People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, are spreading their influence across college campuses by launching “Million Sticker Mania,” a campaign attempt to administer one million pro-animal rights stickers to college students.

The stickers parade a cartoon nugget with the slogan “I am not a nugget” on them. The slogan represents the fact that, chickens do not have nuggets.

“The million sticker mania campaign shows how easy it is to make a difference for animals,” Ryan Huling, PETA2 college campaign coordinator, said. “It’s a fun and light-hearted way of talking about a more serious issue.”

More than 100 campuses in the U.S. have received the stickers from PETA2 in an attempt to educate students about animal rights and veganism, according to news release from PETA2.

“It has the potential to get around at EC, but it needs a bigger support group,” Heather Henry, 22, environmental science major, said. “People like the stickers because it’s a fun way of educating people.”

Henry, president of the Animal Rights Club, will be passing out the stickers Tuesday May 24 at her last club meeting. The club members are then meant to distribute the stickers across campus.

“When it comes to animal rights (just like with other social justice movements) it’s young people who are leading the charge,” PETA2 director Dan Shannon said in a news release. “More and more college students are embracing a healthy, humane vegan diet and thanks to student activists like Heather, that number will continue to grow.”

Colleges provide a great forum for spreading the word about animal rights and veganism, Henry said.

“They’re great places to access lots of people and it’s where students are still growing up and learning,” Henry said.

The animal rights club performs educational outreaches by handing out pamphlets and stickers to help promote veganism, Henry said.

PETA was founded in 1980 in reaction to the cruel treatment of animals and PETA2 is a branch of the organization designed to appeal to younger audiences. PETA2 came on campus this semester to petition for more vegan options in the cafeteria and was able to acquire more than 900 signatures from students.

“Animal rights goes beyond your food,” Henry said. “I think being vegan is important because it not only affects the environment but it affects your health in a positive way.”

The number of college students who identify themselves as vegetarian has risen by 50 percent in the past four years, and the number of vegans has more than doubled, according to PETA. 

“I think veganism is too hard to do because a lot of things contain animal products,” Korrina Guerrero, 19, biology major, said. “I think you can support it without being a vegan.”

Even if you don’t stick with it, trying to be vegan or vegetarian helps you learn a lot and it’s a good experience, Ana Rodriguez, 20, art major, said. 

“I’m not restricting it only to vegans and vegetarians, I think anyone can be for animal rights,” Henry said. “But it is important to know if you’re not vegan or vegetarian, where the food you’re eating comes from.” 

Rodriguez said she thinks veganism should be expanded because vegan restaurants aren’t ,popular around here.

“People are always asking me questions about being vegan because they think it’s strange and from some other world,” Rodriguez said. “They just don’t understand and it’s new to them.”

“It’s shocking for a lot of people to find out what happens,” Huling said.

If interested in helping the cause you can visit the PETA website at www.peta2.org.