Cage-Free Egg Campaign at UCSC Gains Traction
Nov 19, 2008, by | Read more: News
University offering eggs from free-range chickens at all dining halls
Lately, it seems like everything’s coming up roses for Bonny Doon animal rights activist Erik Marcus. “I’m thrilled about things,” he says. “It’s un-frigging-believable.”
Not only is he excited that Californians chose to pass Proposition 2, the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, he’s also celebrating a more personal farm animal-friendly victory as well. Roughly a year and a half after he made his first phone call to dining hall management at his alma mater, the University of California Santa Cruz, the school has agreed to make cage-free eggs available in all six of its dining halls, cafes and even by the carton in its grocery program. “I’m just relieved beyond belief,” he says. “It’s the first step.”
Though Marcus, who runs the website www.vegan.com, says he was given the good news from the Chancellor’s office in early October, Scott Berlin, UCSC’s director for dining services, says the eggs have been on offer since Sept. 19. “I can certainly appreciate his passion and where he’s coming from, especially with Proposition 2 passing,” Berlin says of Marcus.
Things weren’t always so friendly. Though Berlin agreed to meet with Marcus to discuss going cage-free, progress has been a bit slow and Marcus did not always feel that his concerns were being taken seriously. “The cruelty involved in battery cage-egg production is off the charts and something that the university should have nothing to do with in any way,” says Marcus, referring to the small high-density wire cages made infamous by Prop 2. “I really think that it’s inexcusable at this point for such a progressive school in such a progressive town.”
For Berlin, the issue has been more complicated than happy hens. “Cage-free costs almost double. How do I justify that?” he says. “We need to keep room and board affordable to a student.”
For now, the cage-free eggs are available on request and can bump an omelet up 50 cents or so. Berlin says demand has been “low” but sees opportunity for a full switch in the future. “With Prop. 2 passing, the pricing of cage-free eggs will come way down,” he says. “It will be an easy decision.” According to the U.S. Human Society, over 350 universities have either eliminated or reduced their reliance on battery cage eggs, including the University of California, Berkeley.
And while Marcus is certainly thrilled, getting UCSC to take notice of him is just a small victory. He’s speaking with campus animal rights organizations to motivate students to take advantage of the new option. “I think what’s happened now is only 5 percent of what needs to happen,” he says. “We’d like them to be exclusive as soon as possible.”
Josh Balk, who runs the HSUS campaign Cage-Free Campus, says that while he has heard from concerned UCSC students in the past, the calls have picked up since November 4. "We're hearing from students left and right," says Balk. "They don't want their tuition dollars to support what's soon to be criminal activities." In particular, Balk has been in contact with a campus group called Banana Slugs for Animals, which has decided to start talks with campus dining. Meanwhile, Erik Marcus is poised to start a campaign against UCSC dining if the university continues to purchase battery cage eggs. "California voters have already indicated their will and UCSC is a taxpayer school," says Marcus. "A campaign would be incredibly embarrassing to the university." - Jessica Lussenhop
