For meat lovers, grabbing a juicy burger or cheesy pizza after class sounds like heaven, but for students who are vegetarians, grabbing food on campus can be a hassle.
Vegetarians abstain from consuming red meat, poultry, seafood and the flesh of any other animal, and they may also abstain from eating byproducts of animal slaughter. According to a 2012 Gallup survey, 5 percent of people aged 18-29 consider themselves vegetarians.
Even some professors, like vegetarian history professor at the University of Memphis Dennis Laumann, remain disappointed with the limited choices available to vegetarians on campus.
“The food options in the UC are particularly poor,” Laumann said. “Panda Express has only one or two items that are vegetarian, and they do not offer any tofu entrées. As a result, I bring my own healthy meat-free lunch from home.”
The U of M once had a Vegetarian Student Organization on campus that lobbied Aramark to offer healthier selections for vegans, according to Laumann. Vegans abstain from eating and using all animal products, like eggs and milk, and have a philosophy that rejects animals being used as commodities.
“The group even hosted a free vegetarian lunch for all faculty, staff and students that featured delicious international dishes created by the Aramark chefs, but it seems the campus is less vegetarian-friendly today,” Laumann said.
Some students, like senior Victoria Evans, eat off campus due to lack of vegetarian options.
“Most people see the UC as having a lot of meal choices, but when you don’t eat meat, it dwindles … significantly,” Evans said. “I normally just wait until all of my classes are over to get food, but if I do eat on campus, I normally eat at Einstein’s and grab a smoothie.”
Dunkin Donuts, among other food establishments on campus, provides few choices for vegetarians. Outside of the ‘Green Zone’ in the Tiger Den, which provides vegan options for students, there are remarkably few options for vegetarians and vegans on campus.
Some students, like junior Leneshia Wright, wish there were healthier vegan and vegetarian options available on campus.
“I tried going vegan my freshman year, and that ended fast because I didn’t have a lot to eat other than salads,” Wright said. “I lived on campus, so I mainly ate at the UC and Tiger Den, which only had a salad and soup station that I could really eat from.”
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
