After writing about having the attention of captive audiences through answering machines, I started thinking about other “captives” I have at the moment. One example would be the classes I teach at a couple universities in NJ. Each week I have the attention of around 120 bright and smiling faces (unless they are sneaking text messages). But while Professor Bob Torres from Vegan Freaks can get away with wearing t-shirts with vegan slogans in his Sociology classes, I don’t have tenure. Plus, I try to keep it stylin’ in the classroom with my polyester ties and pleather shoes.
Though I lack the desire to wear short sleeves while I lecture, I make up for it with a big “vegan” sticker on my coffee mugs and water bottles. I also use a web-based course management software program called WebCT (some call it Blackboard) that allows me to post a picture of myself in the “Instructor Information” category. This is where I’ll sport the vegan t-shirt. It’s quiet and not very in-your-face, but every semester a few students from each class ask me about being vegan. Then I get to spread the good word about cruelty-free eating to lots of attentive, smart, and curious minds (again, unless they are texting - can you tell I hate that?).
What captive audiences do you have? Do you have the opportunity to be in front of (or simply amongst) a group of people regularly? How can you make people take notice of animal issues? Let us know in the comments!
oh yes, i take every opportunity to inform the people in my little town in japan about being vegan. i incorporated it into my introduction speech when i first arrived. i remind them every time there is an event i have to go to that includes food. i even posted an english bulletin board for my students that has a vegan chocolate chip cookies recipe posted. during the holidays, when i was teaching them about thanksgiving and christmas dinner, i gave them a vegan pumpkin pie recipe. in addition to this, i am giving a presentation to a group (not sure how many people) in about three weeks about veganism (which you guys already know because i got jenny to mail me that book)! i am trying.
Comment by nicole — February 2, 2008 @ 12:41 am
you could show off your shoes from http://www.vegetarianshoesandbags.com/
Comment by michelle — February 6, 2008 @ 5:35 am
[...] helped you spread a message of animal compassion here and [...]
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