By Lindsey Siferd, VRG Summer Intern
Recently, I was interviewed by Katy Hopkins, reporter for the US News and World Reports, for an article on vegetarian-friendly colleges. After the VRG Director sent me her request for information on schools that go above-and-beyond to cater to vegetarians and vegans, I decided to nominate my college, St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Katy chose to focus on my school’s on-campus farm, something started by and run by students, and a place where some professors take students in courses such as Books that Cook and Biology of the Garden. I was proud and excited to see my school featured in an online slideshow of eight notable vegetarian-friendly schools. Katy also mentioned my school twice in her full-length article, “Colleges that Offer Courses, Choices for Vegetarians.” Our farm was highlighted again, and she also mentioned positive changes that our food provider, Bon Appetit, made after students asked for higher quality dining options, including more vegetarian options.
Here is the selection from her article in which I am mentioned:
Change is afoot at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, which student vegetarian Lindsey Siferd says has been culinarily revitalized over the past year. After students pushed for higher quality dining options—including more vegetarian offerings—she says the school’s food provider, Bon Appetit Management Company, responded positively. After a campaign on Facebook, a protest against Chick-fil-A, and student meetings with Bon Appetit, requests for a greater variety of healthy food on campus were met.
It was exciting to promote my school and appear in a news article. I hope that Katy’s article will help prospective vegetarian students make a more informed college decision, and I am glad that my summer internship allowed me such an opportunity!
Katy’s article, “Colleges that Offer Courses, Choices for Vegetarians”:
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2011/06/07/colleges-that-offer-courses-choices-for-vegetarians?PageNr=1
Slideshow titled “Colleges Catering to Vegetarians”:
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/slideshows/colleges-catering-to-vegetarians