UCLA’s Bruins for Animals will be receiving the Star College Group award from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 2.
The group will receive the award for its work educating students about animal rights on campus nd throughout the UCLA community
Only a handful of the Star College Group awards are given every year.
Thus, it is a very reserved award for the most exceptional animal rights groups, said Ryan Huling, college campaign coordinator for PETA 2, a youth division of PETA.
Many achievements led to the student group receiving the award, including Bruins for Animals getting more than 1,500 signatures in two days for a petition asking for more vegetarian and vegan options in the dining halls.
Another event Bruins for Animals hosted was its Proposition 2 rally on Bruin Walk, fighting for larger cages for chickens, pigs and baby cows, said Lisette Molina, vice president of Bruins for Animals.
Its public outreach events, such as placing members in chicken costumes and asking for more space, educated students on the proposition for the upcoming election, Molina said.
“It’s crucial that schools like UCLA have a strong voice for animals because student interest in vegetarianism and animal rights is higher than ever before,” Huling said.
Some of the previous recipients of the award have included animal rights groups at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Georgia, who have also strived to educate students on their campuses, he added.
Bruins for Animals was selected because it covered all of the bases on educating students on animal cruelty when used for food, clothing and research, Huling said.
“When animals need a voice at UCLA, Bruins for Animals can be counted on to speak up,” he added.
Kristy Anderson founded Bruins for Animals along with Peter Ryan in 2003, to educate students on the facts of animal rights issues.
“There are a lot of misconceptions about animal rights and I wanted people to engage in civil conversation about it,” said Anderson, a 2007 alumna.
Since it was founded, Bruins for Animals has grown from around five students to more than 100 students and supporters, Molina said.
Molina has been a member of Bruins for Animals since it was founded and for four and a half years now has seen the growth this group has achieved.
He said he is very excited that the group will be receiving the award from PETA 2, she said.
Anderson said she hopes the award will inspire other students to do the right thing, not just those in Bruins for Animals, she said.
“PETA is a very famous international organization and for them to recognize us shows us we are doing something right,” Molina said.