Dec. 12--As students at Theodore Roosevelt High School call for a citywide boycott of the Chicago Public Schools lunch program Dec. 17, the educational arm of PETA, the animal rights group, is reaching out to offer a free vegan lunch.
Word of the citywide boycott can be found on a website created by students in Roosevelt's civics classes called "The School Lunch Project; Culinary Denial."
"We're not asking for much just -- more options better quality bigger portions," a Web posting reads. "Meantime we are planning a citywide boycott on Thursday, December 17th to show them we mean business. All students should participate!"
Granola snacks will be available for students participating in the boycott and can be picked up 3-5 p.m. Dec. 15 at Roosevelt, which is at 3436 W. Wilson Ave. "Contact us at rhs_lunch@yahoo.com to let us know you are coming," the site reads.
The granola, some 10,000 bags of it, according to teacher Timothy Meegan, was donated for the Dec. 7 school lunch boycott at Roosevelt. The boycott, launched by the civics students, started last week and climaxed Dec. 7 with some 539 students at the 1,100-student school participating.
That boycott, in turn, led to a meeting Tuesday between students and officials from CPS and Aramark, the Philadelphia-based company providing school lunches. Students were asked to audit the lunch program for CPS for the remainder of the month, and five students were to be invited to taste new dishes, Meegan said Wednesday. Initially, a majority of students seemed agreeable to the audit if the results were shared with the lunch staff instead of CPS, but the students have since decided not to do so, said Meegan, adding the students still want to help taste new dishes.
Meanwhile, TeachKind, PETA's humane education division, is reaching out to school Principal Pilar Vazquez-Vialva.
"To help get TRHS started on its path to healthier lunch options, TeachKind would be happy to treat your school to a healthy and FREE vegan lunch, and continue to work with your school to make healthy plant-based meals a part of your regular cafeteria menu," wrote Nina Kahn, assistant manager of youth campaigns for the animal rights group, also known as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Kahn said Friday that PETA was "inspired" to reach out after learning of the students' efforts to improve the lunch program. A vegan lunch, she said, is a way to exercise compassion and kindness, "something all students should be taught about."
Meegan said he told students of PETA's offer Friday.
"They were extremely excited. They want to do it," Meegan said, but he doesn't think CPS will allow it.
Vazquez-Vialva could not be reached for comment Friday.
Emily Bittner, CPS' communication director, said in an email that "accepting this offer would jeopardize our federal nutrition funding." She included a statement about CPS lunches and this week's meeting with Roosevelt students.
"CPS is committed to serving healthy and nutritious meals to its students, including meat-free options," Bittner wrote. "Earlier this week, we had a productive meeting with Roosevelt High School students, and we look forward to working together to address their needs. Working together, we developed an action plan that includes forming a School Dining Committee, where students can continue to participate firsthand in the meal planning process."
wdaley@tribpub.com
Twitter @billdaley
