Group praises benefits, ease of becoming vegan

Event highlights tasty vegetarian diet

By: ELYSE BEASLEY

Posted: 3/28/07

Speak Out for Species, a campus organization that advocates animal rights, is sponsoring The Great American Meatout - a day to celebrate "vegetarian living and its benefits for health, animals and the environment."

The University chapter of SOS will have four tables set up in the Tate Plaza today from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. and serve vegetarian foods from local restaurants and favorite vegetarian recipes of its members.

Jean Pembleton, co-coordinator of Meatout, said the goal of this event is to show University students how "fun and easy it can be to be a vegetarian on campus."

"Being a vegan or vegetarian is definitely not something that's just reserved for liberal, hippie types - it can be for anybody," Pembleton said.

Literature also will be provided at each of the tables, describing the benefits of vegetarianism for both personal health and the environment.

According to co-coordinator of Meatout and SOS president Tatiana Barron, this is the first year that the club has sponsored the event on a large scale.

Last year, the group had a table set up in Tate, but they did not have the donations from restaurants, such as Transmetropolitan and Barberitos, as they do this year.

Gift certificates from restaurants such as The Grill and Clocked will be given away during the event, as well, Barron said.

"We want people to obviously enjoy the free food, and while they're eating it, to think about how compassionate and tasty a vegetarian lifestyle can be. Giving up meat for just one day can be really easy and enjoyable, and you'll feel good about yourself at the end of the day," Pembleton said.