No meat please, we're vegans

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SPARC advocates for animial rights, cruelty-free lifestyle

Sarah Ewald

 

Staff Writer

 

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Share this article Published: Sunday, March 22, 2009

 

Updated: Sunday, March 22, 2009

 

 

Chicken or beef? Most students make this choice daily for their source of

protein, but some opt not to go this route. These students are vegans and

vegetarians, and make their choices a bit differently.

 

SPARC, a student group at the University, stands for Students Promoting Animal

Rights Collectively and currently has 14 members, according to the group's

Facebook page. As of spring 2008, there were 38 active members, and 187 others

on the listserve who attend events. Most of the members are vegetarians or

vegans.

 

Irena Rindos, a 2008 alumna in natural resources policy and administration, is a

former member of SPARC. Rindos said the member base has fluctuated from year to

year, but there has always been a core group of dedicated members.

 

SPARC was started in 2002 by Jared Milrad, a 2006 graduate in wildlife

management, along with some of his vegan and vegetarian friends. Their main goal

was to bring more vegetarian and vegan-friendly options to the dining halls.

 

Rindos said the group has succeeded in this endeavor.

 

" I remember looking at a pamphlet for NCSU, when I was applying from high

school, and it said something to the effect that the dining halls on campus were

so great they even offered vegan meals, " Rindos said.

 

In 2007, SPARC's mission was changed to focus solely on animal rights.

 

Rindos said SPARC has always had the support of other local vegetarian and

animal rights groups and activists, and they have sometimes worked together to

bring speakers to the area or to host events. The events bring in attendees from

the greater triangle area, as well as places like Charlotte.

 

SPARC's past activities include hosting vegan dinners, showing educational films

and participating in local Earth Day events. The group also has a table in the

Brickyard during Ag Week.

 

Brandon Becker, a 2008 alumnus and former outreach coordinator for SPARC, helped

out at the SPARC table during Ag Week 2009.

 

" I handed out around 1,500 `Why Vegan?' to educate the students, and answered

questions about veganism and animal rights and gave students literature to learn

more, " Becker said.

 

SPARC has done protests in the past, but that aspect has never been a focus of

the group.

 

" We think education through tabling, leafleting, and showing films are more

proactive and effective forms of advocacy, " Becker said.

 

SPARC members do not feel that knowledge of their choices has made others

judgmental.

 

" I am rarely forced to defend my lifestyle to others. Veggie and cruelty-free

options are available almost everywhere, and people usually go out of their way

to understand and respect my choices, " Abby Cameron, doctoral student in

sociology, said.

 

Becker said that now all of his good friends are vegans or aspiring vegans.

Becker and Cameron also feel strongly about the need to make others aware of

vegan and vegetarian lifestyles.

 

" Education is the path to social change. Becoming a vegan is a direct action

that each one of us can take to stop injustice against nonhuman animals, " Becker

said. " We must make compassionate choices daily and extend our commitment to all

living beings in our community, " Cameron said.

 

Cameron said most people do not know where their consumer products, especially

food, come from.

 

" In order to live in a peaceful and just society, we must understand and

question our own consumption and the industries of production around us, "

Cameron said.

 

As per its mission statement, SPARC is dedicated to educating thes campus about

the ethics of veganism, vegetarianism and animal rights issues.

 

" We are building a movement of people who say `no' to cruelty and oppression and

`yes' to kindness and liberation. With perseverance, we will secure justice for

all sentient beings, " Becker said.