So according to this OFFICIAL NEW YORK STATE website, my professors (both of them) actually have BROKEN THE LAW.  Yeah, I'm not kidding you.

Part of the law states:

TEACHERS SHALL NOTIFY STUDENTS OF THEIR RIGHTS UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION PRIOR TO THE USE
OF ANY ANIMAL FOR DISSECTION.

What the fuck?  I'm pissed of.  I feel like dissection is outdated and totally unnecessary.  I feel betrayed, scarred, disturbed, sad, angry, cheated, etc, etc.

It's amazing how many medical (and IV league) schools do not partake in dissection anymore.

From here: To date, 85 of 126 U.S. medical schools have discontinued the practice of using animals for training doctors. These include: · Harvard University · Stanford University · Columbia University · Yale University · Tufts University · New York university · Ohio State University · Michigan State University · State University of New York, Stony Brook · University of Michigan · University of Washington · Hahnemann University · Louisiana State University · Mercer University · University of Maryland · University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine All but two medical schools in the entire country offer their students non-animal alternatives—the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD and the University of Colorado, Denver. In 1986, the American Medical Student Association adopted a resolution supporting a student’s right to choose an alternative activity to dissection and to be free from penalties or faculty intimidation when they refuse to dissect.

So why is my crappy little school still doing it?

I determined to not have to go through with this - it's heartbreaking, disturbing, unnecessary to learn the correct anatomy and physiology, etc, etc.  I'm just way fearful that if I protest, if I try print up these laws and information, and talk to my teacher about it, that I will be "that" one.  I will be that "alternative" student who couldn't dissect. I just want to blend it really. This is so very frustrating. I hate this.

Any opinions of how I should handle this situation?

BTW thanks to maiden_midwife for the link and really making me aware of my rights.  THANK YOU.