Meatless Monday, to those who subscribe to an animal flesh and secretions-heavy diet, is a nightmare. There are no crispy cows served on a bun, nor thigh of chicken delicately nestled against a bowl of steaming rice. However, for those of us who do not enjoy consuming our animal companions or the secretions that come from them, Meatless Monday is a safe place. It is the single day of the week where we can eat most of the food in the room.
While UR is in many ways veg friendly (in 2012, they were nominated by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals as Most Veg Friendly), it is hardly perfect. Most days, people who are vegetarian struggle to find an acceptable entrée beyond cheese pizza or limp salad. For vegans, it can be even harder to navigate these treacherous waters since what could be vegan is more than likely drenched in cow’s milk. Veg individuals have to spend the majority of their time reading labels, asking questions, and facing limited choices. Meatless Monday, on the other hand, is the day when both of these groups of individuals can eat in peace and not have to worry about deciding whether it is worthwhile to swipe into the dining hall or if their veggie burger has been marinating in the juices of a cow. It is the day that we get to have a veggie burger, a burrito, or something that is not stir-fried without going off campus. With nearly 12% of Millennials identifying as veg, it only makes sense to have one night dedicated to a plant-based diet. However, this night not only benefits this group, but also people of other dietary restrictions and limitations.
For those who keep Kosher or Halal, Meatless Monday is an easy dining experience – animal products can be a sticking point for them as well. In fact, anyone suffering from a form of lactose intolerance might also enjoy Meatless Monday due to the abundance of vegan food.
Yet, it isn’t as if students cannot find sizzling cow meat on campus. They merely have to walk a bit further to find something to eat – many veg people do on a regular basis to get to the vegan station in Danforth. So I am not sorry that you are tired after your class on Monday. So am I most nights of the week, but I still walk to Danforth to get some food. Animal eaters are not inconvenienced that often on campus, and really, having to walk a little further is not truly an inconvenience since you can still get your burger if it means that much to you. Meatless Monday only occurs one night a week for two hours at a single location on campus. You still have the ability to eat at Danforth, the Commons, Blimpie, or Pura Vida. For two hours, Douglass is our haven.
Arnold is a member of
the class of 2016.
