Justice in Palestine:

“At approximately 15:30 on Saturday, 10 November 2012, Israeli military vehicles stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired an artillery shell at a number of Palestinian children who were playing football … 2 children were instantly killed.”

This excerpt from a report released by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights only captures a small look into this week’s violence, as Israel terrorizes the Gazan people in Operation Pillar of Defense. To Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, these children’s deaths contribute to his tough image as he seeks re-election.

And while Zionist college students echo the paranoia of impending doom from targetless, sometimes primitive rockets, Gaza burns. This is not a conflict between two equal standing armies; it is a massacre. This is a military occupation of a people, most of whom were forced from their homes 60 years ago. They live within an outdoor prison, where every aspect of their lives — from access to trade or clean drinking water — is inherently controlled by the Israeli government.

Palestinian civil society has asked the world for solidarity in the form of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, a global campaign aimed at crippling South African apartheid. It is similarly being used today to counter Israel’s economic capacity to uphold its apartheid. Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions victories are happening all over, most recently when the Associated Students of University of California, Irvine unanimously passed a resolution to divest from all companies that do business with Israel. We hope to echo this small victory.

UMD STUDENTS FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE

Dining Services:

EDITOR’S NOTE: Parts of this letter were published elsewhere. This letter was sent to The Diamondback.

I am writing in response to Bradleigh Chance’s insightful Nov. 16 Diamondback article, “Students dissatisfied with dining procedures.” It’s essential schools pay attention to the needs of their students as demand for vegan food sweeps campuses across the country. A Bon Appétit poll showed the number of college vegans doubled between 2006 and 2010 and the number of vegetarians rose by 50 percent during that same period.

In 2011, the University of North Texas opened Mean Greens, the nation’s first all-vegan dining hall, and UNT Dining Services saw voluntary meal plan sales rise 30 percent. According to Anne Locascio of Food Service Equipment and Supplies, “Once-skeptical administrators have come around and fully support the project, in part because of its obvious success and in part because it’s proving to be a draw not only for current students but for prospective students, as well.”

UNT Executive Dining Services Director Bill McNeace said, “As at most schools, we have students who frequently give tours to prospective students and they report that when a lot of those kids hear about Mean Greens, their eyes light up and they get excited about it.”

From the smallest community colleges to the largest state schools, vegan options are everywhere as a direct result of student pressure, including at this university. Students interested in adopting a healthier, more humane diet should visit peta2.com to receive a free vegetarian or vegan starter kit.

KENNETH MONTVILLE

COLLEGE CAMPAIGNS ASSISTANT

PETA2