I was fortunate enough to attend Dr. Rollin's speech, and as a graduate from the class of 2003 and a supporter of animal rights I wish to comment on its relevance to campus life.
Dr. Rollin's message was that animal rights is an ethic that most of us already embrace, even if we don't know it. We all believe that animals can feel pleasure, pain and the various emotions, be they dog, cat, chicken or pig. Consequently, we all understand that we have a moral duty not to cause animal suffering. So how does this ethic translate into life at Vanderbilt? Well, it comes in to play in the everyday decisions we make about what to eat, wear, buy, and how we make ourselves heard.
If such a commitment is too much to contemplate, there are smaller steps everyone can make. For example, you can eat a few vegetarian meals a week and choose not to patronize especially cruel restaurants like the Kentucky Fried Chicken on 21st street. While some chains like McDonald's are instituting more humane methods of slaughter, such as controlled Atmosphere Killing (CAK), KFC refuses to even implement the minimal standards of its own animal welfare advisory board. By boycotting companies like KFC consumers oppose animal cruelty.
Apart from our diets, we can help animals by keeping animal skins out of our wardrobes, buying cosmetics that are not tested on animals, forgoing animal circuses, and adopting a pet from a shelter instead of buying one from a pet store. When we become alumni, we can earmark our donations for uses other than animal research. Above all, we should start a vibrant campus discussion on animal issues both in and out of the classroom. These are just a few ways we can all take Dr. Rollin's words to heart.
I challenge the Vanderbilt community to use Dr. Rollin's visit as a chance to reevaluate how our personal choices affect the welfare of animals. Vanderbilt University is among the greatest academic institutions in the world; here's to making it one of the most ethically minded and compassionate as well.
Matthew Mongiello
VU '03
Matthew Mongiello, graduate student
Chicago
Mongiello@alumni.vanderbilt.edu
anonymous983
posted 4/19/05 @ 1:35 PM CST
Dr. Rollin's message was that animal rights is an ethic that most of us already embrace, even if we don't know it. We all believe that animals can feel pleasure, pain and the various emotions, be they dog, cat, chicken or pig. Consequently, we all understand that we have a moral duty not to cause animal suffering. So how does this ethic translate into life at Vanderbilt? Well, it comes in to play in the everyday decisions we make about what to eat, wear, buy, and how we make ourselves heard.
There are countless ways to make a difference, but the most obvious answer is to become a vegetarian. I personally gave up meat my last year at Vanderbilt and today as a vegan I consume no animal products at all. On campus, giving up meat has become even easier with the addition of Grins vegetarian café and the new Vanderbilt Vegetarian Society.
If such a commitment is too much to contemplate, there are smaller steps everyone can make. For example, you can eat a few vegetarian meals a week and choose not to patronize especially cruel restaurants like the Kentucky Fried Chicken on 21st street. While some chains like McDonald's are instituting more humane methods of slaughter, such as controlled Atmosphere Killing (CAK), KFC refuses to even implement the minimal standards of its own animal welfare advisory board. By boycotting companies like KFC consumers oppose animal cruelty.
Apart from our diets, we can help animals by keeping animal skins out of our wardrobes, buying cosmetics that are not tested on animals, forgoing animal circuses, and adopting a pet from a shelter instead of buying one from a pet store. When we become alumni, we can earmark our donations for uses other than animal research. Above all, we should start a vibrant campus discussion on animal issues both in and out of the classroom. These are just a few ways we can all take Dr. Rollin's words to heart.
I challenge the Vanderbilt community to use Dr. Rollin's visit as a chance to reevaluate how our personal choices affect the welfare of animals. Vanderbilt University is among the greatest academic institutions in the world; here's to making it one of the most ethically minded and compassionate as well.
Matthew Mongiello
VU '03
Matthew Mongiello, graduate student
Chicago
Mongiello@alumni.vanderbilt.edu