ATHENS, Ga., Jan. 23 (UPI) -- University of Georgia police have arrested a student who crushed several mice to death after using them in an art project.
Mark Starling faces misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty, police told the college newspaper Red and Black.
Starling had considered killing the mice as part of the project, said Police Chief Jimmy Williamson, but his teacher vetoed the idea. Instead he killed them Nov. 30, after using them, police documents show.
"He basically took a 2-by-4 and squashed each one of them," Williamson said.
Starling's Web site describes the "Red Button" project.
"Mice are disturbed when red button is pressed," he wrote. "Intention of installation is to examine the artist's responsibility and the detachment of real actions through a television screen."
"We had a lot of people who made reference to this event," Williamson said. "There were numerous witnesses."
"I don't look for this individual to go to prison by any means. He's looking at probation, community service, maybe some counseling," the chief added.
