Concordia University Animal Rights Association Wins PETA Youth Award

Group Leads the Way in Championing the Addition of Healthy Vegetarian Options to School Menus 

For Immediate Release:
February 11, 2010

Contact:
Ryan Huling 757-622-7382

Montreal -- For raising awareness of the benefits of a vegetarian diet, which protects animals, helps the environment, and boosts your health, the student group Concordia Animal Rights Association (CARA) will receive a Star University Group Award from peta2, the world's largest youth animal rights organization, which boasts 850,000 members aged 13 to 21.

Citing research that found that nearly a quarter of college and university students surveyed considered the availability of vegan food important to them, CARA copresident Lucas Solowey proposed a Concordia Student Union policy change to increase the number of vegan and vegetarian choices available on campus. Solowey spearheaded the campaign that led to unanimous passage of the new policyon February 10. The new policy--which goes into effect immediately--mandates that at least one vegan option be available at every campus event, and that one-third of all food served at Student Union events, from bake sales to barbecues, be vegetarian.

Some of the vegan menu options offered at Concordia include vegan cinnamon buns from Le Frigo Vert, spicy spinach soup, and vegetable curries. The Concordia community can also take advantage of the celebrated People's Potato soup kitchen--a campus project that serves up free vegan food to hungry students and local residents every weekday.

"The Concordia Animal Rights Association is saving lives every day," says peta2 Director Dan Shannon. "Each person who goes vegan because of CARA's efforts will spare the lives of 100 animals every year."

For more information, please visit peta2.com.