Higher Learning and Higher Welfare: The HSUS Awards Campus Animal Advocates

April 7, 2006

Alyson Powers persuaded the University of Iowa to try cage-free eggs.

For many, college is a hectic time spent juggling exams, papers, and socializing. For a growing number of young people, college is also a catalyst for animal advocacy—a time when students learn about the abuses animals too routinely endure and are energized to take action on their behalf.

The HSUS is honoring these inspiring students and community members for their compassionate and groundbreaking work on behalf of egg-laying hens. Eight people have won The HSUS's first-ever Award for Excellence in Campus Advocacy for their work on the HSUS's Cage-Free Campus Campaign.

These eight advocates worked with university dining officials to implement a cage-free egg purchasing policy for each of their schools, dramatically reducing or, in many cases, completely eliminating their schools' support for one of the cruelest practices on factory farms.

Advocacy Pays Off

TAKE ACTION To get involved in the Cage-Free Campus Campaign, contact Josh Balk at jbalk@hsus.org.

Students such as Dave Benzaquen at Washington, D.C.'s American University approached dining officials after learning about the abuses egg-laying hens suffer in battery cages. After The HSUS provided the school with more information about a cage-free egg policy, dining officials willingly implemented a purchasing and serving decision to switch to cage-free shell eggs in the university's dining facilities.

Community members and employees have also seen success in working with university administrations. Because of the efforts of Alyson Powers, an academic advisor, the University of Iowa implemented a cage-free pilot project. In addition, thousands of Iowa residents learned about the inhumane treatment of battery-caged hens as a result of the tremendous amount of publicity her compassionate efforts garnered.

Besides a feeling of meaningful accomplishment, students gained experience in working for change and in speaking out for mistreated animals. "I'm so excited that Marist and Sodexho have listened to students' concerns for farm animal welfare and are no longer purchasing eggs from caged birds," said junior Robin Henderson, president of Fox P.A.W., Marist College's animal protection group on campus in New York. "Caged hens are one of the most abused animals in agribusiness, and it's exciting that our college will no longer support their suffering."

Making a Difference

With the advocates' help, their schools have done much to improve the lives of thousands of animals. Thanks to the positive press coverage and student support resulting from the new cage-free egg policies, these schools have inspired a snowball effect among schools and universities which are all trending away from eggs laid by caged birds. More than 80 other schools have eliminated or dramatically decreased their use of eggs from hens restrictively confined in battery cages, including Vassar College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Tufts University, and Dartmouth College.

"These students and community members' actions demonstrate just how easy it is for one person to make a very real difference in the lives of farm animals," explained Josh Balk, outreach coordinator for The HSUS Factory Farming Campaign. "The HSUS applauds their dedication and compassion, and we encourage other people to follow their positive example by working with their schools to discontinue their use of eggs from caged hens."

Congratulations to the following winners of the Award for Excellence in Student or Community Advocacy:

Dave Benzaquen American University Washington, D.C.	Tom Kelly University of New Hampshire Durham, N.H.
Tara Burgos Georgetown University Washington, D.C.	April Meyer George Washington University Washington, D.C.
Zaac Chaves University of Connecticut Storrs, Conn.	Kathryn Pelka University of Rochester Rochester, N.Y.
Robin Henderson Marist College Poughkeepsie, N.Y.	Alyson Powers University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa

Not only is getting involved in the Cage-Free Campus Campaign an effective way to help animals, but it's something that anyone—whether student, alum, employee, or concerned community member—can do. For more information on how you can get involved at your school or alma mater, please contact Josh Balk at jbalk@hsus.org.

See the Video

Battery-Cage Eggs

Related Links

Cage-Free Campus

'No Battery Eggs' Campaign Exposes the Hard-Boiled Truth about Laying Hens