Editor,
I want to compliment Nahzeha Hussien for speaking out in Monday's Daily Lobo about the lack of vegetarian options at UNM. As Hussien mentions, vegetarian options are more popular than ever, particularly among college students, for reasons ranging from health and environmental concerns to the cruelty to animals involved in raising and killing them for food.
In fact, a recent study by Aramark, a leading food service provider, concluded that one in four college students are actively seeking out vegan options when they sit down to eat. For UNM to disregard the concerns of that large a segment of its student body would be a regrettable error.
Most students are horrified to discover that chickens have their beaks sliced off when they're only days old, and cows and pigs are often skinned and dismembered while still fully conscious. If these kinds of abuses were inflicted upon cats or dogs, it would result in cruelty-to-animals felony charges.
Yet these practices are standard in an industry that refuses to make even the most basic improvements in the way animals are treated. Thankfully, with so many delicious and cruelty-free dishes, such as vegetarian BBQ riblets and vegan pizza, available at most grocery stores, and with chain restaurants such as Burger King and Ruby Tuesday adding delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes to their menus, it's never been easier to boycott this kind of cruelty.
Hopefully, UNM Dining Services will follow suit.
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Ryan Huling
College Campaign Coordinator
Peta2.com
