Animals in Research: The conversation begins

The recent firebombing of the homes of two researchers employed at the University of California, Santa Cruz has been covered by a good slice of ScienceBlogs including AinEandS, Respectful Insolence, Terra Sigillata and new Sb blog Built on Facts (which advocates high-noon style armed shootouts, apparently). I have little to add; my outrage about this violent terrorism of people who are trying to help their fellow citizens of this planet Earth through scientific advances is not readily expressed.
Where I think I can contribute is to a recent conversation that arose over at AinEandS in which it became clear that some undergraduate students who may wish to educate themselves on the use of animals in research feel stymied and blown-off by their professors.