HISTORY
Founded in 2001, the Center on Animal Liberation Affairs (CALA) was founded by Anthony J. Nocella, II and Steve Best, which came out of the notable book Terrorists or Freedom Fighters? Reflections on the Liberation of Animals (Lantern Books 2004). In 2007 CALA formerly changed its name to the Institute for Critical Animal Studies (ICAS).
The term Critical Animal Studies (CAS) emerged out of a great deal of dialogue by many animal rights/liberation academics and activists around the world in 2006 and 2007 facilitated by Anthony J. Nocella, II, Steve Best, and Richard Kahn of ICAS and John Sorenson a sociology professor at Brock University who founded the first Critical Animal Studies minor and concentration.
ORIGINAL CALA MISSION STATEMENT
CALA is the first interdisciplinary scholarly nonprofit animal protection center to provide education policy, research, and analysis for higher education.
ICAS MISSION STATEMENT
ICAS was established to promote critical animal studies initiatives, eliminate the domination and oppression of animals, and to transform higher education into a more inclusive environment for all species.
ICAS BELIEF
ICAS believes that in order to eliminate the domination and oppression of animals in higher education animal advocacy/rights/liberation/abolitionist scholars must come together under one common field of study, similar to that of other marginalized fields of study (e.g., Women’s Studies, Ethnic Studies, Latina/o Studies, Native American Studies), while constructively debating theories, tactics, and strategies for the advancement of animal liberation and freedom.
ICAS STRATEGIES
ICAS identifies animal oppression and domination as torturing, marginalizing, or killing animals. ICAS has identified four major initiatives that create academic and social change to end animal oppression in higher education they include:
1. Forums, such as conferences, debates, and lecture and film series
2. Research, such as analysis that result into books, articles, journals, and policy papers
3. Networking, such as associations and groups for faculty, staff, and students to communicate
4. Campus activism, such as working with students, faculty, and staff on veganizing their campus, banning animals in entertainment and animal mascots, and eliminating vivisection and dissection.
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The Institute for Critical Animal Studies (ICAS) is a 501c3 non-profit organization located in New York, USA. Contributions to ICAS in the United States are tax-exempt to the extent provided by law.
