Read All About It: Students Taking Action Across the Nation! October 19, 2009
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With midterms coming up, it's a great time to reflect on all of the amazing work student groups are doing to push for substantial changes at their schools this fall.
This semester there are far too many exciting situations to cover in one blog, but let's take a glance at a few of the recent student petitioning campaigns that have dominated the headlines, shall we?
At Towson University (in Maryland), students gathered over 2,500 signatures in support of vegan options, and the school is listening! The student newspaper recently announced:
[The dining halls'] new program for vegetarians, called "T-Veggie," provides soy-based beef and chicken alternatives to many of the regular dishes offered on campus.
...
The Glen Dining Hall, which has the "Balanced Station," is now a strictly vegan station and a vegetarian entree is offered everyday on the hot line at Newell Dining Hall.
"I think this will be a win-win for everybody," [the campus dietition] said.
Venturing across the state, we find the white-hot campaign against McCruelty on campus at the University of Maryland. You see, there's actually a McDonald's location operating in the student center, and students have had enough. They've gathered over 2,200 petition signatures, asking the school to give McD's the boot—at least until they make some basic animal welfare improvements like PETA has asked.
Once again, the student newspaper has the full story:
"We think it drags down the reputation of a well-respected university to have a low-grade restaurant on campus," said Ryan Huling, the senior college campaign coordinator for peta2.
...
VegTerps [the student group] is planning to meet with the food service company the university uses to discuss when the McDonald's contract is up and what could replace it.
VegTerps was the first group to bring the cause to campus, and, along with peta2, they say they plan to keep the effort going until it succeeds."
Finishing up in the land of maple syrup and unhappy cows, students at the University of Vermont have been causing quite a stir in their campaign for additional vegan options. As today's Vermont Cynic student newspaper reports ...
With over 2,000 signatures, vegan and vegetarian students are taking their vegan initiative to the administration.
Working with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), members of Students for True Animal Rights (STAR) gathered thousands of signatures in support of animal-friendly food on campus.
...
"It would be a big mistake for UVM to ignore one fifth of their student population who feel strongly about the issue," [Ryan] Huling said.
So what would you like to change about your school?
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I wish peta2 would come to UMD. the food services department desperately needs help and is not willing to listen to those who would like a change. I've emailed them, other people have emailed them and all you get in reply is a somewhat rude email saying that they have enough VEGETARIAN options.. they have no vegan options though.. and everything is WAY to unhealthy to eat in there anyways even the non-vegetarian people find it difficult. You could get clogged arteries and die of a heart attack within 5 minutes of just standing in the doorway. So peta2 I (and many others) would appreciate your help.
Posted by: Kelsey at October 21, 2009 8:05 AM