Dublin City University (DCU) Student’s Union has received backlash after a plan to lobby against the sale of beef products from food suppliers on campus.

The motion to lobby against beef and lamb products on DCU menus was passed by class representatives at a meeting on Tuesday, December 10.

According to powerpoint slides shown at the meeting the ‘#NoBeef’ ban was put forward for ‘health and environment, profitably.’

Amy Donohoe, a DCU master’s student studying Climate Change says that she believes the motion brought forward to remove beef from DCU is a step in the right direction.

‘Currently, beef production, the release of methane from cows and the damage they do to the land has such a bad impact on our environment and if we made this difference it could hopefully inspire other places to remove beef from their menus and put less pressure on the climate,’ she told Extra.ie.

‘Also, it’s such a healthy lifestyle change. There are healthier sources of protein available which are probably less fattening and less damaging to the planet and there are other meats such as chicken which still have protein and also have a smaller carbon footprint,’ she added.

However, many students were not pleased with the decision of DCUSU to lobby against the sale of beef in DCU food outlets.

After Callaghan Commons — DCU SU VP for Academic Affairs — tweeted that the motion was passed, students began to voice their opinions.

His tweet, which sparked the debate, appears to have been deleted — however replies are still visible.

One student wrote: ‘Shoutout to the anemics, girls who are on their period, students with insomnia who are told by professional medics to eat red meat you have been let down today by your reps. If you choose to not eat meat that is fantastic and if I could I would too but know some people can’t.’

Another said: ‘Absolutely ridiculous proposing to ban beef from DCU. I take it all meat and vegetables will be banned also since they all have to be transported to the college.’

While many were worried about the health impact that this ban would have, others were disappointed that they were not consulted on the issue and that it was decided by class representatives and not by a referendum.

Catherine Gallagher, a DCU master’s student in Political Communications thinks that the underlying issue is bad communication from the SU to the student body.

‘I think many students feel let down that they weren’t consulted on this,’ she explained to Extra.ie.

‘If you’re going to make a sudden change and not see what people think, you are going to get backlash.

‘Im really surprised that this wasn’t foreseen. Of course, we can’t forget that there is an environmental issue to bear in mind but whether it’s meat or anything else you’re not going to win people over by just banning it and telling them they can’t eat it.

‘A lot of people have said to me, and I agree with it, is that if a college wants to become beef free they should first educate students and consult with them.’

Amy Donohoe said that although a lot of students wanted to vote on this issue it’s a difficult one because it’s hard to get students involved in making these big decisions.

‘For our stop smoking referendum last year, the quorum was barely met…if students care, they would vote, but not enough students are engaged,’ she explained.

‘Even though there are a lot of tweets about it all, not all students are on twitter and if this motion was brought to a referendum, I’m not sure if it would be successful or not.’

DCU is the first university in Ireland to pass such a motion, however, three universities in the UK have previously put forward a #NoBeef plan.

Cambridge University catering service has removed beef and lamb from their menu whilst Goldsmiths in London has banned it completely from their campus.

The University of East Anglia (UEA) student union faced backlash much like DCU after they agreed to take dishes like hamburgers off the menu.

Students said that it was ‘wrong and undemocratic’ to have made the decision without holding a referendum, according to The Telegraph.

DCU Student Union President Christine Farrell has been contacted by Extra.ie for comment about this motion.