For the students who are involved in the Vegetarian Club, living with dietary restrictions doesn’t feel like a restriction at all. They are committed to lifestyle they believe in.

While Penn State struggled to provide enough dining options for its vegetarian and vegan students only three years ago, the University has made a substantial amount of progress toward diversifying the food they offer.

Hannah Gresko, a vegan student who is the president of the Vegetarian Club, said the University has often reached out to the club to hold discussions focused on the improvements needed to be made.

Gersko (senior-community environment and development) has credited Penn State for being accommodating to students with plant-based diets. Since her freshman year, she said she has watched the University improve the quality and amount of vegan and vegetarian food that it provides in its dining halls.

“Our club is often invited to advisory meetings so the University can gauge our satisfaction with the food they offer,” Gresko said. “They are very receptive to our suggestions. They have even asked us to do tastes tests for instances when they wanted to implement something new.”

The Vegetarian Club has become a great outlet for students who are interested in animal rights issues. In addition to hosting in-depth, issue-related discussions during meetings, the club provides members with a way to get more involved in the activism community, Gresko said.

Their connections with The Humane League and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have made it possible for them to stay connected with the animal rights movement. By hosting bake sales and potlucks at places like Green Bowl in downtown State College, Morgan Linkhost — the treasurer of the club — said they are able to raise enough money to take trips to places where they can volunteer within the movement.

Last year, the club went to Boston and helped collect signatures for a petition to ban battery cages for farm animals, Linkhost (senior-communications arts and sciences) said.

Members were able to meet a lot of devoted animal rights activists, which Gresko said became a great learning experience for her because she plans to continue working in the movement after she graduates.

Vice President Mona Habbal said she learned a lot about other activist’s experiences within the movement. She said she found their stories to be incredibly inspiring and easy to relate to.

Joining the club during her freshman year, Habbal said it has helped her grow more comfortable being vegan. After adopting the lifestyle right before she started college, she felt alone until she met other people who believed in what she did. She said the club has made it possible for her to get more involved in the animal rights community and that the club’s trips to farm sanctuaries have been one of her favorite activities.

“Having the opportunity to visit an animal sanctuary is really important because it strengthens your commitment to the cause,” Habbal (international relations and communication arts and sciences) said. “When you go out and interact with the animal itself, something inside of you clicks and you’re able to make a connection. Instead of seeing a hamburger, you’re seeing the cow. It puts a face to your food.”

Linkhost said she has enjoyed the work she has done for the club and the animal rights movement. She said she is looking forward to volunteering and taking more trips this year.

“I love the people I have met through my experience with this club,” Linkhost said. “Veganism hasn’t only changed what I put in my mouth, it has changed the way I view everything in life.”