“Any reasonable person who takes the time to understand our position usually agrees with it.” – Elena Pires, president of UWM’s Alliance for Animals

Last week in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Union, the student organization Alliance for Animals set up a display to help inform passersby on the issues that currently concern them.

Their main goal was to promote a change of diet that would help to halt cruelty towards animals. Elena Pires, president of Alliance for Animals, agreed to speak with The UWM Post to discuss her group and the display.

The UWM Post - What is the main goal or message of the Alliance for Animals organization?

Elena Pires- My specific goals for Alliance for Animals are to work on outreach to inform students of the realities of the exploitation of non-human animals in our society today; promote vegetarianism and veganism and show students that both are easy and fun to do, and build a community of animal rights inclined people to support and teach each other in vegetarianism and veganism

Post - What are the options like for vegans or vegetarians around campus, and in the dorms?

EP- The food options for vegans and vegetarians on campus seem to be pretty good. The Terrace Cafe has such options as hummus, falafel and vegan sushi. Pacific Wraps has a few veg-friendly options and carries tofu, which is easy to substitute for meat in any wrap.

A few places in the Union also carry soy milk and soy yogurt. I don't live in the dorms, but have been told by members who do that the options aren't great. That is something that a few of our members plan to work on this year.

Post - What has the feedback been like during recent displays and informative assemblies? More positive or negative?

EP- During our exhibit yesterday, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. UWM students were very receptive to our message and open-minded about the ideas we presented.
We had only one person object to our exhibit, and through my conversation with her I found that she had not taken the time to actually examine and understand our message.

Post - How do you react to the negative feedback?

EP- Any reasonable person who takes the time to understand our position usually agrees with it. This exhibit aims to uplift humanity by inspiring people to widen their circle of compassion to include non-human animals.

We are showing that many terrible things that certain groups have done to those they consider "different" or "beneath" the majority are now happening to non-human animals in many venues in our society. We have received virtually no negative feedback, and then only from those who didn't understand our message.

Post - How can students get involved?

EP- Students can get involved in Alliance for Animals by coming to our meetings every other Tuesday (the next two will be on Oct. 2 and 16) at 7:30 p.m. in the Union room 340. Students can also help us table in the Union and attend our potlucks and lunch outings, with the times for those events to be announced at meetings and through our e-mail at alliance4animals@yahoo.com.

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