Photo: Independent.ie Róise McGagh
The Dublin City University chaplain has stated he would like students to have a choice of food on campus after their SU has moved to move beef off the menu.
“Personally, I would like to see the option for those who wish to be vegetarian and for those who wish to eat meat within DCU,” said Fr Seamus McEntee.
The DCU Students’ Union have received backlash after the decision was made to lobby within the campus for food suppliers not to sell beef.
Options
Fr McEntee says that the SU are independent and have the right to advocate but personally he thinks there should be options for students on campus.
There are currently vegetarian options for students in the campus restaurant.
“I think DCU is a university that tries to be inclusive as possible for the diversity of students that are there. I am in favour of offering options to be available in the restaurant,” he said.
A vote on the issue was put to class representatives on December 10, where it passed. It was raised due to health and environmental concerns because of the high carbon footprint created through beef farming.
Prof. Barry McMullin from DCU said: “In relation to climate change effects in particular, for many people, a shift away from ruminant based foods [beef, dairy] can significantly reduce their personal greenhouse gas footprint.
A similar shift at organisational, community or societal scale would, of course, have correspondingly more significant effects. In circumstances of urgent climate crisis, all available effective interventions need to be very seriously considered.”
Prof. McMullin works with the DCU Energy and Design Lab where he focuses on system’ approaches to deep decarbonisation.