Veguary sprouts awareness: SNG tries alternative approach to neutrality

Move over, Gaypril — there’s a new awareness-raising month in town. Through the combined efforts of Sunday Night Group (SNG) and the commons, “Veguary,” which aims to promote conversation about CO2 emissions and sustainability in food while bringing students together in a relaxed and social atmosphere, has come to Middlebury in the form of two Friday Night Candlelight Dinner events.

During the Friday Night Candlelight meals, students will be encouraged to “Do It In The Dark” and to join the “Clean Plate Club,” in an effort to save energy and reduce waste, respectively.
Kate Olen ’11, a member of SNG and the primary organizer of Veguary at Middlebury, called the first meal — held last Friday in Ross dining hall — “a great success.”

“The dining hall looked beautiful with its candlelit ambiance, and students seemed interested to know that the dinner was connected to Veguary,” said Olen.

Veguary has a particular connection to Middlebury; the movement was founded in New York City by high schooler Andrew Udell (brother of Jacob Udell ’12), who wanted a chance to “test vegetarianism out and learn more about its benefits,” according to the campaign’s Web site. Udell enlisted a few friends to help him, and together they began encouraging people to “Pledge To Be A Veg” — or, at least, to make an effort to eat less meat during the month of February.

Olen further explained the goal of Veguary as a way to encourage alternative approaches to achieving carbon neutrality.

“[We want] to demonstrate that we as students can take an active part in achieving Middlebury’s goal of carbon neutrality in many ways,” said Olen. “Whether it’s saving energy by dining by candlelight, reducing our carbon footprint by eating more vegetarian meals, or even saving water by showering together, small efforts will help make carbon neutrality a reality.”

The Friday Night Candelight Dinner events, for which Sid Singh ’13 did much of the preliminary organizing, were co-sponsored by SNG and all five commons. The second event will be held this Friday, Feb. 26 in Proctor Dining Hall.

For more information about Veguary, including delicious recipes, visit http://www.veguary.org.