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Raiders Organized for Animal Rights (ROAR) are attempting to raise awareness on campus and promote vegan/vegetarian lifestyles as a way to directly save animals.
"ROAR is working to educate people. During Veg Week, we had pot lucks, info nights, and screenings of 'Earthlings'," said Kenny Torrella junior recording industry major. "I think a lot of people on campus who want to be vegetarian or vegan find it hard because they don't see a lot of options. Maybe if they saw more, it would be easier."
Students at MTSU who have vegetarian or vegan diets may find it difficult to eat at the dining facilities on campus. While the cafeterias offer numerous options for students who eat meat, there are very few for those who don't.
"There are no vegan options and usually only one vegetarian choice in the cafeterias," said Brittany Pate, freshman. "When they do have a vegetarian option, it's usually not very appetizing."
"It seems that if you are vegetarian or vegan, your only options on campus are Subway or vegetarian sushi," said Danny McClain, junior graphic design major. "I rarely eat on campus and usually just make my own lunch."
According to a national poll sponsored by the Vegetarian Resource Group, the attitude towards vegetarianism in the last 20 years has certainly changed, and proof of this can be found in grocery stores where shelves of vegetarian and vegan foods are sold.
A poll by independent market research firm Harris Interactive in 2005 showed that 3% of American adults are vegetarians, meaning they do not eat meat, poultry or fish but may consume eggs and dairy.
People who are vegetarian or vegan have chosen these diets for either health reasons, emotional reasons or both.
"I made the choice because I was strongly against animal cruelty," Torella said. "Whether you are vegan/vegetarian or not, the food needs to be healthier. I just got so sick of eating cheese pizza all the time."
"I became vegetarian because I felt that capitalism is wrong and animals should not be exploited for food," McClain said. "I soon realized the dairy industry is just as bad as the meat industry, and it's just unnecessary violence towards animals."
According to the ROAR Web site, meat and dairy have been linked to high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and even some types of cancer. Many people have also used a veg lifestyle to lose weight or reverse the negative effects of an unhealthy diet.
Those who are considering going vegan or vegetarian might have doubts about it but might not realize that a lot of food they already eat is meatless or does not have dairy products in it.
"A lot of people [who aren't vegan] have this misconception that if a certain food is labeled vegan that only vegans can eat it," McClain said. "They don't realize that a lot of the food they eat is actually vegan."
While the majority of students on campus may not have vegetarian or vegan diets, those who aren't still feel that there should be more options for those who have plant based diets.
"They have a great selection for people who eat meat, but they could definitely have more for vegetarians," said Robert Hill, sophomore philosophy major. "They should at least have three more vegetarian options and two vegan, in addition to the salad bar."
The campus food supplier, Aramark, had no comment when asked about their vegetarian and vegan options offered at the cafeterias on campus.
"Aramark should survey students to see how many students on campus are vegetarian or vegan and would like to see a change in the cafeterias," Pate said. "If you are vegan, then there is no point in getting a meal plan."
"I think people on campus who want to be vegetarian or vegan find it hard because they don't see enough options," Torella said. "I'm sure if they saw more it would be easier."
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