While sitting in class, glancing at the clock waiting for noon to approach, one begins to hunger for lunch. Vegan lasagna or a vegan hot dog is what your stomach is craving, but when you get to the campus food spot, the only options available are veggie burgers and wraps.
Vegetarians tend to not eat any meat, poultry or fish and a vegan tends to not eat any animal products or by-products. Since there’s only a limited amount of time before your next class, you are forced to settle for what’s there.
With such a diverse group of students and faculty on campus, one would assume that the food on campus would reflect all those lifestyles.
For example, the Campus Deli, the Manhattan, CaféCamino and Common Ground; all provide choices of hamburgers, pizzas, deli sandwiches and burritos, making meat their main ingredient in most of their menu items.
There are other options at these locations for people to choose from when looking for something to eat, including  junk food, select fruit and different pastries.
We have the right to stay healthy and have dining options on campus that do not contain meat.
Joining the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the Animal Rights Club is taking the initiative of bringing awareness to faculty and students about having vegan options on campus.
With almost 900 signatures, the club hopes to get support in providing vegan food at EC.
Although this is a great way to bring attention to something that affects many people on campus, it shouldn’t take an event like this to get a variety of non-meat foods on these grounds.
Food shouldn’t be an exception when considering people’s backgrounds or beliefs. Just as we acknowledge people’s religion, we should also acknowledge their eating habits.
Going green shouldn’t only apply in the environmental aspect; it should apply to the food that is offered.
The average person’s consensus is that vegan food is boring and is only green, but it doesn’t just have to involve lettuce and tomatoes.
UCLA has been a leader in this area, as they have gone vegan friendly and incorporated many vegan options to their menus.
Why not follow and also make that change here on this campus?
Having more green fresh food that doesn’t consist of meat will not only keep everyone on campus happy, but it will also promote a healthy lifestyle.
Just as the few campus items on the Café Camino menu give vegetarians some options, why can’t there be any for those who choose to eat vegan?
Even if some of us are not vegan, we should still all go out there and support the idea of bringing vegan food options to EC.