There are a number of disturbing inaccuracies in a recent op-ed ("AU wrong to promote PETA and 'vegetarian lifestyle,'" Nov. 10). First, the author should know that no one is "shoving anything down his throat," least of all "far left ideology." Animal advocates come from across the political spectrum; the organization I'm interning for this semester, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, endorses Democratic and Republican candidates for political office based solely on their stances on animal issues. Second, peta2's Veg-Friendly Colleges contest is designed to draw attention to the impressive efforts being made by AU Housing and Dining and Bon Appetit to meet the needs of students seeking healthy, compassionate cuisine. Those efforts are the focus of the contest, not peta2 or PETA, and the contest is not designed to force anyone go vegetarian. Third, as the author could have discovered by simply visiting PETA's Web site, the organization subscribes to the animal rights movement's philosophy of nonviolence, and they neither commit "terrorist acts" nor "aid and abet terrorists." To suggest otherwise is reprehensible. Finally, it's important to remember that vegetarianism is more popular than ever, especially on college campuses. As students learn about the cruelties involved in raising and killing animals for food and the environmental implications of meat consumption, it's understandable that we would seek out the delicious meatless fare offered at AU. The writer should try some - he might even like it!
Max Fischlowitz-Roberts Student, Washington Semester Program
