By Gavin Mackintosh-
The Cambridge University Student Union voted last night to support a controversial campaign to remove all animal products from the menus of University Catering Services cafes and instead only serve a vegan menu.
The motion, proposed by William Smith from the Plant-Based Universities (PBU) campaign, is controversial at the prestigious university , with many students opposing it, but has been welcomed by some. The authourities of the university itself will have the final say.
Plant-Based Universities is a national campaign with active divisions running in more than 50 universities in the UK and internationally.
It calls for a “sustainable and 100% plant-based” catering in response to the climate and biodiversity crises, and seeks to override any opposing views with respect to its goals.
After 55% of the members of Student Council, including SU sabbatical officers, JCR representatives and campaign and school representatives, voted in favour of the motion after thirty minutes of debate, the SU and PBU Cambridge are now poised to pressure the University Catering Service to fully an 100% plant-based food system.
Tuesday’s vote came after lobbying from Cambridge’s Plant Based Universities campaign, which is supported by Animal Rebellion, an offshoot of activist group Extinction Rebellion.
Its motion – which calls for change in response to the ‘climate and biodiversity crises’ was backed by 72 per cent of non-abstaining student representatives who voted.
The Eye Of Media.Com can confirm that some of the staff running the catering service are opposed to the idea, which is aggressively being pushed to preserve animal rights.
A University of Cambridge spokesperson said: “The University of Cambridge removed ruminant meat from the menu in all university catering Service cafes in 2016 and has a sustainable food policy which also seeks to actively promote plant-based options, remove unsustainable fish from the menu and reduce food waste. We always welcome suggestions from students and staff.
Strong advocates of animal rights are passionate about the topic and frequently campaign and seek to educate the pubic about the importance of avoiding meat at all cost.
However, many students want to feel free to eat as they please and detest the idea of their menu being dictated by the student union.
Third year Philosophy student Michaela Edwards, 20, said: ” I think its great that some people feel very passionately about animal rights, but it begins to cross the boundaries when you want to impose your personal views on other people. I think students have the right to choose what they want to eat, and although many people feel it is their duty to protect the interest of animals, it doers not really achieve that goal when the meat in food o the animals have already been killed.
”Raising awareness is good, but being unrealistic and dictatorial is not good”
Second year English literature student, Marcus Bowers, 19, said: ”I fully understand vegans and defenders of animal rights fighting proactively to stop people eating meat, but they must realise that the life choices of adult students cannot be confined to a vote by the Student Union. It is kind of bullish for them to want to impose their views on the rest of the university students. Those who don’t wish to eat meat should simply abstain from meat, how can they justify forcing everybody to think like them? I’m afraid, its plain wrong”.
Meanwhile Second year Literature student. Andy Holmes, 19 told this publication: ”I fully agree with the decision of the Student Union. People have been selfish for too long. The way animals are killed is heartless, somebody has to fight for these poor defenceless creatures. It shouldn’t boil down to choice when we are talking of rights, how would human beings like it if their lives were put down to choice”?
Many students in both the Uk and the U.S, are part of influential groups in defence of animal rights like ‘people for the ethical treatment of animals(PETHA), and attend meetings that strengthen their convictions and make them radical in their defence of animal rights.
Overseas students from America with similar convictions are particularly influential in strengthening the passions of those in favour of animal rights.
Masters International Relations Cambridge University student, Brook Davis, 24 said: ” the student union are right when it comes to this matter. Animals deserve a right to be treated properly and die a natural death. They are not ours to just butcher and consume while watching joking with our friends r watching television. It is heartless, somebody has to speak up for them. The Student Union in Cambridge University are doing so. They should be applauded”.
It remains to be seen how successful the Student Union is in implementing its collective decision.
A University of Cambridge spokesperson said: “The University of Cambridge removed ruminant meat from the menu in all university catering Service cafes in 2016 and has a sustainable food policy which also seeks to actively promote plant-based options, remove unsustainable fish from the menu and reduce food waste. We always welcome suggestions from students and staff.