Police: Yale student, a bride-to-be, disappears

[wjb]

<p>

Like I said in an earlier post, there is no reason why researchers and cleaning staffs should EVER interact with each other.

</p>

<p>You are mistaken. I suggest that you read this article, which outlines the complex professional relationship between animal technicians and lab researchers. <a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/18/nyregion/18yale.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=demanding%20job%20in%20a%20murder&st=cse[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/18/nyregion/18yale.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=demanding%20job%20in%20a%20murder&st=cse&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>An excerpt:</p>

<p>

Animal technicians must also be watchdogs, making sure that in the bureaucratic world of animal research, all documents have been filed and all ethical standards obeyed. They might remind a student to put on a gown before entering a room, or chide a researcher for failing to separate a litter of mice or clipping a mouse tail for a DNA sample, a practice the university forbids.</p>

<p>They live in fear of being held responsible for somebody else’s sloppiness; a single lapse like a dehydrated animal or unsanitary work space could mean weeks of disciplinary hearings.</p>

<p>“A lot of them tend to view us as janitors,” the co-worker said. “But we’re more than that. We are policemen. We are there to make sure everything is done humanely and ethically.” </p>

<p>Mr. Russell and other technicians said Mr. Clark had significant authority in his position, and said it would not be strange for somebody in his position to directly call or send e-mail to students about their lab work. He estimated there were about 200 employees in two dozen animal labs at Yale, and that supervisors, particularly Mr. Clark’s, did not have time to get involved in the day-to-day operations of the labs.</p>

<p>While most technicians do not forge close relationships with students, they do get to know each other. They can spend a few minutes to a few hours together daily, depending on how many animals are in the lab room.

</p>