Alyssa Wilder
The Broadside

At an activity fair on campus, students may have witnessed Vegnet Bend’s first attempt to gain a college preccence, via a table decked out with leaflets and pamphlets.

Judy Petullo helped start the animals rights and advocacy group three years ago. The group advocates for humane treatment of animals and encourages vegan or vegetarian lifestyle choices.

According to Petullo, Vegnet holds monthly vegan potlucks, film screenings and other events throughout the year. A vegan Thanksgiving will be held at Common Table, located at 150 NW Oregon Avenue in downtown Bend, on November 20th at 6 PM.

The group has been promoting awareness of factory farm practices. “Most people don’t know about the horrible cruelty and mutilation that happens at factory farms,” Petullo said.

Vegnet wants to educate the public, including students at COCC.

“Vegnet would love to see an animal rights or a vegan group on campus,” said Petullo.

Vegnet is becoming more active in the community as well. They have a weekly radio show called “All Things Vegan” on Bend’s community radio station, 88.9 FM KPOV.

They’ve done events like their “pay-per-view” campaign, in which they paid people $1 to watch a five minute clip about factory farms.

“These animals live in crowded, filthy cages,” Petullo said.

Vegnet also touts the benefits of a vegan lifestyle. “There are many health benefits associated with a plantbased diet.” Petullo said. “It saves lives.”

Around campus, students are open to a group but also wary. “As long as I didn’t have someone giving me gory details of where my food came from while I’m trying to eat a hamburger in the cafeteria, I wouldn’t mind ,” said humanities major, Anna Strayer.

Vegan food has its own stigma, also. “Most vegan food I’ve tried hasn’t been very pleasant,” said Strayer.

You can contact Alyssa Wilder at [email protected].