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Caide Wooten
Joe Murray, vegetarian and senior in mathematics, dines at Clark Dining Hall Monday evening, Feb. 11, 2013. There is an ongoing discussion on campus about whether or not University Dining provides enough vegan and vegetarian options for students. "The only thing I would request is that they serve more fresh fruit, more often," said Murray, who thinks University Dining does a great job accommodating for vegetarian and vegan students.
University Dining introduced more vegan and vegetarian options this semester, but students say there is still room for improvement.
This past December, University Dining increased the frequency of vegetarian meals and added the option of grilled vegetables, such as Portobello mushrooms and eggplants, which can be cooked fresh for students.
So far, these changes have received positive feedback from vegetarian and vegan students. Tiffany Bowman, Food Services Supervisor for Case Dining Hall, says that vegetarian students eat at the dining hall on a regular basis and that she has received compliments from students on the new meal options.
“[Vegetarian students eating at dining halls] seems to be a growing trend,” Bowman said. “This semester, Food Services made sure to always carry vegetarian options in the grill area. Before, it wasn’t always guaranteed.”
Other students are still disappointed with the amount of vegetarian and vegan options. ________ Ben Saddler is a lifelong vegetarian and says the vegetarian and vegan menu is monotonous.
“After a while you get sick of the same five options over and over,” Saddler said.
Dara Russ, president of NCSU’s vegetarian club, S.A.V.E (Students Advocating Vegetarian Eating) and senior in sociology, says the University has been very cooperative in working with vegetarian students to improve options.
“My first experience with eating at the dining halls in 2011 was really bad,” Russ said. “We asked Food Services to take measures to improve vegetarian and vegan options.”
N.C. State’s registered dietician for University Dining, Lisa Eberhart, met with the unsatisfied students to discuss potential improvements.
“[Eberhart] heard us,” Russ said. “It was clear to us that [University Dining] really wants to meet students where they are.”
If vegetarians and vegans are unsatisfied with their options, it is important they make their presence known to University Dining. The administration needs to understand the level of demand for vegetarian options in order to make a change, according to Russ.
“University Dining seemed very open [about working with vegetarians], but there has to be an incentive or it’s just not convenient for them,” says Russ.
According to Food Services records, almost 2 percent of NCSU students who use the dining halls are registered as vegetarian. Both Russ and Bowman agreed that the University is willing to meet the demands of vegetarian students, but it is up to the students to make their presence known.