the word about animal advocacy while also brainstorming activities and events to take place within the group itself. She is optimistic about the impact RAW can make on the lives of animals!
- Aubree is a sophomore at Indiana University currently majoring in management and trying to decide on a minor and/or certificate. She volunteers in her spare time and cuddles with her wonderful cat, Lyric. Aubree would like to one day be involved with a company that believes that animal products (especially those that come from factory farms), hygiene products that are tested on animals, and sweatshop products should be avoided. As a RAW member, she hopes to become more informed on animal issues and to form friendships with like-minded individuals! As a RAW officer, she wants to help raise awareness about animal advocacy and to assist other officers!
Faculty Advisor Bio:
- Alyce Miller is a professor of English and teaches in the graduate creative writing program at Indiana University. She is the author of two collections of short stories, Water (Mary McCarthy Prize), Sarabande Press, 2007, and The Nature of Longing (Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction) W.W. Norton, 1995; and a novel, Stopping for Green Lights, Anchor Doubleday, 1999; and more than 150 short stories, poems, and essays published in literary magazines and anthologies. She leads a double life as a pro bono attorney with a special interest in animal rights law, and is a member of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. She has written and presented on such topics as the plight of wild animals in captivity, parallels between the children's and animal rights movements, the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, pet trusts, and voice, injury, and third party standing; etc. In addition to teaching literature and creative writing, she has recently taught special topics classes such as Animals and Ethics, and the Legal And Literary Animal. She is currently at work on a manuscript of poems about animals, as well as a series of essays examining the complex relationships between human and nonhuman animals. In 2005 she organized and hosted an interdisciplinary conference on animals, Kindred Spirits, at Indiana University. She is an International Associate of the New Zealand Centre for Human-Animal Studies and serves on the editorial boards of Journal of the Institute of Critical Animal Studies, and Animals and Society: Journal of Human-Animal Studies.
