{"id":137006,"date":"2022-03-03T12:09:48","date_gmt":"2022-03-03T11:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=137006"},"modified":"2026-01-20T09:59:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T08:59:42","slug":"vegan-university-only-logical-choice-employees-are-divided","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2022\/03\/03\/vegan-university-only-logical-choice-employees-are-divided\/","title":{"rendered":"Vegan university only logical choice? Employees are divided"},"content":{"rendered":"

For years now, EUR\u2019s catering service Vitam has been increasing its range of vegan options. However, according to behavioural economist Jan Stoop, this wide range does not suffice. He has felt for years that our campus should be fully vegan and has very good reasons to do so, but not everyone agrees.<\/p>\n

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Stoop\u2019s argument is as follows: the most important thing the university expects of its students and staff is rational arguments and consistency in their work and studies. \u201cIn order to be a good university, EUR must minimise suffering to the best of its ability, regardless of who or what is doing the suffering. When animals are in pain, studies say<\/a>, they feel that pain every bit as keenly as humans do. Therefore, Stoop says, animals\u2019 suffering is no less than humans\u2019 suffering. So if the university seeks to be a consistent and rational community that causes as little harm to others as possible, it must stop causing animals to suffer in any way whatsoever and ban all animal products.\u201d<\/p>\n

Opinion is divided<\/h2>

Judging from the reactions to an article published previously<\/a>\u00a0in Erasmus Magazine<\/em>, in which Stoop discussed his views, opinion on the Woudestein campus is divided on the issue. Arie Barendregt, a lecturer and researcher in branding and consumer behaviour, strongly opposes Stoop\u2019s view. Gabi Helfert, Executive Director of RSM\u2019s Master\u2019s degree programmes, has tried for years to incorporate vegan initiatives into campus life, but is in favour of a less radical approach than the one proposed by Stoop.<\/p>\n\n\t

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