By Cristopher Rees
A group of vegetarians is still looking for its leader, while facing opposing opinions at BYU.
“We definitely wouldn’t want them to promote it,” said Stacy Prince, registered dietician and nutritionist at BYU.
Prince said she would not want the group promoting itself as a healthier way of living.
The group of BYU students is looking to organize itself into club status, said Jeffrey Dunster, 25, a senior from Savannah, Mo., majoring in English
Dunster, one of the founding members of the group, said the club will help vegetarian students to come in contact with each other.
“As long as they’re educated and ready to expand their diet, they can find a lot of good in it,” Dunster said.
Dr. Lynn Ogden, department chair of food science and nutrition, said that the Word of Wisdom suggests moderation in all things.
“We don’t really cater to people that want to get out on one end,” Ogden said.
Ogden said he does not encourage people to be vegetarians.
“We wouldn’t smile on it, but we appreciate that people feel strongly about it,” Ogden said.
Ogden said a wide variety of foods and a well-rounded diet is best.
Joseph D. Young, technical specialist in the department of physics and astronomy at BYU, said it would be wonderful to have a vegetarian group on campus.
“It would enlighten the campus and community, the students, faculty and staff, of the errors in their ways of eating a lot of meats and dairies,” Young said.
Young said he is upset by the misinformation concerning a vegetarian diet.
“I am appalled by the health fairs that promote the pyramid and the four food groups, which are sponsored by the meat and dairy industry,” Young said.
Prince said the group would be useful at instructing other students on proper dieting.
Vegetarians face the problem of not receiving all of the essential vitamins and minerals, Prince said.
Prince said vegetarians should supplement vitamins and minerals, but that vitamin B12 only comes from animals.
Dunster said he has not been able to form the vegetarian club yet.
Dunster said he will be graduating within the year and is looking for someone else to lead the group.
Aaron Fox, BYUSA clubs information, said the club will also face a time constraint.
Due to new officers in BYUSA, the vegetarian group will not be able to become a club until July 1.
Fox said that anyone can become a club if they want.
“We get all of the weird clubs,” Fox said.
