U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo. 5th District, is calling on veterinary schools nationwide to address allegations of systemic abuse impacting students. He told Missourinet that many vet schools are using students as cheap labor.
“We believe that that some of them are being exploited,” he said. “The result is this is, you know, my little way of speaking about it, where I can explain to people is the zombifying of the students.”
In a letter sent to 36 veterinary schools, including the University of Missouri, Cleaver requested details following reports of grueling 100-hour workweeks, inadequate time for meals, and animal patient care suffering as a result.
“Many of them are actually working far longer than 40 hours a week,” he said. “We even have anecdotal information about students losing weight because they’re not getting sufficient sleep.”
He did not identify any specific veterinary schools he said are overworking their students.
“We are going to be careful not to try to assassinate the worth and value of any of these schools. What we hope for is for there to be some internal reviews or investigations about what’s going on and then make some adjustments.”
Cleaver also said many of the complaints were made anonymously because the students fear being kicked out of school and other retaliatory actions. He added that he’s considering filing legislation in Congress if universities don’t improve working conditions for veterinary students.
MU told Missourinet it is reviewing the letter and intends to respond by Cleaver’s deadline of December 31.
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