It's October and you know that that means: It's Cut Out Dissection month!
I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate Cut Out Dissection month then by introducing you to Cutout Dissection.com herself. That's right, a PETA intern (formally known as Jennifer Thornburg) has officially changed her name to Cutout Dissection.com. What made her decide to do this? Read my interview with her to get the lowdown.
What made you decide to change your name?
I changed my name in order to raise awareness about the six million animals that are killed for dissection each year. These animals suffer painful deaths and their bodies are then used in labs when computer stimulations, diagrams, or 3D models could be used instead. Cutting up animals in school sends the message to students that an animal's life is worthless. I don't think that's a message teachers should be sending. With so many cheaper, more educational and humane ways to learn, there is no reason for students to be dissecting in high schools today. I hope to raise awareness on this subject, and to cause teachers and students to say no to dissection, and yes to alternative ways to learn anatomy.
Did you dissect in high school?
In middle school I dissected a chicken. I wasn't into the idea of dissecting an animal, but when I asked my teacher for an alternative, he said that I could only have it if I went vegetarian for the two weeks leading up to the dissection. I thought that was crazy, at the time, so I went through with the project. Looking back, I can't remember much from the actual dissection; I know now that using an alternative would have been much more educational, and I also know that it's definitely not crazy to be a vegetarian, too.
What do people call you now?
My fellow interns call me Cutout, but my family still calls me Jenny. My favorite thing to do is to introduce myself to people as Cutout Dissection.com, which always raises a few questions. This gives me a chance to explain a few facts about dissection—such as how cats are sometimes pumped with formaldehyde while they're still conscious.
What have people's reactions been to your name?
Cutout is one of those names that you have to say three times, spell out, and use in a sentence before people process it. Once people get my name down, they normally want to know why I changed it. This gives me a chance to tell them about the estimated six million animals used in high school dissection labs throughout the United States every year. Once people learn how the animals are gassed, pumped with formaldehyde, drowned or otherwise inhumanly killed for dissection, they are shocked and want to know what they can do to help.
You're obviously very passionate about educating people about dissection. Why is that?
Two years ago, I was an active Street Team member of peta2. I was trying to rake up some points in order to trade them in for a shirt, and I got an email saying that anything that I did relating to dissection during the month of October would be double the points. Because of this, I decided to work on getting a dissection choice policy passed at my high school. When I started to research policies and why dissection is bad for the school, students, and animals, it became an obsession of mine. My senior exit project and my junior year were both dedicated to getting a dissection choice policy passed at my high school. I was shocked when I read about how much more educational the alternatives to dissection can be, how much money they can save for the school, and how many lives could be spared; it's shocking to me that schools still use dissection as a part of their science lessons when there are so many humane and equally educational alternatives out there that will also save the school money.
I know you got the policy passed at your school. Congrats! How excited were you?
I was super excited to say the very least!
I can imagine. What did the DMV say when you got your new license?
It took me two tries to get my license. On the second try, the DMV worker looked very amused and confused, but also looked like she was afraid to ask for an explanation. When she finally did ask about it, I had a good conversation with her, explaining that Cutoutdissection.com is a real website, and then explaining why I'm against dissection. She seemed repulsed by the thought of animals being drowned, pumped full of formaldehyde, and gassed as a way of death. She also looked shocked when I told her that it affects six million animals per year. When she called over another worker to be a witness to my paperwork, the other worker grinned and said "Oh, I remember her!" (It happened to be the worker who I talked to on my first attempt to get my license). Overall, it was a great opportunity to start a conversation about alternatives to dissection!
Make like Cutout and spread the word about dissection! Stream "Classroom Cut-Ups" on your page, do everything on our "Cut Out Dissection" calendar, and join the thousands who've signed our pledge to refuse to dissect.
What do you think of the name change?
♥ Marta
hahahaha que ridiculo.
So cutout must be pro-life?
This makes me embarassed to be a vegetarian.
Wow that's great, but i would never change my name i'd do something else like a protest thing or somthin' but what ever makes you happy good job Cutout!
At first I thought this was not real, Peta has so many ways to address such subjects. This is immature thinking, many people this why fly right by them. Then you are just stuck with the name. Please!
i read about it on the AFI message board and this seriously pretty stupid, and im glad im not the one who thinks like that
if someone introduced themselves to me like cutoutdissection.com and i had no idea what it was, i would just feel sorry for their name.
Congrats on being so determined! And to anyone who says that changing your name may be the stupidest way to promote the site AND the cause, it's even stupider to cut up animals just for a cheap eduacation.
This girl has guts.
And I think the reason for her choice is amazing!
Laaaaaaame. Out of all the issues plaguing this world, she chose "dissecting animals" as the one that she is going to address? I guess "to each his own" … but seriously? I mean, there's human trafficking and war and poverty and drug abuse and rape and criminality and all the Michael Vicks in this world, etc.
But, cool, good job, wow, you really care about something that is truly important in this world, didn't you, Jenny? Man, congratulations, you're not insane at all.
i want to make friends with u
WOW she is so awesme cuzz she wants to cut out dissection and thats great cuzz lots of animals die cuz of it… I had too dissect a frog, and a mice and a cat, but i didn't soo i got an F and i didn't care cuz i care about animals…
so awesome.
wat is this…i mean dude for real do somethin else wit ur life…so some frog is gettin cut up or whatver..how else would doctors learn anything….i mean would u let someone who didnt kno anythin bout the body work on u….seriously more important things in the world then a couple of frogs and worms getting cut up..and lets face it some ppl wouldnt survive if they couldnt hunt animals or whatver..ever thought of that…yea think a lil before you go around and change ur name..do somethin more important wit ur life…UR MAKIN ME REGRET THAT I EVER MOVED HERE..this is why im movin bak to my country next yr its cuz of ppl like u..u idiot…
It's good to see someone so passionate. Tell me how do you think doctor learn what's inside the body before they go in ? Some began taking cadaver from cemetery and doing dissection in the middle of the night because it wasn't permitted. You want an alternative with computer … I say you want the easy way out. Where do you think they would get the simulation ? Don't worry there is no point in what I'm saying, it's only how things are. Then again it's nice to see someone ready to do so much for what they want or not. Wish you luck in whatever you goal is …
That is so amasing! i would have never thought about that. I could just imagine peoples faces when you tell them what your name is.
It's a really great way to help educate people on how badly animals are treated!
I think it is ridiculous that you would change your name. If your time and effort were put into the proper channels, you could actually make a big difference. Now you have a strange name because we liberal individuals are too quick to dismiss working with government.
Instead of blaming government for being evil, use them. The system is there so people have a way to improve our society.
wow this is pretty dumb to change your name to a website. obviously you are not mature enough to come up w/ other ideas to promote your view. wow this is really dumb.
I think that it's so cool that Jenny changed her name to Cutout Dissection.com. I don't think I could or would do that but I'm glad she's letting people know how wrong dissection is. Go Cutout!
to poppy, josh, ect. Why are you even on here if you're just going to bash us? Cutout took a stand, and she should be commended, not made fun of. good job cutout!
cutout dissection. com…how do you expect the doctors of tomorrow to save your life one day if they at some point in history had never dissected an animal? would you really want some surgeon to work on you if he's never even seen the insides of an animal? you dont honestly believe that healthcare workers of today earned their title of doctor and nurse due to studying out of a book, computer simulation, and 3D images do you? draw the line somewhere. dissection is a must for medicine and the animals are getting cut up before the human.
i can appreciate how passionate you are about your belief even if i disagree with it…but i think i just referred to you as "crazy" when relaying your story.
Wouldn't it have been so much more productive to have done some actual research into alleged "animal cruelty", obtained a degree in a related field, and then gone to work for an industry that provides an ethical alternative to dissection? This way you provide society with something more than just another self-aggrandizing, over-entitled whiny teenager who makes stupid decisions. Trust me honey, we got a whole country full of attention whores and publicity hounds like yourself…
That's really cool.
Wow, Really amazing stuff. you really wouldn't understand a selfless person who's committed enough to a cause to do something beyond what's commonly considered rational.
yeah great job,
I Really strongly agree with your cause, but seriously? Ms. Dissection? or can I call you Cutout? save the animal's lives, yes, but…that is kinda sad!!!
what a creative, original idea! to all of those who say that it was a waste of time and money, well, it isnt ur time and money, nobodys asking u 2 change ur name. it is obviously a bigger waste of time 2 go on a comment board u disagree w/ just 2 post ridiculous shit when none of u would EVER do anything more than send 10 bucks 2 a cause u blieve in. while i don't think i would go this far myself, i have heard of other cases where people changed their names, like som1 whos last names Fisher changing 2 Fishfriend. Congrats, Cutout! The world needs more people like u who r willing 2 take a stand 4 what they blieve in.
I think your cause is absolutely worthwhile
For all those who said it is a waste of money, if you want to spend your money on video games, and she wants to spend it saving lives, SHUT UP.
I also believe, that if stars can name their kids "Silo" and "Apple" and probably in the near future "Piece of crap", you can change yours to a worthy cause
Ignore the close-minded idiots that don't understand. At least they know about the cause now (:
DUDE!!! AWESOME NAME!!! Your idea and your passion for animals can teach everybody a thing or two about what the hell we could do for mammals other than OURSELVES!!! And yes, I might sound like an idiot, and yes I might sound like I need to lay down, and to all who say that I say… SHUT UP!!!
Oh and by the way to the people who say her name is stupid you say that celebrities are allowed to name their kids after FRUITS!!
It was your choice to change your name like that. I suppose it is a good thing that you are so passionate but i won't be suprised if you change your name back sooner or later.
the people who comment on this stuff sound mean! seriously people lighen up! she wanted to change her name and she didn't have to ask for ya'lls permission. i agree with Julia and Alyson if you let celebrities name their kids after fruits and not bring Hell up about then leave Cutout alone.
and kudos to Cutout for having for having that kind of spirit, passion, and creativity for Peta.
I totally agree!!! I love animals and think all of their lives should be spared. I understand if the animals are already dead but the fact that people kill animals is what buggs me. I refuse to dissect killed animals!
NEXT TIME YOU CHANGE YOUR NAME IT SHOULD BE
"TOMUCHFREETIME.com"
I have been a vegetarian since I was five, by choice, in school I received a C in biology for refusing to dissect animals and have been a member of PETA for years but bloody hell this is ridiculous!
not really sure what to say
saw you at earthfare on fairtrade day. told you about a movie but couldn't remember the name….it's called "black gold" about the fair trade business. greatly helps awareness of the movement, ..really well done. you can get it at the library on an availability basis.
…i like your cause. hope you can make a dent.
Forget what everyone else says thats bad…
I sure agree this is a worthy cause – but there are other ways to make your point.
YOU GO GIRL! What a great cause, keep up with the great work.
SO great of you for what you did . Keep up the good work . BE THEIR VOICE FOR THE ANIMALS YOU GO
I admire your dedication cutout. While I support your cause I would'nt want to change my name for it. But I fully support your decision to do so.
It's brilliant really, but like someone else suggested if you ever want to travel abroad you may have problems with a name like that on your passport.
Dissection is what is shameful, not her. There is so much cruelty involved, along with waste of money for schools. She should be admired, not ridiculed.
Early systematic human dissections were carried out by the Greek physicians Herophilus of Chalcedon and Erasistratus of Chios in the early part of the third century BC. Before and after this time investigators appeared to largely limit themselves to non-human animals.
I like that you are so dedicated, but did you have to go to the extremes of changing your name?
WOW! Cool!!! ?????? ??????. ???? ???? ? ?????? ? ???? ????? ??????? ???? -?? ?????? ? ??????? ?????? ? ???????
)))
ehh.. nice style
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CutOut you have a Big Heart. Many people don't go by the name they are given at birth. Most people get a pet name or nickname at some point in life. This name means far more to them than the birth name.
So more power to you!
I have a totally different view, but I respect you for posting this story.
What a great way to raise awareness! She must be really dedicated! I could never do that, I love my name too much.