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.
