DANIELLE FERIS

Gwen Frazier, WeShop cashier, rings up students. WeShop may soon offer more animal-friendly options

By Greg Heller
Contributing Writer

Student activists from E3, the University’s environmental group, and the Wesleyan Animal Rights Network (WARN), discussed increasing vegan and vegetarian food options and ways of reducing waste with the heads of campus dining facilities Monday.

Senior Food Service Director Sherwood Lincoln said ARAMARK would work to address the student’s concerns.

E3 Representative Josh Lerner ’00 said the meeting was part of an effort to increase interaction between students and ARAMARK. He said the campus dining representatives agreed to meet with students from E3 and WARN each month.

WARN Representative Daniel Shannon ’01 added that the groups may meet biweekly.

Students at the meeting requested vegan pizza dough at Itza Pizza, according to Shannon. Vegan food is made without the use of animal products.

Shannon said students also asked that hummus, tofu and soy milk be available at all times in the Campus Center and that all vegetarian and vegan food items be properly labeled.

Lincoln said he will work on appropriately labeling all food items.

"This will take time but I have done it successfully on other college campuses," he said.

During the meeting, members of WARN distributed vegan recipes to campus dining representatives.

Students also discussed ways of reducing food packaging and encouraging the use of reusable mugs and bags. Currently, any student who uses a reusable mug receives a 10-cent discount on drinks purchased from campus dining services.

Lincoln said that student support would be needed to reduce the amount of waste produced by campus dining facilities.

Attendees also discussed eliminating the use of cardboard trays in Grille Works. Tray theft has led to a shortage of plastic trays, necessitating the use of cardboard, campus dining representatives explained.

"The cardboard trays are expensive," Lincoln said. "We would much rather go with plastic trays."

The dining representatives also agreed to consider the use of "cruelty-free" labels on appropriate WeShop products. WARN members said they hope informed students will buy these products instead of similar alternatives.

WesUnity, a group aimed at improving communication between student organizations, may soon contact other groups to join in these meetings, according to Lerner. Also, students with dining concerns can fill out a comment card in campus dining facilities.

"The more feedback, the better," Lincoln said. "Students are our first concern."

The next meeting with E3, WARN and campus dining services is scheduled for November 2 at 4:15 in Meeting Room 1 of the Campus Center.