Oxford students vote to ban beef and lamb, stir controversy

Members of the Oxford Student Union have caused a bit of an uproar after voting to ban beef and lamb from the university’s canteens and events. On Nov. 13, the university’s student paper, Cherwell, reported that members of the student council passed the motion by a two-thirds majority. They citied environmental concerns and requested a meeting with university officials. “As the UK’s premier university, the nation looks to Oxford for leadership, but Oxford has shown a lack of leadership in addressing climate change,” the motion notes. “The banning of beef and lamb at university-catered events and outlets is a feasible and effective strategy to help the university meet its revised 2030 goal”. It also argues that banning beef and lamb is part of the university’s fight against racism. “The worst effects of human activity related climate change are felt by Black and Brown peoples in the Global South, with women and disabled peoples being disproportionately affected”. Still, not everybody has been on board with the vote. At least one student at the student council meeting argued that the motion would “restrict what students are eating” and “decrease usage of University catering services”