By Christina Smith
In recognition of the University’s wide variety of vegan and vegetarian food choices, it has been nominated as a finalist in peta2’s competition to find the 2008 Most Vegetarian-Friendly Colleges. Peta2 is the youth-oriented branch of the animal-rights organization PETA, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
According to Eric Dubinsky, a 2007 graduate who also is former president of the now-inactive club Student Organization for Animal Rights (SOAR), the University has come a long way with its special foods options since the spring of 2005. He said Lackmann Dining Services seemed as though they would be cooperative at first, but it took a while to see dramatic results and changes in the vegan and vegetarian menu.
Isabelle Goodman, a junior who is president of the Progressive Students Union (PSU), said there was a point when the only vegan food option on campus was peanut butter and jelly.
According to Goodman, about 4 years ago, SOAR met with Eisa Shukran, director of dining services, and began pressuring Lackmann officials by flooding the food service suggestion box with their demands for more animal-friendly eating options. Lackmann responded with the University’s initial vegetarian options like veggie burgers and tofu in the salad bar.
“It was gross vegetarian food,” Goodman said. “It was the food that everyone thinks is vegetarian food.”
Brian Shoicket, a junior who is a member of PSU and a former member of SOAR, agreed. He said that when he came to the University in the fall of 2006, there was a decent amount of vegetarian options, but that he and other vegetarians were still unsatisfied.
“We wanted more than just salad,” he said, “and Lackmann was easy to work with on that.”
The University has since expanded its vegan and vegetarian options and now provides breakfast options, along with a complete meal station in the Student Center, located between the hot food and the wrap/sandwich stations.
“I’m thrilled to see that Lackmann has cooperated with us [vegan and vegetarians],” Dubinsky said. “There are so many options around the campus now and that is really nice to see.”
It is this response to the expanded menu that has put the University on peta2’s radar. Ryan Huling, a representative from peta2, said that the organization has been receiving feedback from students on their Facebook and Myspace pages, as well as on their main Web blog.
“Hofstra’s nomination comes from the positive feedback regarding the meatless options available on the campus,” he said.
The University is in the final 32 schools in America to be labeled as a vegetarian-friendly college. Last year’s top three schools, Northwestern University, Yale University and the University of California at Berkeley are each in the running again. The University faces the 2007 runner-up, Yale, in this year’s single-elimination bracket.
Despite these odds, Huling is confident that the University has quite a chance in the competition.
“Hofstra’s vegan stuffed shells, Thai dumplings and vegan brownies are popular,” he said. “The University will put up quite a fight this year.”
For students like Dubinsky, Goodman and Shoicket, it is rewarding to see the University even nominated for this honor. Goodman thinks the honor of being involved in the vegetarian-friendly competition is a great honor to both Shukran and Lackmann and serves as a thank you for their efforts.
“What is most rewarding, of course, is knowing that fewer animals will suffer,” Dubinsky said, “and that we are collectively making efforts to be healthier as people and as a planet.”
To vote for the University as one of the 2008 Most Vegetarian-Friendly Colleges, visit www.peta2.com/college/vegfriendlycollege-08.