Brand new club on campus: The Vegan Club
Photo courtesy of Julia Kimmel
SUNY Geneseo is proud to advertise numerous available on-campus clubs and encourages the creation of new clubs for its student body. One Geneseo student recently took advantage of this to create a brand new club on campus. Junior business administration major Julia Kimmel has created and started the Vegan Club at Geneseo which held its first official meeting on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024.
Kimmel has been a vegetarian for 17 years and a vegan for the last four, with her lifestyle being her reported inspiration for starting up the club. Kimmel explains, “I kind of decided to make it because I wanted to get like-minded students together, just to make more people feel welcome, and just have people to advocate together.”
Although the club will be centered around the vegan lifestyle, Kimmel was eager to exclaim that all are welcome to attend as, “...it’s open to people who are [vegan] or vegetarian or gluten-free, really any dietary restrictions. Honestly, any student who [is] interested at all, anyone who wants to try it out as well.” Kimmel said the club is and will be a judgment-free zone.
Kimmel has big plans for the club this semester and has already been working hard to turn ideas into reality. The first general meeting served as a discussion for future meetings and plans that are yet to come. “Our plans for the semester [is to go] to different animal sanctuaries or farms, [and] bringing in new vegan recipes for us all to try,” Kimmel said.
The meetings that will be held on campus will consist of, “discussing major current events regarding animals and veganism. Discussions focusing on health and other things, also talking about the Netflix documentary [You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment]” Kimmel said. The documentary which was released on Jan. 1, 2024, follows sets of twins, one of whom eats vegan meals and one who eats a variety of omnivorous meals.
The documentary has sparked many conversations among viewers, showcasing how those who follow the same or different diets can live very different lives. Kimmel encourages anyone interested to attend a meeting, explaining that perspectives from those of different backgrounds can help when learning about a lifestyle.
While the club is starting small, Kimmel has plans to collaborate with other clubs on campus that share similar interests, or a similar mission throughout the Spring semester. “I spoke with Peace Action [about] the animals and the morality of it. And then I also spoke with the Sustainability department about working in the eGarden and talking about doing a collab on a presentation,” Kimmel said.
As someone who is neither vegetarian nor vegan, I was curious about the availability of proper meals on campus in the dining halls. Kimmel had a better response than I had anticipated, stating “Some days there’s enough options [so] you can have a full plate and then the next day you could have nothing on your plate but green beans and salad… but they are accommodating. If I asked them if they had something in the back for me, they were able to accommodate in that way.” Discussing dining options on campus for various lifestyles will also be a part of the general club meetings.
Kimmel’s excitement for this club and its growth was truly inspiring, and I look forward to watching the club grow over the years. For anyone who would like to stay up to date on the club and when it is meeting, the club’s Instagram account posts all of the group’s updates. The account can be found @geneseoveganclub, and Kimmel is more than happy to answer any questions you may have!