 "Photo: Jaclyn Borowski/The Diamondback")
The McChickens and McNuggets served in the Stamp Student Union are a supersized problem for some campus activists.
A petition created by two animal-rights groups aims to expel McDonald's from the student union. Over 2,200 carnivores and vegetarians alike have signed the petition, which was created by VegTerps, a campus vegan and vegetarian activist group, and peta2, a youth offshoot of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Administrators said if a student advisory board recommended the move, Mickey D's could get the boot, a goal the organizations believe will be beneficial to the university.
"We think it drags down the reputation of a well-respected university to have a low-grade restaurant on campus," said Ryan Huling, the senior college campaign coordinator for peta2.
PETA has long been critical of fast-food chains from McDonald's to Kentucky Fried Chicken, which they have dubbed "Kentucky Fried Cruelty."
Michelle Carr, President of VegTerps, said her group and peta2 are going to do everything possible to help raise awareness about the campaign, called "No McCruelty on Campus." They are focusing on McDonald's because the chain's suppliers use what the petitioners say are unethical slaughtering practices that cause the chickens to suffer while they are still alive.
"By working with peta2, VegTerps hopes to replace McDonald's with a restaurant that is not only animal-friendly but also a better choice for everyone involved," Carr said. "I started VegTerps in August, and to already have over 2,000 petition signatures for this campaign amazes me."
The groups' petition stated that they want to see the McDonald's removed from the student union until chicken suppliers in the U.S. and Canada change to a more humane method called "controlled-atmosphere killing," which reduces the birds' suffering because they die painlessly from a lack of oxygen.
VegTerps and peta2 have been distributing literature, stickers and DVDs showing undercover investigations of the slaughtering practices to garner support from the campus community.
"We've been getting support from average students, not just vegetarians," Huling said, citing the DVDs as particularly compelling to signers.
The groups are not asking for students to become vegan, Carr said, just to make informed choices about what to eat at the food court.
"Besides, why would anyone want to support such a company that sees the chickens as nothing more but profit and not as living animals?" Carr said.
Stamp Student Union Director Gretchen Metzelaars said students could force a change by convincing members of a student advisory board, who she said make decisions on what restaurants go in the food court.
"With 2,200 signatures we'd start a discussion," Metzelaars said. "The next step for them is to bring it to a discussion with the board of students."
Metzelaars hadn't heard about the current petition, but said there was some controversy when students made the decision to replace a Roy Rogers with McDonald's in the union 11 years ago.
"Since McDonald's was one of the top choices, they'd have to come up with a petition compelling enough to present to the student body since they put McDonald's there in the first place," Metzelaars said.
While the petition has gathered momentum, some students lamented the possible departure of one of their favorite restaurants.
"I don't want them gone," said Anna Emmons, a sophomore communication major. "I think it's one of the most popular and it stays open the latest."
Sophomore letters and sciences major Neelam Patel agreed.
"I think most places get chickens from the same place so it doesn't really matter what restaurant is there," Patel said.
Carr said VegTerps is planning to meet with the food service company the university uses to discuss when the McDonald's contract is up and what could replace it.
VegTerps was the first group to bring the cause to campus, and, along with peta2, they say they plan to keep the effort going until it succeeds.
"It's surprising that a national campaign was just launched and dozens of groups have already contacted us about it," Huling said. "UMD was the first to take charge but there are dozens of other groups lining up too."
cetrone@umdbk.com
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