Survey: Vegan Options Up 63 Percent Across College Campuses

A new poll conducted by peta2—the youth division of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals—revealed that daily vegan options across college campuses have increased by 63 percent since 2013. To gather data for its annually published Vegan Report Card, the organization polled 1,400 four-year colleges and university dining programs nationwide and discovered that in addition to increased vegan meals at all schools, twice as many campuses now offer vegan options. American University, University of California San Diego, and the University of North Texas joined the growing list of schools to offer all-vegan dining stations. The survey found that Stanford University reduced animal protein offerings by 14 percent and increased its vegetable proteins by 29 percent this year. The survey highlights how the eating habits of college students are transforming, which is corroborated by a recent feature in the Daily Collegian—the student publication of Pennsylvania State University—wherein Ivy League student Johnna Gresko states, “If you’re smart, you’ll go vegan.” Students cited health, environmental, and animal-rights concerns for wanting more vegan options.