2008 Woodie Awards
Thanksgiving Boulder style
CU PAW puts on vegan lunch
Sara Kassabian
Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: News
The Partnership for Animal Welfare is going turkey-free this year after holding its third annual vegan pre-Thanksgiving lunch Thursday afternoon.
The lunch drew a crowd of about 300 people from the Boulder community.
"Our turnout has doubled almost every year since we started," said Chris Kirschbaum, director of CU PAW. "We probably had 80 pounds of potatoes and 60 pounds of stuffing, and we're almost out and we're only an hour in!"
CU PAW is a group on campus dedicated to spreading awareness about animal welfare. According to their Web site, being vegan or vegetarian is not a requirement to join the group, but members of the club agree that a vegan lifestyle is the most beneficial thing you can do for the environment and animals.
"The goal of the event is to show that vegans don't eat rabbit food," said Frances Jarret, a volunteer at the event. "You can still have a full meal that's cruelty-free."
The buffet featured the traditional mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, eggnog and cranberry sauce, but with a few alterations. Tofurkey was used instead of turkey, and everything served was vegan and cruelty-free.
"We requested funding from the school and we got about $1,000 from them, local community members donated funds and food as well," said Andrea Armour, a PAW volunteer and CU senior psychology major.
The Chancellor's Office, the Vice Chancellor's Office, Student Affairs, Smart Deli, Tofurkey, Vegenaise and Rudi's Organic Bakery donated funds and food for the buffet.
Despite being a vegan-friendly event, many people who do not participate in a vegan lifestyle attended the lunch.
"I'm happy people are here that are the 'traditional American diet people,' and that they're willing to try it," Kirschbaum said. "Maybe that's a little less meat a week, it all adds up."
Students say that vegans and vegetarians often have a difficult time finding vegan foods.
"I just think that a lot of vegetarians and vegans don't have a lot of options for vegan foods," said Taylor Pearce, a sophomore aerospace engineering major.
Pearce and freshman Diana Downard, a political science major, are both vegetarians and decided to check out the vegan lunch for the first time.
"I heard about it in a Buff Bulletin" Downard said. "And I didn't know there was an animal rights group on campus, but now I'm going to join. This provided a lot of good publicity."
Besides being healthy, both Pearce and Downard chose a vegetarian lifestyle because they say they're compassionate toward animals and their rights.
"As advanced as our country is we really don't have to eat meat," Pearce said.
There are many reasons people choose a vegan lifestyle that aren't restricted to compassion for animals.
"We've become a community-not just of vegans and vegetarians, but of people interested in the environment, world hunger, and health," Kirschbaum said.
Volunteers say that overall, they are working to create a non-violent community.
"We're trying to 'vegecate' people that they can have a cruelty-free meal without sacrifice, and to have a community for people that are already aware of non-violent meals," said Barbara Bear, a local activist and PAW volunteer.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Sara Kassabian at Sara.kassabian@colorado.edu.
The lunch drew a crowd of about 300 people from the Boulder community.
"Our turnout has doubled almost every year since we started," said Chris Kirschbaum, director of CU PAW. "We probably had 80 pounds of potatoes and 60 pounds of stuffing, and we're almost out and we're only an hour in!"
CU PAW is a group on campus dedicated to spreading awareness about animal welfare. According to their Web site, being vegan or vegetarian is not a requirement to join the group, but members of the club agree that a vegan lifestyle is the most beneficial thing you can do for the environment and animals.
"The goal of the event is to show that vegans don't eat rabbit food," said Frances Jarret, a volunteer at the event. "You can still have a full meal that's cruelty-free."
The buffet featured the traditional mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, eggnog and cranberry sauce, but with a few alterations. Tofurkey was used instead of turkey, and everything served was vegan and cruelty-free.
"We requested funding from the school and we got about $1,000 from them, local community members donated funds and food as well," said Andrea Armour, a PAW volunteer and CU senior psychology major.
The Chancellor's Office, the Vice Chancellor's Office, Student Affairs, Smart Deli, Tofurkey, Vegenaise and Rudi's Organic Bakery donated funds and food for the buffet.
Despite being a vegan-friendly event, many people who do not participate in a vegan lifestyle attended the lunch.
"I'm happy people are here that are the 'traditional American diet people,' and that they're willing to try it," Kirschbaum said. "Maybe that's a little less meat a week, it all adds up."
Students say that vegans and vegetarians often have a difficult time finding vegan foods.
"I just think that a lot of vegetarians and vegans don't have a lot of options for vegan foods," said Taylor Pearce, a sophomore aerospace engineering major.
Pearce and freshman Diana Downard, a political science major, are both vegetarians and decided to check out the vegan lunch for the first time.
"I heard about it in a Buff Bulletin" Downard said. "And I didn't know there was an animal rights group on campus, but now I'm going to join. This provided a lot of good publicity."
Besides being healthy, both Pearce and Downard chose a vegetarian lifestyle because they say they're compassionate toward animals and their rights.
"As advanced as our country is we really don't have to eat meat," Pearce said.
There are many reasons people choose a vegan lifestyle that aren't restricted to compassion for animals.
"We've become a community-not just of vegans and vegetarians, but of people interested in the environment, world hunger, and health," Kirschbaum said.
Volunteers say that overall, they are working to create a non-violent community.
"We're trying to 'vegecate' people that they can have a cruelty-free meal without sacrifice, and to have a community for people that are already aware of non-violent meals," said Barbara Bear, a local activist and PAW volunteer.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Sara Kassabian at Sara.kassabian@colorado.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Steve Jones
posted 11/21/08 @ 10:22 AM MST
Off campus, join us for the Boulder Vegan Meetup. We have a monthly vegan potluck, a feast of unimaginable variety and delight! Ask questions, learn new recipes, free cookbooks, information, advice, and community. (Continued…)
Chris Kirschbaum
posted 11/22/08 @ 7:16 PM MST
For more information on PAW @ CU or to keep informed of future events, check us out on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2200980952
or our website:
http://www. (Continued…)
Mike Stabler
posted 11/29/08 @ 6:54 AM MST
What a fun event!! Congratulations CU PAW!
CU PAW works with Rocky Mountain Animal Defense on promoting vegetarianism and advocating for animals. Go to www. (Continued…)
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