While most college students prepared for the Super Bowl with an afternoon of beers and burgers, this month’s outstanding college activist and Leadership Program member gathered a friend and some leaflets and set out into the cold of Detroit to greet Super Bowl attendees at Ford Field with the animal rights message. From protesting KFC constantly and completing peta2’s monthly college missions to starting a group on her campus and convincing her cafeteria to add vegan options, Kryssie Baker deserves some peta2 recognition.

How did you first get involved in animal rights? What motivated you?
My grandmother (who raised me) introduced me to animal rights. She would tell me about when she was a child and how she and her sisters would have to go feed and water the goats the family owned and how her sisters would just give the goats a sip of water, so they wouldn’t have to keep filling up pails of water and bringing them out to the goats; so my grandmother would spend all day carrying pails of water so that the goats could drink as much as they needed. She stressed to me the importance of treating others (especially animals) the way you would want to be treated. She also raised me as a vegetarian. She is a wonderful woman. She, along with knowing cruelty still exists, is what keeps me motivated.

What are some of the victories that you’ve had, big or small?
This semester we petitioned and got the school to agree to provide us with vegan options in the sports grill on campus. We also had our own “Macomb Meat-Out,” where I handed out free vegan snacks to anyone who was willing to read the “Think Before You Eat” flier and take some more free information. It was a hit! We already have a list of things to accomplish next semester, and I can’t wait. A few of our goals are dissection choice policy, adopt-a-road program, and working with Meals on Wheels to provide daily meals for companion animals of low-income and senior residents.

What’s the funniest/most ridiculous excuse anyone has ever given you for eating meat?
The dumbest excuse someone gave me about eating meat was “What else would we do with the animals?” In one sense, it almost made me laugh, because it was so idiotic, but in another sense, it was sad and scary to know some people actually think like that. What else would we do with them? How about let them live? Or better yet, just leave them alone. They can live perfectly fine without human interference.

What’s your favorite vegetarian food?
My favorite vegan food would have to be sushi. I love avocado rolls! Many people don’t know there is “fish free” sushi out there. Tip: If you make your own sushi, you can put anything you want in it.

Why do you think it’s so important to start a campus group?
I think it is important to start a campus group because there are still so many people out there who don’t know what is going on as far as cruelty and how animals are being treated behind closed doors. For us animal rights activists, it seems hard to imagine that people still do not know what is happening to these animals, but time after time, I come across people saying “I can’t believe they do that,” “How can they do that—isn’t it illegal?” or “I never knew that.” By starting a group on campus, you have direct interaction with the students and you have resources and help right under your fingertips. Another positive thing is that people are more accepting to change when they are in their younger years, and college students are college students because they want to learn, so teach them a few things, and they will become a vegetarian for life!

Do you have a favorite animal rights quote?
My favorite animal rights quote is “The more helpless the creature, the more it is entitled to protection by man from the cruelty of man”—Mahatma Gandhi.

What are your plans for the future?
I plan to travel a lot. I would LOVE to volunteer in Africa with C.A.R.E. (a baboon conservation center that works to rehabilitate injured and orphaned baboons and educate the public about them). Besides finishing school, the only other plan I have for myself is to remain active in animal rights and animal welfare. I enjoy knowing I am making a difference. Animals are my passion.

Increase the effectiveness of your activism by starting a group on your campus today! Don’t forget to check out peta2’s mini-guide to college animal rights activism for tips and tricks on how to be the best activist you can be.

Are you are a college student in the United States or Canada? Check out the Leadership Program to learn vital activist skills and earn college credit for the work you do to save animals.

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