By Some students walking on upper campus Monday were shocked after entering “Glass Walls,” a visual exhibit detailing how animals in the U.S. farming industry are treated during the time between their birth and when they reach the dinner table.
Sponsored by peta2, a Los Angeles-based youth division of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, “Glass Walls” showcases a gestation crate and a metal enclosure where female pigs are kept while they are pregnant, as well as details of the treatments of animals varying from chickens to cows.
“[The exhibit] was nasty,” said Araceli Lozano, an undeclared sophomore.
The exhibit ends with former Beatle Paul McCartney narrating a six-minute video presentation that details how various animals are treated when they are raised for food, and participants who make it through are offered pamphlets and vegan jerky.
Ryan Huling, director of international and student outreach for peta2, said the exhibit has been well received.
“The response [we get from Cal State Long Beach] has been overwhelmingly positive,” he said. “We want to keep coming back while students are interested.”
Many students said they were already familiar with peta2’s exhibits because of “WTF,” a peta2 exhibit that was held on upper campus during the fall semester.
Huling said CSULB was just the first stop in the exhibit’s four-month-long tour across the nation, which includes visits to University of Texas at Austin, Ohio State University, University of California, San Diego and other campuses.
The “Glass Walls” exhibit is expected to be featured in U.S. campuses for at least another year, he said.
“[This exhibit is] one of my favorites, and [CSULB] students are very open-minded and laid back,” Huling said. “It is exciting to see so many people interested in learning more. We have already had more than 200 people in the first two hours.”
Peta2 also offered starter kits to help interested students transition to a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle.
Not all attendees, however, like sophomore business accounting major Alberto De La Rosa, intended to change their eating habits.
“I have been aware of what occurs in slaughterhouses, but I do not think I will switch to vegetarianism,” De La Rosa said. “It is easiest to go for food that is cheap and easy to obtain.”
Students interested in viewing the exhibit can stop by the tent located in the grass area by the Liberal Arts buildings. The exhibit will be on campus today and tomorrow between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
