A "meating" of the minds sparks controversy

Vegan society fights to ban the sale of processed meat

JUSTIN MIRANDA Reporter

@Roundupnews

Pepperoni vanishing from pizzas and bacon disappearing from burgers may become the norm at not only Pierce but all of Los Angeles Community College District campuses.

The Vegan Society called for a sales ban of Group 1 carcinogen processed meats for the district at the Board of Trustees meeting on Feb. 6. They believe these foods create a risk of getting various forms of cancer.

A carcinogen is a substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue and group one would include processed meats such as pepperoni, bacon, ham, and sausages.

Society President Alicia Salazar said the club is speaking with the LACCD board members in meetings.

“We as a club are very determined to ban processed meat here,” Salazar said.

According to General Manager of Pacific Dining Jaime Cancino, the Vegan Society has not spoken with any cafeteria representatives.

Many of the meals served by the cafeteria and Brahma Cafe would be affected by the ban. The cafe is currently not only serving pepperoni pizza, but also several sandwich combos from Subway containing processed meats.

Candy Van, manager of the Brahma Café said she remains indifferent about the ban considering the lack of support of plant-based food products on campus.

“People should have a choice in what they eat. We have Vegan options, but guess what nobody eats them. They expire fast, and it just goes to waste,” Van said.

Francisco C. Rodriguez, LACCD Chancellor, talked about how he wanted to find a way to help out the students as a whole.

“If the solution is to move away from processed foods, then what

2/6

•Petty Theft impact does that have on the cost? While we may be solving one health issue, we may also be paying two or three times as much for healthier alternatives.” Rodriguez said. jmiranda.roundupnews@gmail.com

A book and DVD were stolen from the Bookstore.

Some agree banning processed meats will be tough to initiate.

“I wouldn’t say I’m against it or approve it, but I like my junk food regardless. If it’s not here I can just get it somewhere else,” said a firstyear student Alexis Camino.

Salazar mentions that the cafeteria does serve Vegan options, but recently they’ve serving less.

Salazar said some good alternatives to processed meats would be more plant-based foods and lentils for protein.

“It’s not just for us. It’s for students, staffs and any guest who enters Pierce College,” Salazar said.

Vegan society bakes up the love on Valentines Day with tasty treats

can go to our big Earth Day event in April,” Salazar said.

2/12

•Disturbance

A woman was pacing and shouting causing a scene in the Veterans Center.

2/13

•Trespassing

Male caught sleeping in the Great Hall/ Storage Room. They were warned and advised.

Decorating tables with red and pink confectionary treats, Pierce College’s Vegan Society showed its love for animals Valentine’s Day by holding a bake sale on the Mall.

Vegan Society President Alicia Salazar said they are trying to raise funds for their “Go Vegan Earth Day” event on April 22, which will be held in the Great Hall at Pierce.

“We’d like to spread any vegan outreach and we’re hoping the funds

According to Salazar, the hardest part about going vegan is knowing what replacements are available to substitute animal products.

“I made this meringue and it’s usually made with egg. There is a secret vegan way to do it and its by using chickpea water,” Salazar said.

Samuel Hookham, a political science student, said that any person can go vegan. He said it is matter of “finding a food that you really love and finding a good replacement for it.”

Stephanie Winnard, the faculty advisor for the Vegan Society, said the transition to become vegan is easier than people may think.

“There is nothing hard about it at all. It’s breezy, it is not hard to bake without eggs, butter or milk,” Winnard said.

Winnard also thinks that going vegan is not only healthy for the environment, but it is also cheaper.

“There is a lot of advantages to vegan baking, one of them is that it is more affordable, you find that buying a bag of flaxing meal is cheaper than buying eggs,” Winnard said.

Salazar said that she found difficulty when adapting to a vegan lifestyle.

“You are not use to it, but after awhile you get the hang of it,” Salazar said.

“The Earth Day event is a big event for the Vegan Society, that is why we are doing this bakery sale,” Hookham said.

The “Go Green Go Vegan” event is on April 22 in the Great Hall.