Women of Kappa Iota Prove That Killer Looks Don't Have to Kill Animals

For Immediate Release:
April, 27 2009
 
Contact:
Ryan Huling (peta2) 757-622-7382

Portland, Maine — For the 100 percent fur-free formal that they held on April 25, the women of the University of Southern Maine's Kappa Iota chapter of Kappa Delta Phi National Affiliated Sorority, Inc., have received a Compassionate Chapter Award from peta2, the world's largest youth animal rights organization. Kappa Iota member Casey Webster and her 13 sorority sisters wore peta2's anti-fur buttons to the formal and posed for a group photo behind a banner that read, "Fur-Free Formal 2009!"
 
Why is fur flunking out with an increasing number of students? Animals trapped in the wild often suffer for days and die from exposure, frostbite, shock, or infection. Those who survive are strangled, stomped, or bludgeoned to death by trappers. Animals on fur farms are confined to tiny, filthy cages, where many go insane. Then they are gassed, poisoned, or electrocuted to death, or their necks are broken. These crude killing methods aren't always effective, and sometimes animals regain consciousness while the skin is being ripped off their bodies.
 
An ever-growing number of celebrities, including Eva Mendes, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Charlize Theron, Natalie Portman, and more, refuse to wear fur. And many top designers--such as Stella McCartney, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Kenneth Cole, and Tommy Hilfiger--have either stopped using fur or never used it at all.
 
"Every woman wants to look her best for the spring formal, but the Kappa Iota sisters' compassion makes them radiantly beautiful," says peta2 college campaign coordinator Ryan Huling. "By making their biggest social affair of the year fur-free, these women showed that a killer look doesn't mean killing animals."
 
The members of Kappa Iota have received a framed certificate and a thank-you card signed by peta2 staffers.
 
For more information, please visit peta2.com.