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Tell Publisher and Harvard-affiliated A.R.T. that NEAVS’ Ads MUST Go in

Thank You! Your post cards and letters from Harvard-affiliated persons hit their mark! So NOW please take a moment to thank Mr. Cravatts for reversing his decision. Mr. Richard Cravatts, Publisher Boston Classical Network 10 Ledgewood Road Weston, MA 02493 Rcravatts@aol.com Should NEAVS Ad Be Censored? NEAVS and other Boston publications don't think so. What do you think? View larger image > What people are saying... Beverly Rockhill, PhD Paul Waldau, D.Phil., J.D.,M.A. Tovis Page, PhD3

UPDATE! 01/17/02 - We did it! Thanks to all our supporters who voiced their concern, our AD WILL RUN. Please THANK Mr. Cravatts and the A.R.T.

The Harvard-affiliated American Repertory Theatre (A.R.T.) has resorted to censorship to deny NEAVS a place in its heavily read playbill. Although NEAVS ads, generously donated by Antigone Lankin Stallings, have appeared in A.R.T. programs in the past, publisher Richard Cravatts now has refused to accept further ads, stating "… [Harvard] faculty… have asked me not to run the ads again."

Censorship of ideas should be unacceptable within any institution, especially one whose motto is "veritas" – truth. This turn-down confirms that there are those at Harvard who are so heavily invested in animal experimentation that they do not want people even thinking about it!

NEAVS’ ads are running in several other theatre publications without protest from audiences trying to stop the dissemination of NEAVS’ message of compassion.

Many Harvard-affiliated friends and supporters of NEAVS are demanding that A.R.T. and publisher Cravatts reconsider their position. Excerpts of their comments follow:

"I was a junior faculty member at Harvard Medical School until recently. I am now on the faculty at the University of North Carolina as a cancer researcher. Through observational studies of humans, scientists have learned much about preventing many cancers (and other types of chronic disease) in our population. A good deal of the animal medical research that goes on, besides being intrinsically cruel and wasteful, is likely a diversion from, and thus a hindrance to, real progress in disease prevention.

"NEAVS is one of the few organizations to point out such truths, as well as the existence of real alternatives to the overwhelming numbers of animal experiments.

"George Bernard Shaw, one of the founding fathers of the modern theatre, wrote that ‘Atrocities are not less atrocities when they occur in laboratories and are called medical research.’ He also wrote that ‘Custom will reconcile people to any atrocity.’ What a shame that your organization [A.R.T.] may be the latest to be reconciled to the atrocities that NEAVS works to end."
-- Beverly Rockhill, PhD (Read entire letter)

"As a member of the Harvard University community, … I am concerned that you have decided to err on the side of censorship instead of freedom of speech.

"I hope that you will ultimately decide to support the ideals of freedom of expression and open, public debate instead of helping those few individuals who seek to undermine them."
-- Tovis Page, PhD3 (Read entire letter)

"Because I teach at a number of the universities in the Boston area, I take time out of a busy schedule to write you regarding a recent decision that you made refusing to run an advertisement for NEAVS in A.R.T.’s program book.

"I have a copy of the ad before me, and it is clear to me that the ad’s text and image are tasteful, even artistic tools for informing the public of an important issue that is, without such ads, hidden away in some ugly, rather unartistic, if you will, corners of our society.

"Organizations of all kinds need access to publications such as the A.R.T.’s program book for many purposes, not the least of which is increasing awareness that our society continues certain practices that are not well known and which, if well known, would be thought by many to be of questionable morality and scientific value.

"The issue to which the ad speaks is profoundly important to the public, not to mention many of your patrons."
-- Paul Waldau, D.Phil., J.D., M.A.(Read entire letter)

What YOU Can Do

UPDATE! 01/17/02 - We did it! Thanks to all our supporters who voiced their concern, our AD WILL RUN. Please THANK Mr. Cravatts and the A.R.T.

Encourage publisher Richard Cravatts to stop bowing to pressure from the animal research industry and continue to run NEAVS’ ads in the program book of Harvard-affiliated A.R.T. Remind him that our ad is running in other theatre playbills without incident.

Let him know that, as an advocate for the arts serving Harvard, an institution whose mission is to "encourage students to respect ideas and their free expression," he of all people, should know that censorship kills both theatres and thoughts.

Tell him that perpetuating animal experimentation is not a defensible reason to censor public information. And remind him that NEAVS and our many supporters will persist in demanding our right to inform and to spread the word of compassion.

Contact:

Mr. Richard Cravatts, Publisher
Boston Classical Network
10 Ledgewood Road
Weston, MA 02493
Rcravatts@aol.com

If you would like copies of Action Alert post cards to mail to Mr. Cravatts, contact NEAVS.

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