College Campus Opportunities for Vegans
How Vegans and Vegetarians Can Make a Difference at School
Aug 6, 2009
College represents a time and place to get involved with new and exciting things and make a difference in the world. People entering college as vegans or vegetarians, or leaning in that direction, can let that aspect of their lives guide them to make a difference for animals, the environment, and people – all from their campuses.
Join or Start a Student Group
Many colleges have student groups for veganism, vegetarianism, and animal issues. Schools have lists of registered groups, either online or in a student activity center, that students can look at to see if a group exists. If it does, they can join it, and do not need to feel intimidated. Student groups always welcome fresh members, and also offer a new set of friends who have a shared interest that can be very inspiring.
If a school does not already have a group to join, students can start their own. Colleges tend to make it easy for students to start groups. Students can check a student manual, ask at a student activity center, or ask an advisor about what the requirements are for starting a group or club.
To then find other people to work with, students can do things such as post flyers on bulletin boards around the school (including in the dorms), pass out flyers in busy areas, make announcements to classes, and ask around about if anyone knows people who may be interested.
They can also take advantage of websites like Facebook to inform people about their group by forming both group and event pages that they invite people to join. They can then keep their pages updated about relevant group information for existing and potential members.
Student group activities often include: campaigns to get more vegan/vegetarian food options or to get dissection choice policies; vegan potlucks; hosting a speaker; trips to animal sanctuaries; passing out flyers (literature is available by request from national groups); setting up a table to distribute information and talk with people about getting involved; protesting animal testing on campus; having a vegan bake sale. The possibilities are endless, so students have the chance to be creative!
Cook And Bake...Even In The Dorms
Whether living in the dorms, an apartment, Greek housing, or at home, students should take the time to do some vegan cooking – and to share the food with friends. College students tend to welcome free food, so they can be a great audience of people to introduce to yummy vegan foods. To attract people, students can even invite people to have a potluck in a dorm commons area or somewhere on campus.
Student living in the dorms may find that their cooking is largely centered around the microwave. But that's okay; they can still make plenty of foods. PETA even has a Vegan College Cookbook that's filled with recipes that are dorm-friendly and don't require a stove. They can also search the internet for simple vegan recipes – or make up their own.
The Dorm Cafeteria
Many dorm cafeterias have vegan options, so a lot of students will find plenty to eat. But if they don't, they can let their schools know that they want more vegan foods. The school may not even know that people want vegan foods unless someone asks. People eat vegan diets for ethical, religious, and health reasons, and they all should be able to eat in the cafeteria, especially if they're paying for a meal plan.
Students can send letters to the school's food services. They should request specific foods so that the school understands their needs. For example, if a school has a cereal bar, students can request that soy or rice milk be available at it. If a school makes meals, they can request at least one vegan option at every meal, and suggest things like pasta and marinara sauce. They'll be getting themselves and others more foods to eat.
Not Vegan or Vegetarian Yet?
College is a great time to make that transition. People are learning new things, growing up, and figuring out what they want to do with their lives. Why not make the decision to save the lives of animals?
Each year of being vegan saves the lives of an estimated 100 animals per year. So if someone becomes vegan at the beginning of college, by the time he graduates, he will have saved about 400 animals! That's a pretty amazing thing to accomplish, and something to be proud of – and all it takes is making a choice at each meal. A choice for animals, the environment, people, and themselves.
Anyone interested in becoming vegan or vegetarian can request a Free Vegan Starter Pack from Action for Animals.
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