URI serves up vegan nuggets, sloppy Joes to earn nomination for 'Most Vegetarian-Friendly Colleges'

10/31/08 - The University of Rhode Island's vegan stuffed shells, vegan cutlets and vegan sloppy Joes recently earned the university a spot on Peta2's third annual Most Vegetarian-Friendly Colleges list.Peta2 bills itself as the world's largest youth animal rights organization, and created the list to recognize colleges for outstanding dedication to incorporating vegetarian and vegan food into the menu.

The organization made its nominations based on student recommendations and online feedback, and the list will now be winnowed down until a single institution emerges as Most Vegetarian-Friendly College of 2008.

Ryan Huling, peta2's college activist liaison, said he is hoping the contest will help to highlight the needs of vegetarian students.

"I think the contest does a great job of showing how mainstream vegetarian and vegan options are these days," Huling said.

Huling said one in four college students are actively seeking vegan options.

URI Dining Services offers a variety of vegetarian and vegan options in addition to those specifically cited in the commendation. Mainfare dinning hall features a variety of customizable options for the meat-shy, including salad and pasta bars and a stir-fry station. Common menu items include vegan patties, vegan nuggets and a number of intrinsically meat-free dishes, such as broccoli.

Associate Director of Dining Services Michael McCullough said he was not initially informed of the nomination.

"I feel pretty proud," McCullough said. "We've tried over the last couple of years to increase our vegetarian and vegan offerings."

McCullough said this growing demand for vegetarian and vegan foods can be attributed to increases in two separate groups, actual vegetarians and students choosing to eat healthier.

"It's definitely a need whether they come out and wave flags or they just choose to eat that way," McCullough said.

While Peta2 is dedicated to ending cruelty to animals, McCullough takes a more pragmatic approach to the decision to serve vegan items.

"We're a public institution and our customers pay to go here, so it's pretty much what they want," McCullough said. "We've given up a long time ago on the idea of a captive audience here."

Some vegan and vegetarian dishes tend to cost more, McCullough said, but Dining Services works to fit them in.

"That's how we've always conducted business, if it's a quality product and the customer wants it and it's fiscally responsible it goes on the menu," McCullough said.

McCulough attributes negative perception of some products, such as the vegan nuggets, to prejudice.

"There's a certain negative connotation to the word 'vegan,'" McCullough said. "If you've actually tried these nuggets or the vegan patty that we have, they're actually quite good."

Tom Cronin, who manages Hope Commons, offered a similar assessment.

"The kids love the vegan nuggets, if you don't tell them most of the time they can't tell," Cronin said.

Freshman Jeremy Rinn praised the school's vegetarian offerings, although he said more could be done.

"I like it because it's a lot healthier than everything else," Rinn said. "It still tastes just as good."

Freshman Christian Sullivan was not so complimentary about the school's vegan entrées.

"I have tried the weird tofu stuff and it's absolute garbage," Sullivan said. "You eat around it, you eat the vegetables."

Sophomore Matthew Robillard said he approved of the idea of vegetarian offerings.

"I think it's a good idea, but I'm not vegan . I've tried the nuggets, they're not that good," Robillard said.

Dinning Services is always looking to update its offerings and welcomes student feedback, Cronin said.

Votes for the Most Vegetarian Friendly College may be cast online at peta2's website. Universities are paired off in a four round single-elimination tournament format.

URI faces Wesleyan University in the first round.